T/C Hawken story

My T/C Hawken .50 really didn't get along with inline pellets at all. But then I made a little switch and replaced the nipple with a musket cap one and it worked. Now, with just 15gs of loose powder under 2 pellets, it’s been super reliable and surprisingly accurate. I couldn't be happier!

Well, pellets (T7, Pyrodex, etc.) are designed to be used with 209 primers, not percussion caps. You will experience hang-fires or no ignition when using pellets with percussion caps. I would be very careful mixing loose powder with pellets! Use what is intended for your Hawken!

Chad Cleland won the National ML matches back I think in 2006 using a TC Hawken in 40 cal using ball and patch with black powder. Not sure what his load was or his loading process to keep fouling at bay between shots

probably cleaned out the fouling after every shot he fired.
That's what I did when I was using "real" BP, before I switched to Pyrodex..

joepistol said:

probably cleaned out the fouling after every shot he fired.
That's what I did when I was using "real" BP, before I switched to Pyrodex..

Click to expand...

Yep. That's exactly how I zero my TC .50 cal Pro Hunter. I don't care about 3 or 5 shot groups at 100 yards with my ML. I want the FIRST shot out of a clean, cold bore to hit where I'm aiming. When zeroing my ML, I'll take a shot, clean the bore, reload and shoot again after about 10 mins between shots. Once it's hitting the bullseye at 100 yds. I'll confirm that with 2 more shots 15 mins apart. Then I'm done. I like it at about 1.5"-2" high at 100 so that puts be pretty much zero close to 200 yds with maybe a few inches of hold-over. Then each year before the season starts, I'll take a couple of shots just to confirm zero before I hit the woods and fields. As a hunter/sportsman it's the responsible thing to do.

I run 2 T7 Magnum pellets under a 250 gr. Shockwave .45 cal saboted bullet. Killed many a whitetail with that set-up and never needed a second shot. I'm a firm believer in the '1 shot, 1 kill' theory. No multiple shots for me and I won't shoot at running deer. Farthest kill shot to date was 178 yards on an 8pt. right through the ticker. But most of my shots are between 90 and 145 yards give or take a few yards either way. Some have run off maybe 40 yds or so and some dropped right in their tracks. I have never not recovered anything that I shot. Put the shot (bullet or arrow) in the kill zone and you have venison in the freezer.