50 cal. Hawken with 1:48 barrel....

BKE · 12-08-2009, 06:20 AM

I was planning on sticking to PRB but since reading that the 1:48 ROT is kind of middle of the road, unlike 1:28 that doesn't favor RB or 1:66 that isn't best for conicals, I wanted to ask for your opinions on other load options. Besides the target range, for whitetail and hogs what combinations other than PRB might I try?

TNHagies · 12-08-2009, 06:35 AM

Well, I wouldn't discredit the PRB just yet. Both of my 1/48s shoot them very well.

However, the 1/48 works well with a lot of choices in bullets. Both of mine shoot 250g and 300g XTPs well. My TC Hawken shoots 460g Bullshops extremely well. Just shoot what you have and see how they shoot. You might be surprised just how versitile it is.

cayugad · 12-08-2009, 08:23 AM

You have to experiment, but you will find a lot of 1-48 twist rifles will shoot a number of different things. I've shot roundball, conical and even sabots out of mine, with good results.

buccaneer · 12-08-2009, 10:31 AM

In my T/C Renegade .54 I shoot 100 grains Pyrodex and T/C Maxi-Hunter over a felt wad and get great accuracy. I also shoot a Cabelas Hawkin Carbine in .50 with 100 grains Pyrodex and Buffalo Bullet/felt wad and get great accuracy. These rifles have killed loads of pigs from when I lived in Florida and they do good work on the deer up here.
My Renegade shoots fantastic with 100 gr Pyrodex and PRB also, but the Cabelas Hawken loves the conical.

lemoyne · 12-08-2009, 12:11 PM

The 1-48 is a very popular twist because it will do a good job with PRB, with a .495 ball and a ticking patch greased with bore butter mine would put 5 shoots in a ragged hole at 5o yds. It will also shoot a number of conicals I would recommend Hornady FPB or the Thor Real bullets and Ballets shoot well in mine to. Mine will also shoot sabots with the 180,200 and 230gr bullets well enough to hit a Grapefruit at a 100 yds. It does not do well with the longer heavier bullets in a sabot.

oldtiger · 12-08-2009, 12:58 PM

My TC Hawken loves 240 gr hollow points 451.5 in mmp #12 sabots, charged by 80 gr T7. Eight shots in 2" bull from 25 to 100 yds with one called flyer 3" left.

MountainDevil54 · 12-08-2009, 01:39 PM

295gr powerbelt aerotip with 80-90gr pyrodex rs will do the job. for patched round balls, you'll want to try a .490 ball wrapped in a .015 or .018 lubed patch.

Krypt Keeper · 12-09-2009, 05:07 AM

My Hawken has a 1:48 twist barrel and I am currently using 250 grain Shockwaves with 90grains by vol. of Pyrodex RS. Does a great job for me in this gun, I am also using this same mix in my other .50 cal and also using 90 grain vol. in my .45 cal using a 200 gr shockwave.