My son, who is an ipod wearing - video gaming typical teenager in many ways has a side to his personality that loves the beauty of the past. His recurve bow was too advanced to hunt with and he has switched to a long bow. He has hunted with his Granddad's Hawken that Granddad built from a kit many years ago. He has fallen in love with the Rock Mountain Hawken at Cabelas. He is working like crazy (today, it may not last) to earn the $1200 to buy it.

Other than a couple seasons with the Hawken and one with my new Accura we are new to muzzleloaders. We would appreciate any info you may have on Hawkens and the different variations, particularly the pricey one at Cabelas.

That Rocky Mountain Hawken is a really nice rifle - I've handled it, but not shot it. However, I wouldn't pay $1200 for it, that is a bit overpriced IMO. There are other options out there (T/C, Lyman) for similar traditional rifles at a much lower price. However, if your son loves it and wants to save up for it, I wouldn't stop him!

That is great your son is saving for something no matter what it is. He is learning the discipline required to put off immediate gratification for a future goal.

I have been doing the same towards the purchase of an AR

Good luck to your son on his savings.

That is awful expensive might look at this very close cousin...

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/m...ains-rifle.php

This a very good replica of a traditional ML..

Temphank, those Pedersolis at Cabala's sure are pretty, but mighty pricey. I don't know if there's a Cabala's close to you. But I once saw a RM Hawkens in the Bargain Cave of the Cabala's in my area with a $600 price tag. I looked it over pretty closely and could find no flaw except for a minor scratch on the buttstock. If you're close enough to one of their stores to check every couple of weeks you may get lucky.

On the other hand, as others have said, the Lyman Great Plains Rifle is a might fine gun. I have one in .54 and would recommend that gun and caliber highly.

The Lyman is a better bargain, but it's not half the gun the Pedersoli is.

I think your son will love it.

i want the pedersoli missouri hawken. Looks traditional but inside the bore, shes loaded with a Thor!

Temphank, Look around on some of the traditional muzzleloading
sights and you can hunt for and find a builder who will build your son a True Hawken style rifle for not much more than Cabelas rifle. If he doesnt want to go that route the Lyman Great Plains is a very good rifle for less money. The Lyman in "54" caliber is hard hitting and a whole lot better balanced than the "50". Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading will build you a great rifle for a fair price and are very well thought of by everyone. Good Luck, and start him right.---slicjack

If you want to wait forever for it.

Pedersoli makes some cheap guns that aren't that good.

The Hawken isn't one of them.

If he has $1,200 burning a hole in his pocket, send him here...

www.flintlocks.com