TC Hawken

S

salvadore

Moderator
I've decided to shoot my TC Hawken, actually my brother's TC Hawken that he left with me 35+ years ago and I need some technical advice. First, I want to shoot the equivalent of 100grs. of BP with a Great Plains bullet that I believe weighs 425grs. my handy dandy Lee dipper info says 2 scoops of the 3.4 dipper using FFG weighs 100grs. I have an unopened container of pyrodex R/S that I apparently paid $7.97 for. Should I use the 3.4 dipper to get the equivalent of 100grs of ffg?

I was told this load is safe in the TC Hawken, is it? My brother left me two molds also, one is a round ball, the other looks like a stylized arrowhead and is I guess a maxi ball style of mold. One is a bronze color with a 573 stamped on it the RB is black with a 909 stamped on it and are of the same manufacturer. Did TC offer molds for their rifles and what would the maxi ball weigh?

One more question, what would be a good accuracy load be for the GP bullet and the MB bullet?

Thanks
 
My .50 Hawken wasn't a TC but I used 90 grains and a maxi ball years ago. Pyrodex is a straight across sub for bp by volume.
 
Suggest you get a manual and calibrated measurer

Did TC offer molds for their rifles and what would the maxi ball weigh?
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Yes but these were made for them. TC was one of the first folks to deal with Maxi-Balls and then Maxi-Hunters which are similar to the Great Plaines.

I was told this load is safe in the TC Hawken, is it?
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Yes and your TC Hawken model is rated for a max load of 120grs., by volume of BP or Pyrodex. But I would not recommend it and if you do load this, hang on . .. .:eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
So its a 54 after all. Well now that makes a difference. 425 gr Maxi is what I call a middle weight maxi for the 54 cal. Thompson's Instruction Manual list 540 gr. Maxi for use if wanting. So you see the 425 is easily within spec's to use. As far as the use of Lee Dippers. I strongly suggest the purchasing of an adjustable B/P (volume) measure'r. Pyrodex RS should be measured by (volume) not by Grain weight. Pretty powerful weapon you have there salvadore. Don't want any mistakes if intending to use 100 /plus (perhaps) volume charges of Pyrodex right from the get go. Charges that large. FWIW> be prepared to feel some heavy recoil on the shoulder. That cresent brass butt plate sure packs a wallop to the old shoulder..
 
That cresent brass butt plate sure packs a wallop to the old shoulder..
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Not so much if you put it against your upper arm like it was intended to go. Against your shoulder those points are gonna hurt.
 
Per the manual

Per the manual;
.54 RB; 80grs. FFG, is optimum load
.54 Maxi-Ball and Hunter;
360 to 365grn Bullet; 100grs. FFG, is optimum
430 to 435grn Bullet; 100grs. FFG, is optimum
530 to 540grn Bullet; 90grs. FFG, is optimum


Be Safe !!!
 
I don't understand the issue with using the Lee dippers to measure charges. They're volume measures; the 'adjustment' is to use a different size dipper. Two scoops of '3.4 dipper', allegedly producing 100 grains by volume of real black powder, will produce the same volume of Pyrodex P, which is thus equivalent.

An adjustable measure is certainly more convenient, but frankly they are so imprecise as to make a joke of accuracy. The Lee dippers are much more precise and repeatable.
 
No BLE, you are right, I am a cheap Charlie.

I was thinking about looking for some plastic vial type with a cap and filling them with the powder charge I want to use that day. I'm thinking that just like every other rifle I shoot off a bench, I should shoot a fouler before putting it on paper. Do you guys agree?
 
TC did sell Aluminum molds

The molds are aluminum I believe, single cavity and definitely not lyman.
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Throughout the years, there have been a small number of manufacturers that have made molds for TC. Some are aluminum and others steel. Lyman "was" a big supplier for them and they are steel. Lyman also had rounded sprue plate handles and I suspect that yours is squared off. Lyman is proud of their molds to clearly identify them. Not so for some of the others and those are some of the Aluminums. I think that some of these are Lees and most were only marked with the caliber. ..... :confused:

I don't understand the issue with using the Lee dippers to measure charges.
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Depending on your service and loading, there is noting wrong with the dippers... :rolleyes:

Be Safe !!!
 
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