I've read that the sidelock hunters are down to less than 10% of the total. That's still a lot when you consider there's 4 million ML hunters, but we're a dying group when you consider it used to be 100%.

WV Hunter,
I'd prob say from what I have observed from all the BP hunters I know - few seem to even want a 'traditional' rifle any longer. Everyone I know uses an inline now....I get looked at like I have '6 Heads' with my Great Plains rifle!

Using a sidelock is a personal choice. You do it for yourself, because you won't find many hunters thinking you made the right choice.

It's really fun to use one in rifle seasons. :cool2:

Oh I agree. I use one because I LIKE them, their design, history, etc. and not what 'everyone else is doing.' I could care less what the 'popular thing' is and who is doing what, where and when.

I walk my own path!

I had a T/C Hawken, I sold it after I bought an Investarm Hawken. The Investarm has much better wood, appeared unfired and was $125 used. It was made in 1985 in Italy, where they make some very nice guns. I would not trade it for a new T/C. Cabelas now sells them as well as Lyman. I don't like their max load tho, it is 90 gr. Pyrodex with a patched RB. T/C was over 100 gr.(110, I think) with the same(15/16") barrel size.

True. The Cabela's Hawken I believe is a 1:48 twist which shoots both conicals and round balls. It's not an ideal RB rifle but not bad if the right load is found....tho I do agree that a 90 gr charge is a tad low - tho I don't use any more than 90 grs of Triple 7 in my Lyman Great Plains rifle even tho it will take 120 grs.

I killed an elk with 80gr, and a PRB. What are you guys hunting that 90gr isn't enough?

Nothing. According to Sam Fadala and others that I know 90 grs is more than adequate for the PRB.

I have no faith in these "experts" that tell me a roundball, projected at such and such speed is not a lethal projectile. I call bull on that. I've shot far too many deer with a simple roundball to believe their non lethal line of bunk. They base their "knowledge" for the most part on numbers. And numbers don't paint the entire picture.

Sam Fadala is a bit of a nut. He recommends 1 grain powder for every grain of bullet weight. So, a .54 RB would be 225gr of powder.

Good way to get hurt.