.45 TC hawken

[phonejack]

I've had this rifle for many years but never shot it much. What would be a good velocity for medium to small deer using round ball ? Ranges would be 50 yards max.

[aspangler]

60 to 90 gr. ffg or pyrodex rs. 1600-2000 fps. you will have to see what your rifle likes. My 45 likes .018 patch and 60 gr pyrodex. Fun to find out what they like.

[phonejack]

Thanks, that's what I needed to know.

[johnson1942]

if you really want to have fun with your gun it will shoot a paperpatched bullet as i had one that really loved them. the bullet was 250 grain sized to .440. then wrapped with two wraps of number nine paper. it was hollow based and i used a .45 poly wad behind the bullet and the powder was 80 grains of 2f black. it was very very accurate even past 100 yards and hit a lot harder that a .45 roundball. just a thought of what can be done with your gun.

[Nobade]

if you really want to have fun with your gun it will shoot a paperpatched bullet as i had one that really loved them. the bullet was 250 grain sized to .440. then wrapped with two wraps of number nine paper. it was hollow based and i used a .45 poly wad behind the bullet and the powder was 80 grains of 2f black. it was very very accurate even past 100 yards and hit a lot harder that a .45 roundball. just a thought of what can be done with your gun.


Hey, that sounds like me! I have a Cherokee 45 cal and found that the Lee TL-452-230-TC sized to .442" and patched to .449", loaded over 50 gr. FFF powder was the most accurate thing I could find and indeed is a whole lot more powerful than a ball. More like a super 45 colt. That Hawken is a lot more stoutly constructed so could use a larger charge like above.

-Nobade

[johnson1942]

i sold that barrel not because it preformed bad, in fact it shot so consistantly accurate that it was almost boreing. no tweaking, just shoot shoot shoot. i rebarreled to a 1/18 twist douglas barrel and now i shoot a 500 grain bullet accurately also. now i wish as you mentioned it i had a light weight cherokee .45 like you to carry in the bottom land for small game. i would shoot paperpatch in that also. ive been thinking of building a light weight underhammer for that.

[kenyerian]

I bought mine back when they first came out in the early 70's. I had both molds for it. (Round ball and Maxi.) I ended up giving the maxi mold to my brother as the round ball was so accurate that was all I needed. I use 75 grains of FFG with a pillow ticking patch. i plan on using it in Jan. for the late season Deer hunt.

[GabbyM]

I picked up a 45 caliber TC Hawken back around 1971. Would highly recommend using a TC Maxi Ball or other 200 to 240 grain bullet.

I had some real disappointment with the round ball. .440" RB is only a little over 100 grains. What I did wrong was to charge at 110 gr of fffg. Velocity is over 2,000 fps and the little balls exploded on impact. So if you do use a RB keep the charge down bellow 70 grains. IMHO.

With the heavier bullets. I'd use 3f to 60 grains then 2f out to 90 grains max.

[pymi]

I found mine likes the 70gr. of 3F black powder for a .440 round ball & .015" patch, the old rule of thumb is start with bore size load so 45gr. of powder and work up to where it's most accurate.

[pietro]

I have a Cherokee 45 cal and found that the Lee TL-452-230-TC sized to .442" and patched to .449", loaded over 50 gr. FFF powder was the most accurate thing I could find and indeed is a whole lot more powerful than a ball. More like a super 45 colt. That Hawken is a lot more stoutly constructed so could use a larger charge like above.

-Nobade


FWIW, The thinner barreled (13/16" vs 15/16") Cherokee's & Seneca's are noted for breaking the stock(s) with heavy, Hawken-level loads.



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[Nobade]

FWIW, The thinner barreled (13/16" vs 15/16") Cherokee's & Seneca's are noted for breaking the stock(s) with heavy, Hawken-level loads.
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Very much so. This is why I stopped at 50 gr. of powder, it started shooting accurately there and I didn't want to go any higher. That is plenty for such a light rifle using a 230 gr. bullet.

The bore of this rifle is lightly pitted, and I was going to build a new one for it since it is practically useless with round balls. But on a lark I thought to try it with these Lee bullets, and lo and behold it shoots beautifully with them. Guess it's a keeper, at least for a few more years!

-Nobade

[quilbilly]

In my T/C Seneca 45, I use 55 gr of FFF Goex and PRB for my deer. None have taken more than a few steps and a couple mule deer have been over 200# on the hoof.

[OverMax]

I shoot a 45 T/C Hawken. 445 ball w/ .010 patch and Wonderlube. As far as powder. I found my rifles best accuracy using Gorex 2-FF black. I don't care to use Pyrodex anything in my rifles. As far as its Volume of black powder measured. I've forgotten just what it is, due to using a cut Brass Charger for its measure'ings for many years.
Deer size. Don't underestimate that little 128 gr. ball. It does as good a job as any 50 cal will with far less recoil felt. I've taken a couple deer with mine at 75 plus yards. When under 50 yards. Is where most of my shooting takes place. I then only make lower neck and spine shots. Seems to work out better for me seeing immediate bang flops. If wanting to know exactly the Volume powder charge I use. I can get my brass charger out and measure it. But I would prefer the info be sent via PM. Good luck with your rifle. You'll enjoy shooting patch ball once you find a good recipe. You will be happy not having to lay out those double Saw Bucks for plastic skirted conical's or sabot/bullets.