Muley Hunter

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%.

Scoobiedoo6559

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!

Muley Hunter

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.

Scoobiedoo6559

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!

Jenks

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.

Scoobiedoo6559

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.

Muley Hunter

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

Scoobiedoo6559

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

cayugad

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.

Muley Hunter

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.