Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders TC Hawken

I am new to muzzle loading but want to pick up a rifle to hunt the black powder deer season(s) in Upper Michigan/Wisconsin. I have a chance to pick up a used TC Hawken percussion in .54 cal for $250. The rifle is on consignment at a local sport shop and was recently marked down from $300. It appears to be in excellent condition but I need to take a closer look at the bore. What do you think of the deal?

mike

Hi Chiefs50.....I think that the $250 mark is about the "going" price, in my neck of the woods.....anything much less, and one gets suspicious, if ya know what I mean.
You know the old saying...."If the deal looks to good to be true........."

I have this same rifle, as a matter of fact I have a .50 and a .54. They both will certainly get the job done when it comes to deer.
If that bore looks okay, and the bolster is not burnt bad from primers, it would be my take that it's a fair deal.

Russ

T/C Inc no longer makes the 54. Anyone interested in one must now purchase one thru a custom outfitter of theirs at foxridgeoutfitters.com

I'm not sure how Fox Ridge is acquiring or producing rifles/barrels/accessories for their T/Cs -- all I know is that a new Hawkens costs around $475.

So yes... if the rifle you seen is in excellent condition, then $250 is a good price. You can buy several different calibers for that rifle at around $159.

Track Of The Wolf Green Mountain barrels

Sounds like a god deal. I would mention though, that a .54 cal is a little much for deer. The TC Hawkin, is stocked such that the comb comes up and hits you pretty hard right under the cheek bone with iron sights at least. My 50 cal really smacks me, so I restocked it myself . I can only imagine what 54 is goingt to do.

I disagree, .54 is an excellent choice for deer. I have two .54's a percussion and a flintlock. I've been taking deer with .54's. for the last thirty years, all with patched round ball. Not only is it good for deer size game but loaded up it is adequate for elk.

If it's clean, I'd jump on it for $250...I have .54cal TC Hawkens in percussion and flint...both are outstanding on deer....the particular deer hunting load that I happen to like is 90grns Goex 3F, an Oxyoke wonderwad, TC .018" prelubed pillow ticking, and a Hornady .530/230grn ball.

PS: Give TC Customer Service a call, and they'll mail you a free copy of their manual..."Shooting Thompson/Center Black Powder Muzzleloading Firearms"...has some good general info in it, plus load data / ballistic charts for various calibers, projectiles, powder charges, etc...enjoy !!

Since you are new to Muzzleloading, I would take someone with you to check the bore carefully. of the mass produced ML's I run into, 95 out of 100 I see used in gun shops have defective bores. Almost all of them are just from imporper maint. Once it is rusted & pitted, it is rusted & pitted & don't let anyone feed ya this crap of all it needs is cleaned or steel wooled & etc.. Rusted is rusted. Period.

Now if ya can't find anyone to go with ya, take a SS or Brass RR & jag & some gun oil & put a Tight patch on a jag & swab the bore several times & look at the stuff that comes out. If it shows no evidence of rust you are OK. If it shows some then you have to determine if it is slight surface rust or more than that. Also when you swab with this tight jag, feel for it pulling & pushing in & out of the bore smoothly, no rough spots, now easy then hard spots, etc. This will tell ya if the barrel is bulged or if it has any really rough rust problems.
You can also drop a bore light down one but this is very misleading as they will shine on about any bore, even a dirty bore, and when looking at one with a bore light down in the barrel, the bore should first be dry with No Oil in it, as again this oil will shine & mislead you. However, you can look at the rifling edges with one & etc. But don't trust the bore light for rust or pits as it will mislead ya as lots of times it glares right past them.
But use the white patch/jag & gun oil to check for the rust & the first swab will usually tell the truth. 2 or 3 swabs & you have taken of the top coat of rust & then it may actually show clean as you have oiled the rust down, but it could still be etched or pitted.

I found 2 Browning ML's in a gun shop in Ohio & they looked really nice, but both of the barrel bores were horrendous. And the owner wanted $450. each for them & proceeded to tell me that you don't need to clean these new steel barrels on BP rifles today....... You just load them & shoot them....... hmmmmmmmmmm ????????? Guess that is why a year later they are all still sitting there in his shop !!

Good luck. That is a good buy if the gun is good.

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Thanks for the info guys. I was worried about the bore since, as a collector/shooter of military surplus bolt guns, I have seen what improper maintenance will do to a bore when corrosive ammo is used. Thanks especially to Birdog - I was wondering how you go about checking out a M/L bore for rust/pits.

I think I have decided to go with a new Lyman in .50 caliber instead of the used TC ( the bore did give up some rust and felt a little rough). I can pick up a Lyman for wholesale and am considering the "Trade Rifle" or the "Deerstalker" ??? At least I think it's called the Deerstalker. Both seem to be of handier length than the "Plains Rifle".

If the barrel checks out, buy it. I have a T/C .54 Hawken and use it for deer and elk. .54 cal is not too large for deer.

So far, I've killed two mule deer bucks and two cow elk. All but one cow was taken with heavy conicle bullets (430 maxi-hunter/maxi-ball). I shot one cow with a patch and ball. Distances ranged from 30 yards to a little over 100. All made a thumb sized entrance and half dollar sized exit. No animal went over 50 yards. The first buck only took three steps after being hit with the 430 maxi at 100 yards.

My Hawken is accurate out to 100 yards- 4-6 inch groups with open sights.

another way to check the barrel. Is after verifying that it is empty to drop a bore light down it. Then looking down the bore

I have a T/C Hawken and a Renegade, both 50 caliber flintlocks. I have found accuracy to be mediocre with rounballs due to the fast rifling. Accuracy is fine with Maxiballs. The stock on the Hawken is tough and will bruise your cheek with maximum loads!

FWIW, I think a lot of differences come into play regarding things like accuracy and stock fit, etc.

For example, my .45/.50/.54cal TC Hawken 1:48" barrels shoot hole- touching cloverleafs at 50yds...and 1+7/8"-2+1/4" groups at 100yds...using 90grns Goex 2F, .018" prelubed pillow ticking, and Hornady .440's/.490's/.530's...plus...the stocks don't happen to pose any problems for me

I happen to be looking for a good used TC Hawken factory stock in 50 cal x 15/16". Anybody?

Ebay, fuzzy.

Saddlesore. I use a 58 TC hawken for deer and don't think it is too much. I really love it as it will take out any size deer within range. I lost a couple with the 45& 50 cal.(round ball) that is what I use as round ball is more accurate for me than conical bullets. JMO. Hubert <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />