Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders T/C Hawken .54

I’ll check them out!

That’s the plan! I LOVE black powder. I have inlines that shoot the substitutes well, but I usually pass them up in favor of a traditional smoke pole.

First thing I always did with my TC rigs was to swap out the front sight with a smaller one. I could never hold those factory ones tight enough. And did add peeps also. That was all I ever did to them. Still have my Renegade from the late 80s and its killed a variety of stuff.

Any muzzleloader will likely benefit from a good barrel scrubbing. I use a bronze brush with JB Bore paste or polishing compound. You will be surprised how much black junk you get out of the bore. Switching to cloth patches and the compound and then patches with alcohol complete the task. My final step is to clean with hot water and while barrel is still warm treat it with 1000+ on patches. An hour or so in time has always lead to better groups for me.

No issues w misfires, I just like the musket caps as they are larger and easier to get a handle on, especially in cold ass temps.

A good thing to try w shallow rifling is a .535 ball and .015 or .018 patches. Snug the fit up a bit but not too much.

#11 caps fit in my speed loaders and are quick and easy to apply on the nipple from them. Don't know if they make similar for musket caps or not but since performance with #11's has always been good I've had no reason to look.

The musket caps are easier to handle, and won’t get lost in a shirt pocket. They also are just a good option to have, needing only a nipple swap, in times like these. Before I sold my last TC, I had nipples for both and a 209 adapter, JIC. My Knight will accept all three with the right parts too, at need. Now, with a musket, a .36 single-shot pistol, and a couple of inlines, I need all three on hand.

Why would I put caps in my shirt pocket ? They go directly from the can into my speed loaders before I leave home to go hunting. I don't find them at all difficult to load into the speed loaders.

I just keep em in the tin, carry it w me in my little pouch that has 2 or 3 speedloaders in it.

Different strokes for different folks.

I will give the 90 gr. a try, however, I have done quite well with 50 gr. of 3F and 2F . I have gone to 60 & 70 gr. and saw no difference. I hear 80 gr. is standard.

Seems like 90-100 grains of powder is a standard hunting load. I hope to find a bullet that shoots good in that range.

250gr. XTP.

I have a TC Hawken in .54 . I shot patched roundball and lead Powerbelts with it, and eventually settled on the cast bullets using the Lee R.E.A.L 300 grain.

Normally I used FFg black for round ball and 90 grains of 777 for the cast bullets.

I forgot about the R.E.A.L.!

Hello Tom, the 1 in 48 twist can shoot ball or bullet as good as any providing you stay in the neighborhood of around 90 gr. of powder. I've been in shoots when 1 in 48's shot 1/2" groups at 50yds consistently. Develop a good loading technique / ball and patch combo and you'll be very happy. In my 54's I use a .530 ball with a .015 lubed patch also use a range rod with a bore guide save your ram rod for the field. Hope this helps.

The issue is not the twist rate in the TC rifle. Many old guns, now 180 to 240 years old had "a turn in 4 feet" twist. I have made many barrels that were one-holers" with a 1-48 twist.

The issue with the TC barrels is that they are rifled to take bullet and not specifically made to take the cloth of a patch. The rifling in them is about .004" deep. A barrel cut just for a cloth patch is from .008 to .014 deep. and the very best 'ball rifling" is made with lands that are narrow enough to grab and leaves the grooves more open, to load easier and collect less fouling. Enfield rifling like what TC used was made from the inception to engage metal to metal, steel to lead or steel to copper.

But loaded with a patch and ball combination that holds into the somewhat shallow riffling of the TC barrels, they can be super accurate. You just have to do some load work. That's all. In every case I have seen in 50 years of making and using muzzleloaders the patch is the issue. You can use .530" or .535" balls and do well, but you NEED to get a patch that fits both barrel and ball. Once you do that, the TC Hawken is as accurate an any muzzleloader made.

I have two TC .54 cal muzzle loaders. One's a Renegade and the other a New Englander Carbine. Both love Hornady .535 round balls wrapped with a .015" greased (w/bore butter), and either 85gr Goex 3f or 110gr Goex 2f, depending on how much punch I want. Both charge weights are capable of shooting within 2" @ 100 yards.

I've been looking at Olde Eynesford BP from Powder, Inc since my stash of Goex is about gone and I'd like to shoot the same brand in my muzzleloaders and my Sharps.

BTW, I have killed two Black Bears with my New Englander, both with the old 435gr Buffalo bullets which are very similar to the LEE R.E.A.L. bullets.

Best wishes with your new acquisition!

Ed

Love the way the 54 sounds with ffg black powder ..

I have a Lyman Deerstalker 54 cal with a beautiful walnut stock that shoots Hornadys 530 RB into tight groups @ 80yds, it's is impressive.
I used to use pyrodex at 90grs 10yrs ago when I shot it last. I don't use it no more, it's a damn shame too. Octagon barrel adjustable Lyman sights.
It don't do to bad with plastic & 45cal bullets, but I always used a ball and #11's, never failed to fire. It even works good with 777 @ 80grs.