I just got my 21" barrel in today. But I have a question. Did T/C shorten the stocks on their Hawkens rifles? I had to remove and lop off about 1 1/2" off the bar that holds the ramrod thimble and rotate the ramrod retaining spring 180 degrees.
It was no big deal with the dremel tool and a bit of blueing but for someone without the proper tools and thinking he was getting a barrel he could just swap out, it could be a hassle.
Did you guys have to do the same?

I had to do the same thing. What I think GMB does is put the same thimble rib on all their barrels. This barrel, being so short, required more taken off. I had to cut off the same amount, turn the ramrod tension spring, and then I took some Birchwood Casey Barrel Black (felt tip marker pen) and painted the cut off part. You'd never see it because it fits against the stock. I used my dremel tool also, but I think I could have carefully done it with a hacksaw. If people still use them things..

Hey Dave, at our age the Dremel saves on the arms. I'm not sure what type of steel that is for the thimble rib, but it sure takes a blueing really fast. It turned black almost instantly. I waited the required 1 min time and rinsed. I didn't have to but I gave it another treatment just in case, rinsed, wiped dry and oiled. Maybe I'll be able to sneak out tomorrow and try her out. If not tomorrow, Monday. I'll give the report when I get back from shooting it.

Green mountain must have a lot of those 50 cal 21 inch 1x28 barrels I see several smoothbore 54 sold also. I have a t c encore in 1x28 I got the 54 smoothbore to play with shot loads

Well, we were suppposed to get a few flurries today and clear up later so I thought, no big deal. Its 0930 now and we have about an inch of flurries on the ground and its still coming down, sideways with a strong windand temp right around 32. Not a real good day to try out a new barrel. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I got the 54 smooth bore also shoots PBR out to 50 yds good fun barrel to play with.

It is snowing real hard here today and then the winds will be in here tonight with the bitter cold. They have wind chill warnings out, so it looks like there will be no range for a few days.. Good luck with them barrels and let us know what loads you like.

For being windy that's some good shooting there.