who's got a 58 cal "hawkin" type caplock?

[Jac Spring]

Shipped my 54 CVA mountain rifles' barrel off today to get a viagra treatment - coming back as a 58. Who else has something like this - how do you like it? Suggestions on ball size and patch thickness? I guess they have .600" grooves.

 

[roundball]

Shipped my 54 CVA mountain rifles' barrel off today to get a viagra treatment - coming back as a 58. Who else has something like this - how do you like it? Suggestions on ball size and patch thickness? I guess they have .600" grooves.

As one reference, I have a GM 1" x 33" x 1:70" .58cal Flint drop-in barrel for a TC Hawken stock...I use Hornady .570's & .018" pillow ticking...extremely accurate.

 

[faw3]

Ive got the same set up as roundball's but in perc and hopeing for fullstock wood someday, they are "...extremely accurate" Fred :hatsoff:

 

[Fullstock58]

I have three 58's Lancaster Fullstock-flinter, Hawken Fullstock-flinter, and Hawken Fullstock-percussion. All use a .562 ball, my patchs are Pillow ticking washed several times to remove the sizing, then I make strips and some precut patchs.
IIRC they measure around .022. The precut patchs get a little thicker when dip lubed with either youngs or borebutter.

What was wrong with the 54cal? IMHO the 54 is about as good as it gets, not too much not to little.

How do I like it?
I built the Fullstock Hawken flinter in the late eighties,what I was looking for was a rifle for hunting Elk and Muledeer, the only reason I choose a 58cal when doing my research on caliber (I had a 50cal and 54 at the time) Lymans blackpowder handbook gave velocities and pressure numbers, and comparing the pressures between the different calibers I liked the fact that the 58cal never got out of the LUP range (lead units of pressure), where as the others were all in the CUP range (copper units of pressure) range the cup is a higher range, and thats with great amounts of powder. The other reason I choose the 58 was with a 36" barrel the total weight would be less and more comfortable to carry in the mountains. With the 58 you will have a more rainbow trajectory and it takes more powder to get the ball moving then the smaller calibers.
over the years Ive killed two Elk with the Hawken flinter and can say that the 58cal performed very well for me and is a pure joy to tote up and down the hills.

 

[Robbo]

Shipped my 54 CVA mountain rifles' barrel off today to get a viagra treatment -

Viagra treatment??? I thought you were about to tell us that the barrel was bent, and it was coming back straightened up a little :grin: :rotf:

 

[W T]

T/C 'Big Boar'; .570 PRB with .018 uncrushed linen.
Not much chance to work with it since the range burned down.

 

I don't know your barrel type, but my old .58 Hawken custom with a Green River (not Green Mt) barrel liked a .565 ball, denim patch and 100 gr ffg. I traded it off and now use .54s for big game--better trajectory with less powder. I am sorry I let it go, however, it was my second custom that I made myself and it turned out very nice...somewhere up in the Rockies I am sure it is still shooting the big balls!

 

[Jac Spring]

Thanks for feedback gentlemen. The barrel is 1" octagonal that is 32" long.

I bought this rifle used with rusty bore - I thought I could lapp it enough to enable it to shoot well enough but I'm not happy with the results - that's why I'm having it freshened.

When I first shot it, I thought the flyers might be due to my bench technique - but it was the bore as the last time I had it out I couldn't get it to shoot worth a flip - 8-12" spread at 50 yards. There's shallow pitting all around just down from the muzzle...

I'll like having a 58 - the buttplate on this rifle although a cressant design has a rounded top and is very comfortable on my shoulder and will handle the 58's recoil well.

I'm interested in Mr. Taylor's feedback after receiving and inspecting the barrel - the 1" flats will allow .02" of barrel material all around, which doesnt' allow much room for error! I don't know how true this barrel was cut to begin with... that's my concern.

We'll see!

 

[Mad Professor]

I think you should be fine with the 1" barrel. I've got a lyman in 58 that's a 15/16 barrel and I've put quite a few 525 gr conicals through it with a max load (90gr FFG) with no problems at all.

 

[FASTFRED]

Have been shooting a 58 cal full stock Hawken flinter for rendz and hunting for the passed 15 years...Has a 36 inch, 1" AF Green River Rifle Works barrel with 1 in 72 twist...

Shoot .575 round ball with 60 grain FFg and 90 grain FFg with a tight pillow tic patch for woods walks and "gallery" shooting out to 100 yds...Like a 125 grain load with the same ball/patching for game as I often take shots on elk from a sitting position out to 130 yds or so...

For an overall rifle for out west I would probably pick the 58...Would have the full stock Hawken flinter with flat to the wrist trigger guard, all iron mounted 1 inch AF, only with a 32 to 34 inch barrel...

Your right in that the 1 inch AF barrel size should be considered the smallest for a 58...62 cal definitely needs to be atleast a 1-1/8 AF barrel IMO...The Best... ...Lizard...

 

[Jac Spring]

Again, thank you both for the additional information and encouragement.

I had thought of going 56 caliber but then, I'd have to find a mould and cast my own balls - rather be able to buy Hornady swaged. I'll probably get a 58 caliber Lee target mini mould though - I like the 50 caliber version for sure. Should be short enough to shoot well from this too.

Primary intended purpose for this is prb though.

 

[Shifty]

:applause: O.S.O.K I think you will be very pleased with the 58 ,everyone seem's to have a favorite cal. some try to sway you towards theres.Get what you want ,try it out see what you think. I have a 58cal. use .570 RB , 90grn FF black powder , .010 pillow ticking, good accuracy, hardly any recoil. Matter of fact it is not choosy from 50grns. up has good accuracy. I like shooting it better than any of my others. Shifty