TC Hawkins .54 & .45

Old/New · 07-05-2009, 07:14 AM

Met a guy at the range on Saturday. He was watching me shoot my Lyman and we got to talking. He has 2 caplocks. A TC Hawkin .54cal & a TC Hawkin .45cal. Says he bought them in the '70s. Hasn't shot them but now wants to.

I linked him to this site &MM but I would like to email him back some info and potential starting loads. What twist rates were these guns available in? He says he wants to try sabots. Any ideas?

Appreciate the help.
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cayugad · 07-05-2009, 08:06 AM

The .54 caliber would be a 1-48 twist. The .45 caliber I am not really sure, some of the older ones were roundball barrels.

Starting loads for the .54 would be 80-100 grains of powder and a round ball. They will shoot sabots, but the .54 caliber sabot is hard to come by a lot unless you order them in bulk. If he were to try a sabot I would shoot between a 240 and 300 grain XTP and see how the rifle likes them. Again, 80 grains would be a good starting point.

sabotloader · 07-05-2009, 08:15 AM

Old/New

I have got a bunch of 54 sabots, use to shoot them my Renegade 54 - If you need some to get started let me know.

I shot Hornady 300 grain XTP's and 80 grain T7-2f - they shot very well also...

Old/New · 07-05-2009, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the info. He supposedly has his manuals so if he locates them we'll know more about the .45. I would like to get him going muzzy.

sabotloader,
I'm sure he would like to try your .54 sabots. I'll PM you after I contact him again.

lemoyne · 07-05-2009, 02:52 PM

The 45 is probably a 1-48 twist, I have one I won in 1972 as I remember and it has a 1-48 twist.
With PRB it shoots well with 60 gr of Pyrodex P.
With the 45/40 sabot it shoots well with 90 gr P and a 180 gr Gold Dot.
Lee