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What to do with "Sporterized" Hawken?

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Looking for opinions from the forum on what to do with my old Cabela's Sporterized Hawken in 54cal. This was my first muzzleloader and a gift from my father when I was 12 or 13. So it has some (but not a lot) of sentimental value and is a little over 20 years old. It's one of the models that was made with a black synthetic stock rather than wood so it isn't especially pretty IMO. I had been keeping this rifle because my brother-in-law had been using it for elk hunting, and I thought it could be a good rifle to pass to my son. Now my brother-in-law has, in his words, "upgraded" to an unmentionable and I don't actually think it's a very good rifle for a kid. It has a short barrel and fast rate of twist so the most accurate loads are big charges of 3F pushing lead conicals. Combined with the light weight of the rifle, the recoil is pretty substantial.

So, what should I do with this thing? I don't consider myself a gun collector so everything I own needs a defined purpose. Options I'm considering are below but also curious to hear of other ideas.

1) Sell it and use the funds to buy something I "need." In particular, I am looking for something to use as a dedicated turkey gun.

2) Have it bored out for shot and make it into said turkey gun. The shorter barrel makes it pretty handy and I wouldn't be worried about beating it up in the woods. Hoping it could bored out to 20ga, but I remember an old thread (maybe a response from necchi) about the threads for the rear sight as being a potential issue. If memory serves, this was maybe specific to TC rifles though.
 
Another option would be to get a wooden stock for it if it’s something you like. As you said it does have a little bit of sentimental value. Or it could be lined to another caliber/twist more suitable to pass down to a little one.

If 20ga is a bit too much you could have it bored a bit smaller like 28-24ga. Maybe even add a choke to help hold the pattern with less shot, though some people seem to do well shooting a more typical 20ga load in their 28ga, which is something I’m considering for a 15/16” barrel on a Lyman.
 
Thanks! Good thoughts.

Maybe a Lyman Deerstalker stock would fit? I have zero experience with swapping parts around so am totally ignorant here.

Would changing the rate of twist also necessitate a larger bore (e.g. 58cal)? Would a barrel this short (maybe 24in? need to measure) be a good candidate for a slow twist for PRBs?

I do like the idea of boring it out and definitely wouldn't mind having a choke because I don't plan to shoot PRBs if I go to a smoothbore.
 
First, I'd spend the money to have to bored out to .55 (28 gauge). Then get used to shooting it with patched round ball even though it's a smooth bore, and follow that with trying it with shot. You may find it's a very handy little gun indeed.

At that point I'd think about restocking it..., after you know it shoots. There's an old saying about "putting lipstick on a pig"....

LD
 
I have a CVA Mountain Stalker that had one of those black plastic stocks. I got some brown spray paint for plastic and painted the thing. It looks much better in brown and cost very little. It still looks like plastic from close up but it doesn't jump out at you like the black did.
 
I’ve got one in 50 caliber. Short barrel, plastic stock and stainless barrel and hardware. Setup with peep sight and even with the fast twist it handles round balls amazingly well with light charges (50 grains of fff if my memory is correct). A buddy of mine’s wife loved shooting it. I keep it as a loaner.

You may want to try starting with light loads under a round ball and increase the charge until groups open, who knows until you try.

If your son will not be hunting elk with it and fits him as is, you could look into getting a 50 cal barrel for it. A rebore to smooth 58 may also be possible. I know the sight screw holes on mine are deep. And it has 4 ”˜extra’ tapped holes...... for scope bases (remember, this a “sporterized” gun), 2 near the breech that I used for the peep sight.

I just would not put a lot of money and effort into to trying to make it’s something it will never be. It already has the ”˜priceless’ sentimental thing going for it no matter how ugly it may perceived. Figure out a way to for your son to use and shoot the gun his father got from his father. Suspect that sentimental value wit increase.
 
Actually maybe you should try it as is with PRB. Seems I read that a lighter charge can sometimes be found to work well which would make a nice mildly recoiling rifle that’s likely good for medium game to 75 yds or so I’d think.
 
:hmm: I'll try that next week at the range. Dad and I tried PRBs back when I first got it but I think we were using the same load he was using for his rifle. At that time, probably 95ish grains of Pyrodex R. Had terrible luck and haven't put a ball through there in close to 20 years.
 
Get a nice wood stock for it. You could also consider an L&R lock replacement if it would enhance it somehow. Maybe better sights. Experiment with projectiles. There is probably something that is not real expensive or nor real heavy that will be tolerable to shoot and/or really accurate.
 
The old story of the axe my father gave me comes to mind.I’ve put on three new handles and got one new head and it’s still the best axe I’ve ever owned.
You can build a new gun using the barrel, dove tail more historic sights into it, strip the finish and leave in the white or brown. Then you can fit a new stock and a new lock and fit with more Hawken like furniture.
What will you have then? Is it worth it TO YOU. It will never be worth what you paid for parts, not counting your time. Will it still be the same gun? That’s only something you feel. No one else can feel for you or judge what you got.
I know what I would do,but that doesn’t count at all for what you want or feel.
 
Speaking purely financially, you are probably best off selling it as is to get something you actually want. You will never get your money out of any upgrades you add to it to prep it for sale. Apart from that, you have to decide how much the actual emotional attachment is worth to you.
 
A gift from Pop? I'd keep it no questions and do very little alteration. But thats just me. I kept the Cracker Barrel card holder my Pop gave me the last Christmas I had with him :( (I did break down and buy me n the wife breakfast with the card though....it's what he woulda wanted :)
 
dsayer said:
(maybe a response from necchi) about the threads for the rear sight as being a potential issue. If memory serves, this was maybe specific to TC rifles though.
Yeah it is T/C specific, BUT, that's a 15/16" barrel and I'm pretty sure it can't be punched out to 62,, IIRC, all Bobby will do to a 15/16 to make it a smoothy is 56 or 58.
I had one of those Carbines new from Cabelas for about a week, I couldn't get it to group and took it back.

I'd go for your "sell it" option and use the funds for something else.
Find an old Renegade style T/C with a 1" barrel and have it bored to 62.
 
necchi said:
dsayer said:
(maybe a response from necchi) about the threads for the rear sight as being a potential issue. If memory serves, this was maybe specific to TC rifles though.
Yeah it is T/C specific, BUT, that's a 15/16" barrel and I'm pretty sure it can't be punched out to 62,, IIRC, all Bobby will do to a 15/16 to make it a smoothy is 56 or 58.
I had one of those Carbines new from Cabelas for about a week, I couldn't get it to group and took it back.

I'd go for your "sell it" option and use the funds for something else.
Find an old Renegade style T/C with a 1" barrel and have it bored to 62.

Thanks for confirming and for the additional info!

I'm kinda leaning towards sell as well. Talked to my Dad today and he doesn't give a manure whether I keep it or not. Typical response from the Old Man. :haha:
 
rodwha said:
Another option would be to get a wooden stock for it if it’s something you like. As you said it does have a little bit of sentimental value. Or it could be lined to another caliber/twist more suitable to pass down to a little one.

If 20ga is a bit too much you could have it bored a bit smaller like 28-24ga. Maybe even add a choke to help hold the pattern with less shot, though some people seem to do well shooting a more typical 20ga load in their 28ga, which is something I’m considering for a 15/16” barrel on a Lyman.
Used TC stocks are all over the place on fleabay. Some can be had pretty cheap with all hardware intact. (Spare parts)
 
dsayer said:
Talked to my Dad today and he doesn't give a manure whether I keep it or not. Typical response from the Old Man. :haha:
:haha: :wink:
Your "old" now yourself,, the rifle started your fever. Pass it on to start someone elses.
The Old Mans response is typical,, he's beginning to trust you,,
,, think about it (?) How old was he when he gave you the rifle? :haha:
 
necchi said:
,, think about it (?) How old was he when he gave you the rifle? :haha:

:haha:
You're exactly right. Dad would have been just a few years older than I am now when he gave me that rifle!
 
If nothing else you could try some light PRB loads just to see what you see before you do anything with it.
 
rodwha said:
If nothing else you could try some light PRB loads just to see what you see before you do anything with it.

Yeah I'm definitely going to take it to the range on Monday to try the light load idea.

I've always wanted to try a build and I'm thinking I might build myself a rifle and then pass my current 54 to my son when the time is right. I know it does really well with 55gr of 2F and the recoil is more than manageable with that load.
 
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