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ZenRooster

32 Cal
Joined
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EDITED: Thanks, Eric!

Newbie, here. :)

Late last year, I decided to give muzzleloading a try after reading about it online (and on this forum), so I bought a few rifles. Unfortunately, I really don't have the time to start the hobby. My question is, which of the following rifles might you keep if you could only keep one? (I know next to NOTHING about muzzleloaders or muzzleloading in general, so your opinion and guidance would be greatly appreciated.)

1. Thompson / Center Hawken, 50 Cal. (I remember the seller mentioning that it was an older 5-digit serial number, whatever that means. I just thought it looked pretty.)

2. Austin & Halleck, 50 Cal. (I read somewhere that A&H made a superb quality muzzleloader, and this particular one is in mint condition.)

Personally, I'm leaning toward the Austin & Halleck, but I don't know why.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.

ZR
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The TC is a good gun, but I know nothing about the A & H except the front sight is on backwards. I have a gut feeling it is the better of the two, but wait till someone who knows give a reply.
Larry
 
The AH does have the front sight backwards. That's an easy fix to remove the front sight and reverse it.

Do you have all the inserts for the globular front sight for the T/C? The tang sight is not one of the better tang peep sights, but it does work, and you do have the original rear sight. Probably keep the T/C.
 
I would keep the very nice early production Thompson/Center.

You can read quite a bit on the Austin & Halleck's on this forum by doing some searches. I had one for several years. Never got around to shooting it as it just did not "speak" to me. Of course your mileage may vary.

Your Austin & Halleck looks like it was from a kit. If I recall correctly A & H sold kits; could just be a refinished gun . . . wood looks way lighter than others I have seen.
 
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The AH will be more historically correct, as much as possible for a repro. The AH will likely serve you better if your just shooting patched round ball. The twist rate in the TC will give OK performance with ball or conical if the rifling isn't worn out. If you can swing it buy both and sell the one you least like. Also I believe the AH could be converted to flint later on, if you chose but others on here may be more up on that than I.
 
I have had both, and much prefer the A&H sidelocks to the T/C Hawken.

To my eye, the A&H styling is like a sexy sports car; while the T'C's just about exactly the same as any other Hawken club.

My A&H's though, were both rocklocks - one with 1:28" rifling twist for conicals & one with 1:60" rifling twist for PRB's. (A&H stamped the twist rate into the underside of their barrels)

They both were a bit more accurate than my T/C Hawken - a definite plus.
 

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