.490 or .495 with the .015 patch?

.490 unless the .495 will fit. The .495 usually uses a .010 patch.

Unless it's a .45 or a .54...

I found the .490 with a .015-020 patch worked the best. I purchase cotton pillow tick at Wal Mart. Its .018 thick and all cotton. I make a moose milk lube and it works real good with patched roundball.

If you have close shots, like 50 and under and want to shoot a conical, try a REAL conical. You cast them yourself. Smear some bore butter around them. And put 70 grains of powder under them. They really knock the snot out of a deer.

Is it a flintlock or percussion? If its a flintlock, I would only use Black Powder. (FFg for .50 cal or FFFg if .45 cal). Percussion, you can use black powder or as a substitute I would recommend Pyrodex RS or P. As for a projectile you can try patched round balls, Maxiballs, or T/C Shockwaves in 250 or 300 gr. Powerbelts either have a good following or are hated for lack of performance on game.

Actually, "poached" roundballs might work better, they aren't so dry!....LOL
In reality, both of my T/C Hawken rifles shoot "patched" roundballs well but don't be afraid to try a cast conical like T/C's Maxi-Ball, Maxi-Hunter or the Lee Real bullet like the others have mentioned. Use a bore button (felt wad of appropriate caliber) between the powder charge and the cast conical bullet...not with a sabot or powerbelt. Try different propellants, Black powder, Pyrodex, Triple 7, etc. as well as different patch, ball, and lube combos until you find out what your frontstuffer likes the taste of. That's a T/C Hawken you got there Pilgrim, one of the finest American made muzzleloaders there is. Take good care of it and keep er' clean and you'll be blessed with many years of shooting enjoyment!.....BPS

I dont have a Hawken but I do have a Renegade. It has been a wall display for at least 5 years. I pulled off the rack swabbed out the barrel ran a seasoned patched down it and loaded 100 gr FFG black powder and loaded a Maxi-Hunter and shot a 3 inch group at 50 yards off rest. Gonna hunt late muzzeloader with it. Bought gun in 1983, it never would shoot round balls only maxi hunters or heavier maxi balls. My go to muzzeloader is a Encore that is shoots 200 yd. what a difference in guns!!

i have not been on in longtime.good to see my friends here.

.50 cal t/c hawkins flintlock is what i have from 1969.
tried just about everything.
all good info on here, i learned a lot here over years too.

some points to save you a lot of trouble.
again only my experiences over year.
in the 1-48 twist i have found that hawkins does not handle the MAXI-HUNTERS well.to make it short,JUST DONT USE THEM.
but use the MAXI-BALL. they come in 370 grains.

this is bullet that tompson used at factory.one they rec.
i like around 80 grs for hunting.also what they rec to use.
i use GEOX 2F .but i am going to 3f this summer.
i bought 25 lbs of 3f.using 3f you have to reduce charge.
so stay with 2f.

use BORE BUTTON under your maxi-ball.
this keeps the bore butter off your powder and helps seal the bore.

if you use roundball, i use .490 ,.018 patch .i LIKE 70 grains of 2f.

my FAVORITE BULLET IS 295 powerbelt .i also just use 80 grs of 2f.
never load a PB hot .it has hollow point and will open on deer fine at 70 grs to 80 grs .
with PB i dont have to use BORE BUTTER in winter.
BB can freeze in cold and is messy in cold, so i use PB.

many here have great info and all work.

46 years using only hawkins .50 cal so i wasted a lot of money and time,which was fun too MAKING MISTAKES.

what i have given you is info i learned in all those years .