Info on Austin & Halleck .50 Cal Mountain rifle

A friend has a beautiful unfired like new Austin Halleck .50 percussion Mountain rifle he is wanting to sell. They were originally located in Weston Missouri and later moved to Provo Utah where this one was made. I think due to lower priced competition and some quality issues they went out of business in 2006. Info I have read mentions they were on the high-end price point compared to other factory-made rifles they competed against. This one has a 32" barrel with a 1-28" twist with barrel and hardware browned. Does anyone have any experience or info on this?

Is $500 to much for this rifle? It is in perfect unfired condition!

I have one made in Provo. It is the best made of any of my Hawkens. I would not sell it for $500. Maybe $700 ...maybe

$600 or so for a flinter is what sold on this forum recently and my nepew bought another at that price. Percussion i would say $500 is ok......

I’d value them at $500-$600 and would not pay over that price myself, for their flintlock models. But beware the later built ones did have quality issues.

I had one built in MO it was flawless! The flintlock was 100% reliable, and I never had a misfire.

Also check the grain orientation of the stock through the wrist. Some of their later/last guns had a lot of breakage as the wood was dry and/or the grain orientation was not optimum.

But honestly, I am surprised that has that ‘fast’ of a barrel twist; you should check it yourself. If indeed that ‘fast’, it was one of the later builds designed to shoot only minie or maxi-balls, not roundball loads.

Being a perc gun … ask yourself … are you wanting it to shoot heavy clinicals only? If not, I go for a good T/C or Lyman over that one, especially at that price.

The A-H styling is superior to those other makes, but I personally don’t think their perc models are worth more than $100 over the T/C or Lyman.

I've got one of their in-lines... and I think it is a pretty nice gun despite being an in-line. Back when I worked in a gun shop, their Mountain Rifles were in short supply and sought after, but I never actually saw or handled one. I've heard some stories about the later production guns. I gather that the Spanish-made barrels could be hit and miss on quality. I seriously doubt that it has that fast a twist rate... but it could be. That is the twist rate that their in-lines have and reportedly not all the existing documentation is accurate.

Personally, before I would pay that kind of money, I would look for a T/C Renegade or Hawken... but it's your money, not mine. That said, if it really is unfired... and especially if you have the original box, the price you mentioned is probably not that bad.

Thanks for you input, I have decided not to buy it because of its 1 in 28 twist and being a later production at Provo, Utah! It is unfired and comes with the original box

B.P. Fun said:

Thanks for you input, I have decided not to buy it …

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I think that is a wise choice!

To me, someone would want to have (1) that twist, (2) that specific make percussion rifle, as well as (3) having the original box and (4) being unfired.

And even then I would really check out the build quality and stock, e.g., grain orientation, etc. Unfortunately that combination appears to place it in quite the narrow or niche market.

When they closed the doors in Provo I bought one in the 1-66 twist and my dad bought the 1-28 twist. Mine has never been shot and is the safe queen.

FWIW, I had two otherwise identical A&H flintlock Mountain Rifles, one in 1:28" twist, the other 1:66".

I got the best overall performance with the 1:28" (YMMV)

Pietro said:

FWIW, I had two otherwise identical A&H flintlock Mountain Rifles, one in 1:28" twist, the other 1:66".

I got the best overall performance with the 1:28" (YMMV)

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Did you try any round ball or just use conical bullets?

B.P. Fun said:

Is $500 to much for this rifle? It is in perfect unfired condition!

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Worth at least $750 if not more. Couldn't duplicate this from scratch or replace for anything less than $1000. Buy it!!

I bought a used flint loader, one of the early models for $625 shipped, just recently.

just bought a austin halleck .50 1in 66 mountain rifle for $500. , still in the box , at auction . made in weston mo. i had always heard when they bought the company and moved it to provo utah , they only took the name , not the quality . i remember reading articles about a.h. toward the end of the companies existence. people were complaining about shoddy workmanship , on the mountain rifles .

I think you made a good deal!

I've seen Hatfield brand rifles, too. Look OK on auction sites, are they considered a good quality? Certainly seem more authentic than many common commercial offerings.

springfield art said:

I've seen Hatfield brand rifles, too. Look OK on auction sites, are they considered a good quality? Certainly seem more authentic than many common commercial offerings.

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What would you like to know about Hatfields? I have 4 half stocks from a very early build to a a Wilderness Rifle Works Elk Hunter. Each one is different. One has a “Hawken” L&R lock with no ramrod entry thimble in the stock (this is the earliest rifle) Another has a very thick wrist area. Yet another is a Missouri River Rifle Works build. All have iron mounts with what appear to be Mowery barrels. Mine are all great shooters and very accurate.