Hawkens and 32" 50 cal

[jbuck9]

I have been off for some time due too a neck injury, infact sold some of my flinters, well this morning I found a 50 cal hawkens in excellant condition with a new green mountain barrell which is 32", which I believe is a 1:70 twist, should be a great roud ball shooter and maybe some pa.
conicals, the gun balances great, any thoughts on a good hunting load and ball size 490-495, I strictly shoot goex powder,
this is my first green mountain barrel so Ill have too play alittle,
The gun came with a tang peep and the front sight has the brass bead on the sight, also have the factory sight,
come on now Dave I know you have a load fo this puppy, thanks all for my long post Iam just so glad too be back in action. God Bless

 

[cayuga]

Try 90 grains of Goex 2f and a .015-.018 patch with a .490 ball. I have the same rifle in .54 and that is the load it likes. At 50 yards it just stacks them in there. That was a great find with the peep sight and all.

 

[jbuck9]

I was thinking on those same lines Dave 90 2f, what is the green mountain Max load for RB , thanks , John

 

[cayuga]

I think they post it at 110 grains of powder but I would not swear to it.

 

[jbuck9]

Well I took the new too me Hawkins out this morning with the GM 1:70
It was very damp and misty, I thought this would be a good test, I got too the range only 2 miles from the house and the wind pics up, Oh Boy, well Iam here now and I have'int shot in a year, Iam sooting set my target out at 50 yards, and loaded up using 90 grs. of goexff and a 495 ball .018 pillow ticking, I was a little worried how my neck was going too react so the first 3 shots I pulled too the right and low , too be honest I was a little scared, now my neck feels fine, Iam good too go ,so I swab the bore and get down too pure focus, WOW is too say the least,
I shot 5 rounds no cleaning between shots and shot a slightly under 3" group, The corners of my mouth were touching my ears thats how big the smile was on my old kisser, this gun has a fantastic lock time, Imean touch off and gone, I really fell into it comming across this gun,
I used cayuga's moosemilk recipe worked great, and the gun was right therebulleyes I used a 25yard pistol target, I would not be afraid too take a neck shot with this rocklock under 50 Yards, so then I played alittle, we have some steel gongs I set them up there like 10" Dia.
and was knocking them down as fast as I could load off hand at 50 yards, I just cannot believe this gun, those GM 1:70 round ballers
are great and with the lock on this gun , Iam a happy happy camper, thanks for hearing out my long post but Oh Boy, Iam like a little kid again, good shooting too all.

 

[jbuck9]

I should have proof read my post , that was slightly under a 2" group,
It will be 495 RB's in the pa deer woods this year.

 

[wishtofish]

jbuck9:


Great post.........Happy that you are so excited to get back outds & hunting.

I'm recovering from 2 foot surgeries nyself...... I've had the boys,My son & son-in-law deliver me to the blind so I didn't have to walk as far......

Good Luck out there......

 

[jbuck9]

Sure felt good too smell the old goex burn again, and watch the smoke drift off with the wind, even with the wind it was a great time at the range.