Cabelas Hawken: I honestly don't know

[triggerhappy243]

A friend of mine has informed me he has had this hawken 45 cal. cap lock rifle since 1990. Most all of his possessions have been stolen over time. This rifle has survived. All of the casting accessories are gone. I am looking for molds for him. I know Lyman makes a 45 cal. maxi-ball mold and lee makes the R.E.A.L. What other bullet molds would/could be used to cast a conical for this rifle for big game? Impressive accuracy is my goal. What Say You?

[dondiego]

He should always have the option of a round ball. .440 works well.

[bubba.50]

the 45cal Lee R.E.A.L./.440 roundball combo mould is available & in stock at midsouth for 19 bucks. should get him through about all his 45cal needs.

[triggerhappy243]

He has a roundball mold.

[bubba.50]

it's also available as a double cavity R.E.A.L. in either 200 or 250 grains & in stock at the same price.

[triggerhappy243]

bubba, what is your best average group with the 250 gr. lee? and what did you have to do to achieve that group?

[Tackleberry41]

The Lee REAL can be temperamental. Sensitive to charge weight, and cant be loaded the way Lee claims. Seems you need some sort of wad under it to get any accuracy. Used as in an inline gun, I was lucky to get a REAL to hit the target much less any accuracy.

[bubba.50]

back when I could see, 3 shot groups at 75yds ranged from cloverleafs to around 1&1/2 to 2 inches with the heavier weight.

all I did was pour a 70gr equivalent charge of Pyrodex RS down the bore followed by the R.E.A.L. with all the bore-butter that would stay in the grooves & capped with either a Remington or CCI #11 cap.

this was off a bench with a sandbag under the fore-arm & the trigger set.

[triggerhappy243]

ok, knowing that, I will ask again. Besides the Lee REAL, what other bullets have others used to achieve stellar accuracy with a cast bullet in a 45 caplock?

[Earlwb]

Round ball works good. A .440 ball patched would do the trick. The problem is we do not know the rifling twist rate of the rifle ion question. Many of them were setup for a slow twist rate for round balls. The longer conical types of bullets use a faster twist rate in the rifling. Of course it wouldn't hurt to try a MAXI Ball though, it might work OK.

[HangFireW8]

If most of his stuff has been stolen, including BP accessories, the Hawken might be next. Are you casting for him or will he hold the mold? Who in his life is doing drugs and needs the cash that bad? That's where the real help is needed.

[bubba.50]

haven't used them in 45cal but, regular ol' T/C Maxi-balls have given me excellent results in every 1 in 48 twist 50 or 54 caliber gun I've ever shot them in.

[RU shooter]

My dads TC hawken in 45 cal loves the maxi ball hates the 200 gr Lee real though

[triggerhappy243]

QUOTE: If most of his stuff has been stolen, including BP accessories, the Hawken might be next. Are you casting for him or will he hold the mold? Who in his life is doing drugs and needs the cash that bad? That's where the real help is needed.

The rifle was the only thing locked up. He is in a different area now, the theft took place 15 years ago and is just now getting back into it. He will be casting on his own. It sounds like he does not know where to look for help like what we enjoy here.

[Hellgate]

I have cast the R.E.A.L. bullets and you need to have the lead and mold HOT or else the pointy driving bands don't fill out adequately and accuracy will suffer. If they are rounded or irregular the bullet won't align well in the barrel.

[johnson1942]

not all cabella hawken rifles are 1/48 twist. a few years back a missionary to the natives on pine ridge brought me a cabella hawken in 45 cal. to clean up and put a new nipple on and sight in. it was a 1/60 something twist and with shallow grooves and had 12 lands and grooves. i used over the counter lubed patches and .445 round balls and 100 grains of powder. it shot tight groups from the very first. holes touching at 100 yards. never ever a flier. if i could find one in good shape to day with that same kind of barrel and the price was right i would get it. a little off topic, i once tuned up a very old jap made 45 cal rifle for a fellow also. it had 3 lands and grooves and i dont know the twist rate. the barrel was only about 26 inches long. i remember at 50 yards off hand it would cut center every time with out fail. i remember he thought it wasnt much of a gun before he brought it to me but i encouraged him to use it in off hand 50 yard matches. man it could hold a group. i dont know what twist you have but it will determine the bullet you use.

[condorjohn]

178271Here are two Minies made by lee. Both hollow base and easy loading. I've had these for several years and don't know if they are currently available. Hope this helps...

[rfd]

this is an investarms firearm, which is about as good as it gets for a production muzzleloader. i have one and love it, a GPR .50 flinter.

if the rifle were mine, i'd personally check the rifling twist first and foremost. if it's 1:48 or thereabouts, it's a compromise twist that will work, to various degrees, with ball or bullet. if it's 1:60 or thereabouts, this is a ball twist that may not be happy having bullets down its throat. the rest of what to do with regards to its load is easy, but clearly will be based upon your requirements (target or hunt or both) and the capabilities of the rifle and caliber.

[triggerhappy243]

RECENT UPDATE: This rifle is definitely a 1-48 twist. My friend is looking for longer distance accuracy for fun and hunting. Idahoron has stirred some excitement in me with his research and experience with muzzle loaders and extended distance accuracy that challenges even inline rifles. If Ron can do it, I want to learn too.

[triggerhappy243]

Does anyone here have any 45 cal. Maxi-balls cast of pure lead? And could I ask you to measure the top band with a micrometer or dial caliper of several of your boolits?

[mooman76]

Maxi or Lee REAL? I can give you both but just because one measures this doesn't mean the next will.
Lee REAL = 467
T/C Maxi = 457

By the way, mine isn't pure lead but it is very soft lead.

[triggerhappy243]

Thank you mooman76. the maxi-ball you measured..... did you measure 1 or several?

[mooman76]

Several and I picked the ones best filled out.

[triggerhappy243]

ok, thank you.

[725]

Personally, I've had the best success with the T/C Maxi-Ball. Not so much with the maxi-hunter, or the "improved mini-ball". Maybe I didn't play with them enough. The Maxi-ball was an instant success. Love the effect on game.