Boring out a T/C Hawken .45

[Tommy Bruce]

I have sitting in my gun safe a T/C Hawken in .45 cal that my dad built from a kit in the 1970's.   I've been pretty much a flintlock shooter for the past 20 years but have been thinking about dusting the old girl off.  A buddy of mine told me I should send the barrel to Bobby Hoyt and have the barrel bored out to .50 or .54 with a slower twist and make a round ball gun out of her.  I have to admit that taking some weight off that barrel sounds good, plus I like the thought of a bit more lead coming out of the barrel. My question is, has anyone ever done this and would you recommend it?  

Thanks.

[hawkthrower]

Think about the cost of the bore job vs the cost of finding a good used barrel - I think you may find many good serviceable barrels out there in .50 .54. and even .58 for the T/C Hawken - Save the original if for nothing else nostalgia ;-)

[Detached]

Think about the cost of the bore job vs the cost of finding a good used barrel - I think you may find many good serviceable barrels out there in .50 .54. and even .58 for the T/C Hawken - Save the original if for nothing else nostalgia ;-)

Perfect advice. Do a search, there are TC barrels out there. Simple swap and you'll have both.

[snake eyes]

TB,
    You don't say weather you have shot the .45. If not I urge you to do so.
I have 3 .45s and love each of them and I would never rid myself of them.
Its probably just a me thing,but I am much more confident and accurate with
them than my .50s or .54. Just an opinion!
snake-eyes  

[Tommy Bruce]

Now that's something I never thought about.  Actually I like the idea.  Snake Eyes, I have shot the .45 a lot, it's just been a while.  It's a nice round, and probably more accurate than a heavier ball.  But that thing is so dang barrel heavy and well.....when you shot a whitetail with a .54, there isn't any doubt.  Plus I hunt a lot of brushy areas, that heavier ball is less likely to stray when it hits a twig.

[snake eyes]

TB,
    I hunt SE Ohio for deer, around the Logan/Athens area. Don't get much thicker
in the places I hunt. Although I always take a .50 with me I usually end up using one
of the .45s. I've have never lost a deer with the .45 but I did have to track one
for almost 12hours about 30 or so years ago and before I learned my limits. It would be very rare for me to take a shot over 40/50yards with a .45. That is about as far as I
can see anyway
snake-eyes  

[Hanshi]

Snake eyes hit the nail on the head.  Plus a heavier barrel makes for a much better off hand rifle and I think the .45 is ideal for whitetail; oh, and I have three .45s.

[sse]

but I did have to track one for almost 12 hours about 30 or so years ago and before I learned my limits

It's nice  a person of such advanced age can remember back that far...

[snake eyes]

but I did have to track one for almost 12 hours about 30 or so years ago and before I learned my limits

It's nice  a person of such advanced age can remember back that far... :cry:
snake-eyes  

[Riley/MN]

Think about the cost of the bore job vs the cost of finding a good used barrel - I think you may find many good serviceable barrels out there in .50 .54. and even .58 for the T/C Hawken - Save the original if for nothing else nostalgia ;-)

Or to have a "set" - I don't recall for sure, but I believe the .50 is the same OD as the .45. The .54 & .58 are larger barrels and would not fit your stock (going from memory here)...

[hawkthrower]

1/16 diff if at all - 7/16 vs 8/16 ........ but the most common caliber I have seen is .50 and I have seen both 7/16 and 1" in .50 .....
so why not a set of barrels to do what you would like.....Or  as Riley suggested, start a collection of T/C rifles find a few you like. You may need to swap and trade a bit to find what you like. But it's all part of the great search for what works for you! If you feel that the T/C's are barrel heavy then you may want to go for something custom and put your dad's .45 away as a keepsake......I think most T/C's are barrel heavy as compared to a swamped FL, um yes, um, a, they have a bit different balance but, I've found I adjust to it.....  

[Geezer in NH]

7/16 would be a real prize. Note the outside size should be larger than the bore size barrel makers rule

[Riley/MN]

HA - somebody forgot to carry the one... but yeah, I was referring to a set of barrels, but there ain't no reason not to get a whole set of guns, neither!

[Ron T.]

I've never done it, but seeing that your Dad's hands built it, that's enough "nostalgia-value" to me to have the barrel re-bored (if it really needs it) to possibly a .50 or .54 caliber bore to (I assume) retrieve the rifle's accuracy.

I'd never let that barrel get away... your Dad's hands, skills and heart touched everything on that rifle, including the barrel, and that's "enough" for me to keep it as he made it as much as possible with the exception of having it bored out to a larger caliber for accuracy's sake.

In this case, a reasonable amount of money spent to keep it as "original" as possible is no object, in my humble opinion, since the rifle is becoming a valuable and honored a family heirloom.

Jus' my 2˘.................


Strength and Honor...

Ron T.

[Geezer in NH]

IMHO your dad made it, enjoy his work as it is. You can never replace his hand work.

I have my dads 45 H&A kit gun he put together in the early 70's, Rustoleam camo paint and all. He killed deer with it and my son at 8 yeas old also killed his first deer with it.

It is greased in a safe for my son's, son. (my son is 26 now and no wife) Please enjoy what it is.