Investarm Gemmer Hawken - Range Review

[muzzle-loader]

We took a trip out with the .50 Caliber Investarm Gemmer Hawken Flintlock and were impressed with the results. We used GOEX FFFFG for the pan and 60 grains of 777 FFG for propellant with .490 round balls and .015" Traditions Patches. We may play around with the charges to see if we can improve the group but we are pretty happy with this start!

In addition to shooting well, the Gemmer Hawken looked and felt good. The component quality was not quite on the same level as the Bridger Hawken, however, it is still excellent for the price. The fit and finish is also quite good and though there are a few small areas where it is not perfect, it is still very well done.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Who cooked up the “Bridger” name for that Investarms product?

It looks NOTHING even remotely like any rifle attributed to Jim Bridger.

What a goofy and disingenuous name.

 

[SDSmlf]

We took a trip out with the .50 Caliber Investarm Gemmer Hawken Flintlock and were impressed with the results. We used GOEX FFFFG for the pan and 60 grains of 777 FFG for propellant with .490 round balls and .015" Traditions Patches. We may play around with the charges to see if we can improve the group but we are pretty happy with this start!

In addition to shooting well, the Gemmer Hawken looked and felt good. The component quality was not quite on the same level as the Bridger Hawken, however, it is still excellent for the price. The fit and finish is also quite good and though there are a few small areas where it is not perfect, it is still very well done.
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What distance were you shooting? And you may want to reconsider the location of your open container of 777 and brass powder flask just to your right when shooting a right handed flintlock. Catch a spark in either one and you could have some unintended excitement.

 

[muzzle-loader]

@SDSmlf We were shooting 50 yards.

Thank you for pointing that out and I will be more aware of that moving forward. I will remove those photos as I would hate to encourage poor muzzleloader safety.

 

[hanshi]

It's always a good idea to be cognizant of where you place your propellants. It only takes one little spark to make a day you and friends will talk about for years.

 

[muzzle-loader]

@hanshi Thanks for the tip and I will be more cognizant of that moving forward. I am going to remove those photos as I would hate to encourage poor muzzleloader safety.

 

[SDSmlf]

I also removed the photograph from the OP that I had in my post.

 

[akroguy]

No pre-charge of Holy Black to kick off the 777?

 

[SDSmlf]

No pre-charge of Holy Black to kick off the 777?

Not sure what Holy Black would be, is it like the Holy Hand Grenade?

I would think a 10 grain kicker charge of blackpowder would help. Tried Pyrodex and Triple 7 in a TC Firestorm (gun was designed for use with Pyrodex pellets) and found ignition delay opened up groups much like OP’s when I shot. With blackpowder things tightened up to a ragged hole at 50 yards.

 

[user 53430]

I have been looking for a Investarms Hawken to shoulder and see if the sight line up with my eye. I have tried 2 Traditions and I cannot get low enough with my cheek to see the rear sight. I tried two T/C Hawkens and they were perfect. But it is hard to find a good used T/C. And I don't want to order a gun without knowing if I can see the sights.

 

[ryoung14]

So, any more shooting with the Gemmer Hawken? How did it do, what were the ranges, and what loads did you use? How reliable was the lock? Did adjustments need to be made to get the lock working reliably? Pix of the complete rifle would be nice.

Now that we've covered shooting bench hygiene and powder selection, maybe we can review the rifle

 

[burlesontom]

In addition to shooting well, the Gemmer Hawken looked and felt good. The component quality was not quite on the same level as the Bridger Hawken, however, it is still excellent for the price. The fit and finish is also quite good and though there are a few small areas where it is not perfect, it is still very well done.

I hope the OP will come back with some updated photo's of the gun and show show some of the "not perfect" areas of the gun. And explain how the component quality wasn't as good as the Bridger Hawken since they pretty much use the same locks and hardware.

How well did the frizzen spark? What type of flints were you using? Where did you get it from? I have looked at those at Muzzle-Loader.com and IIRC they are in stock. Most of the stuff on their website is out of stock.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I hope the OP will come back with some updated photo's of the gun and show show some of the "not perfect" areas of the gun. And explain how the component quality wasn't as good as the Bridger Hawken since they pretty much use the same locks and hardware.

How well did the frizzen spark? What type of flints were you using? Where did you get it from? I have looked at those at Muzzle-Loader.com and IIRC they are in stock. Most of the stuff on their website is out of stock.

I just received my Gemmer Hawken Flinter .50 cal yesterday! Purchased from Muzzleloade-Supply, was the easiest transaction I've had in years. Total tracking, great service. It is the old Investarms GPR. The GPR name was the Lyman name now used by Pedersoli. The kit was complete, and I found the stock needs more work(extra wood on it) then my first Investarms Lyman GPR (20yrs ago). The metal is finished in a grey soft semi parkerized finish. I do not know what else to call it. My original kit did not have that finish, so this one will take more time polishing metal and reworking the stock then the first one. Still for the money ,it appears to be a solid kit! I would recommend it. I will post pics as I build, first time in 20 yrs! I will also be looking for all the help I can get, fitting pieces, especially tuning the lock & triggers. etc Thanks in advance

 

[burlesontom]

I will also be looking for all the help I can get, fitting pieces, especially tuning the lock & triggers. etc Thanks in advance

I just watched this guys video series on building the Gemmer Hawken. Its around 22 episodes long. He has some good tips especially on stock shaping. He also did some faux tiger stripping to make it look more like a Maple stock. I'm not sure I liked what he did but he likes and its not too bad. I think the stocks actually look good with a proper stain and oil finish. I have built a couple of Investarms kits and they do have a lot of extra wood. The guy in the video use files almost exclusively in place of sand paper and it did look more like an original gun. Anyway I hope the videos give you some pointers. You can fast forward through a lot of the shaping parts and still get the gist of what he is doing. Hope this helps.

I have a GPR I bought finished many years ago from Natchez Shooters Supply for $230. I could have bought the kit for around $30 less but decided the finished gun was too good of a deal to pass up. If I didn't like the way the factory built the gun I could take it apart and redo the bluing to browning and refinish the stock. But it looked so good and shot so well I just left it like it is. All I did was thin the front sight blade to about .080 wide. Perfect. It shoots round balls very well as expected but it also does good work with Lee 320gr REAL bullets and Lee Improved Minnies. I have a new Lee 250gr REAL mold I hope to cast with as soon as it cools down a little more.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I just watched this guys video series on building the Gemmer Hawken. Its around 22 episodes long. He has some good tips especially on stock shaping. He also did some faux tiger stripping to make it look more like a Maple stock. I'm not sure I liked what he did but he likes and its not too bad. I think the stocks actually look good with a proper stain and oil finish. I have built a couple of Investarms kits and they do have a lot of extra wood. The guy in the video use files almost exclusively in place of sand paper and it did look more like an original gun. Anyway I hope the videos give you some pointers. You can fast forward through a lot of the shaping parts and still get the gist of what he is doing. Hope this helps.

I have a GPR I bought finished many years ago from Natchez Shooters Supply for $230. I could have bought the kit for around $30 less but decided the finished gun was too good of a deal to pass up. If I didn't like the way the factory built the gun I could take it apart and redo the bluing to browning and refinish the stock. But it looked so good and shot so well I just left it like it is. All I did was thin the front sight blade to about .080 wide. Perfect. It shoots round balls very well as expected but it also does good work with Lee 320gr REAL bullets and Lee Improved Minnies. I have a new Lee 250gr REAL mold I hope to cast with as soon as it cools down a little more.

Thanks, I will certainly use these!!!!

 

[TDM]

I finished my Gemmer Hawken kit about 3 weeks ago. A .50 flint. Got mine from Muzzel-Loaders.com. They are good people. I used a L & R RPL lock and a nickel silver nose cap from TOW. (Somehow in the process of polishing the stock nosecap, it jumped out of my padded vise and disappeared! Spent 3 days looking for it with no luck.) I was pleased with the kit and I watched all the "I Love Muzzel loading" videos. Very helpful. This was only my 2nd kit build so it was a learning experience. And I know, folks want to see photos. One of these days I'll figure out how to do that with the old iPad I have. Anyway, not trying to steal Snakes thread, but I'm hoping to shoot it this weekend, just been so blasted hot here.

 

[burlesontom]

If you go shooting I'm sure a report would be appreciated by everyone.

 

[TDM]

I will do that and hopefully some photos too!

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I finished my Gemmer Hawken kit about 3 weeks ago. A .50 flint. Got mine from Muzzel-Loaders.com. They are good people. I used a L & R RPL lock and a nickel silver nose cap from TOW. (Somehow in the process of polishing the stock nosecap, it jumped out of my padded vise and disappeared! Spent 3 days looking for it with no luck.) I was pleased with the kit and I watched all the "I Love Muzzel loading" videos. Very helpful. This was only my 2nd kit build so it was a learning experience. And I know, folks want to see photos. One of these days I'll figure out how to do that with the old iPad I have. Anyway, not trying to steal Snakes thread, but I'm hoping to shoot it this weekend, just been so blasted hot here.

Glad to hear you were able to get the build done. Let us know how it shoots! Also, My triggers seem to be fairly stiff, especially the rear one. How was yours?

 

[TDM]

Glad to hear you were able to get the build done. Let us know how it shoots! Also, My triggers seem to be fairly stiff, especially the rear one. How was yours?

I couldn't even move the set trigger on mine. The spring was way too tight and the main trigger screw not enough. But by loosening up the rear spring a little and playing with the height of spring set screw I got it working properly. But the assembly didn't smooth out until I had polished out the working surfaces.