Hey Wullie...My New Toy

[Buzz]

Well, I see the limitations of a Hawken.

Not good in pouring rain.

Really heavy to carry all day...11 1/2 lbs

Limited range.

Lead balls only..twist too slow for conicals


I have to kill a bunch of coyotes for some ranchers. ($) I need range. The Hawken is good for 100 yds. I plan to hunt Elk next fall. Hawken needs range and more knock down power at long range. Hard to get a close shot at an Elk in Colorado at the areas i'll be hunting.


So, with all that said. I have to put my traditional side on the back burner and get a gun that will do the job. Only one choice. An inline with scope. I bought a CVA Accura V2 .50 cal. I shot it today with Powerbelt Aerotip .295 gr bullet and 150 gr of 777 powder. It shot 1" groups at 100 yds and 2" groups at 200 yds I can stretch it to 250 yds, but i'd need a good shot or else i'd be chasing the Elk. I'm going to play around with .223 gr bullets for the coyote. That will blow them apart, but that the smallest I can find for a .50 cal. I can go to .425 gr for really big stuff like a moose or Grizz.

Anyway, here it is with out scope. I bought a Bushnell for it.

http://www.cva.com/rifles-accura.php

[Wullie]

Not good in pouring rain.
True, but not insurmountable.

Really heavy to carry all day...11 1/2 lbs
Get a horse. ( or in your case your trusty JEEP) LOL
Those things were NEVER meant to carried by a man on foot for any great distance. Look at the differences between a "Kentucky/Pennsylvania" long rifle. THe longrifles are delicate compared to the Hawkens or "plains rifles". The Hawkens were built heavy to withstand the rigors of mounted travel. The wrist of the stock is thick, the stock is a "half-stock" all of this helped the gun to remain usable in adverse conditions. The barrels were wider across the flats and heavier to prevent getting bent in a fall. They don't carry worth a shit. A long rifle of the same weight is pretty easy to wag.

Limited range.
Yep, comes with the territory.

Lead balls only..twist too slow for conicals
Not much you can do about that.

I have to kill a bunch of coyotes for some ranchers. ($) I need range.
If it was me, I'd be using a center fire. 243's are great for critters.

I plan to hunt Elk next fall. Hawken needs range and more knock down power at long range. Hard to get a close shot at an Elk in Colorado at the areas i'll be hunting.
Bummer. Knocking a big bull on his ass with charcoal would be a hoot.

I bought a CVA Accura V2 .50 cal.
Gawd that is ugly, but it is about as high tech as you can get and still burn charcoal.

I can go to .425 gr for really big stuff like a moose or Grizz.
Practice Practice Practice!! Burns LOTS of powder. I've heard it's rough reloading with a pissed off bear chomping on your ass.

[Buzz]

Yes, reloading during a Grizz attack is not recommended.

I have a 44 mag if the one shot for the ML fails. Not a bear stopper, but it might discourage him a bit.


btw I'll still use the Hawk for deer. I have a place that doesn't require much hiking or long distance shots.

btw btw..I couldn't bring myself to put a scope on a Hawken. With my crap eyesight I needed it for the Elk/Coyote. I figured it couldn't hurt the looks of the Accura. Actually, it makes it look better. I think it will out more meat in my freezer. ( my goal)

I thought you'd be happy with the 150 gr loads?

[Wullie]

With my crap eyesight

I can DAMN sure relate. Trifocals suck. I had 20-10 vision until I was 50. It went to shit then.

I am impressed with the accuracy of the 150 gr. load.

I had a "Santa Fe" Hawken (Can't remember if was Uberti or Pedersoli but it was a well made chunk of gun) that was a weird .53 cal. 100 gr of FF in that punk wasn't much fun but it would sent that round ball smokin off down range. It would crack pretty good and I think it was way over supersonic with the big loads. Never got that kind of accuracy out of it with the big loads. It liked 70 or so grains the best. Never shot it off a bench. I figured minute of deer was good enough for me. Somebody saw it and liked it enough to get me to sell it and away it went.

I started shooting cartridge guns again after that for a while. Then I moved to the city because I got tired of driving 70 miles for a drink.

The city sucks but the bars are close. And now I've pretty much quit drinking.... EXCEPT for a shot or two if tequila every now and then.

[Buzz]

I never got into drinking. I can't say the same for drugs. It almost killed me.

I'm clean since 1980.

[Pudfark]

If you reload for that .44 Buzz? 275-300 grain very hard cast lead bullets and a large dose of 296 or H110, compressed load with a very heavy crimp oughta do the trick....these are not recommended for a steady diet through them sissy S&W model 29's...but the Rugers and equivalent will eat'em fer breakfast.....and you'll have bear for breakfast.....they tend to shoot a little high compared to other "standard" loads, so, if you should take my advice, when sighting in that load on a bench? Don't put yer off hand under the grip...or you'll be back here typing one handed and a cuss'n me....

[Buzz]

I'll give it a try Pud. I'm not sure sighting it in will be necessary. If I need it, i'm sure it will be an "Oh Shit" moment and i'll just point shoot it.

[Buzz]

Wullie................I forgot to say I didn't get the one that shows when you go to the link. Click on "additional models". I got the black stock one without the thumbhole stock. (bottom right) I've never liked camo guns, or thumbhole stocks.

Of course nothing could be as good looking as a Hawken.

[Buzz]

Wullie..............I made friends with this guy. We're going Elk hunting together next year. He said i'll have to use the Hawken though. He's very traditional as you can see by the pictures. He lives in the mountains in a cabin like me with his wife and two kids. He guides for an income. He does everything like the old days (1800's) I guess i'll start lugging the Hawken around to get used to it.

Check out his hunt.


http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusio ... 0098/tp/1/

[Wullie]

Had to register. Now I have to wait to see the pics. Sounds like a fun place.

I'm glad you didn't a thumbholed, cammy stocked contortion. LOL