Sharon 54 cal Hawkin kit

I built this kit in 1980. Had a round ball twist but would shoot T/C Maxie balls and group well but to the right about 12" at 100 yards. Round balls shot point of aim. I compensated for that with Kentucky windage hold to the left.. Killed a buck on the second day out at 125 yds holding left.
I never have tried Minie balls, so I was hoping someone could advise if the minie might shoot point of aim and which type minie I should try out?

I don't think you will find 54cal Minie balls...

my Hawken's react the same to the maxi's and reals. but the Minie's shoot to the same point as RB's. though slight sight adjustments needed to be made.
each rifle was different, but like women that's what makes them desirable!
i cast a 100 minie's yesterday with a Lee mold.
or maybe it was the day before? memory isn't what it used to be. i think?

Henry Miles said:

I don't think you will find 54cal Minie balls...

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I’ve used Lee molds to cast their Modern Minie bullets in multiple calibers, including 54. In most TC guns with the 1-48 rifling, they were quite accurate and typically shot to the same POA as roundballs, at least to a certain distance, before requiring an adjustment for elevation.

Henry Miles said:

I don't think you will find 54cal Minie balls...

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I have one of the .54 Minie moulds, haven't used it though.

I wasn't aware of the 54cal Minie balls. Good info

deerstalkert said:

my Hawken's react the same to the maxi's and reals. but the Minie's shoot to the same point as RB's. though slight sight adjustments needed to be made.
each rifle was different, but like women that's what makes them desirable!
i cast a 100 minie's yesterday with a Lee mold.
or maybe it was the day before? memory isn't what it used to be. i think?

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Thanks, I’m going to try some.

I just shoot maxi balls (generic T/C type) in my 54 for deer hunting.

Would love to see photos of your Sharon kit!

I’ll post some soon. It was a great kit but took me awhile on the metal parts. The pewter nose cap had to be cast to the stock! Thanks for asking

I have a total of 4 Sharons- 2 full stocks, 1 half stock and an unbuilt Trade rifle.
The 3 complete rifles favor patched round balls

You are the only other Sharon hawkin builder I know of. I paid about 250 bucks for mine and at the time all my hunting buddies shot T/C Hawkins. My Sharon was real eye catcher to them. Love my Sharon. I’ve refinished it 3 times cause I didn’t know how to stain the plain maple, finally got it right. I’ll post a picture in couple of days. Would like to see yours.

When I was 14 I ordered a Sharon kit. Dad brought home a TC. I had fun with the TC. I still wish I had got the Sharon.

Scota@4570 said:

When I was 14 I ordered a Sharon kit. Dad brought home a TC. I had fun with the TC. I still wish I had got the Sharon.

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Have you had therapy?

So......what is the history of Sharon rifles ?
How long did the company exist ?

TraderVic said:

So......what is the history of Sharon rifles ?
How long did the company exist ?

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Here’s a little history about the company:
http://grrw.org/sharon-rifle-barrel-co/

Thanks for the link, a very interesting read for sure. I remember (back in early 1978) crossing paths with a Muzzleloading enthusiast here in WI who had a Sharon rifle and proudly showed it to me.
I was in Ag School at the time, newly married and couldn't afford such an extravagance at that time. Would love to have any of the three, especially the full stock and the fowler.
Yeah, we'll, anyway....

Texas Gil said:

You are the only other Sharon hawkin builder I know of. I paid about 250 bucks for mine and at the time all my hunting buddies shot T/C Hawkins. My Sharon was real eye catcher to them. Love my Sharon. I’ve refinished it 3 times cause I didn’t know how to stain the plain maple, finally got it right. I’ll post a picture in couple of days. Would like to see yours.

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Nope- There is another one here.
The very first rifle I ever built was a 50 caliber Sharon Trade rifle, it was a high school shop project when I was a Freshman in HS. It was stolen by a room mate a few years later.
I was absolutely elated when I found the complete unbuilt Trade rifle kit a couple years ago.
My 2 fullstocks are a matched pair, one is a flint and the other is a percussion. I have to wonder if they were possibly a father/son project- the rock lock shows fine craftsmanship and a nice eye for proportions whereas the percussion is of more bulky proportions.

In its day Hal Sharons barrels were arguably the best out there and the kits were of outstanding quality with L&R locks.

This is the pair of fullstocks Sharon Rifle Barrel Co.

Good to know since for years I was all alone in the Sharon world. They are rock solid Guns made to hunt hard. Just like the originals.