I am planning a trip to Colorado ML for elk. I have a nice TC Hawken I built from a kit 20 plus years ago. It shoots good but, It's pretty heavy, and I would like a lighter easier to clean and reload ML. (and I want a sling for this trip)

Since I am 70, I don't want to invest too heavy in another ML.

So, having given the situation, which of the newer ML's, powders and bullets would you folks reccomend.

Colorado doesn't permit pellets, sabots or scopes.

Thanks for your comments

Wow, thats a hard quesiton since the one you got is what I would recommend. Put a >350gr Maxiball in it with a good accurate load and go hunting. I just can't think of too many guns that are light enough to warrent buying another gun. I have a MK-85 that is nice and light and handy. But still not sure its much lighter than your hawken.

You did not mention what caliber the Hawken is. If it is a .54 and the twist is real slow you could still do well with a round ball or one of the lead maxiballs or Ballets. If it is one in 48 you can shoot a lot of the conicals which are legal as well as the Powerbelts. If it is a .50 cal I think a 348gr. Powerbelt would do well out of the rifle. I have an Omega which I use for elk in Arizona; however, I have killed elk with .50cal. T/C scout which is less of a rifle than your Hawken. If you must go with a new rifle and think an inline type might be more what you are looking for I guess the best I can suggest for the money is one of the H&R break action ones that are still USA manufactured. There are a couple of other similar rifles made in USA as well as some made in Spain which many feel are not as safe shooting heavy loads with as the USA manufactured ones. As far as easier cleaning you could try one of the new synthetic powders that leave little residue and are not as corrosive as the old stuff. I recommend in the following order from best to worst best is Black Mag'3, the next best is American Pioneer Powder if fffg form, Next best is probably Goex Pinnacle in fffg (although it is so new I have some but have not shot it yet), next is Tripple Seven in fffg form (personally I do not like the triple seven but a lot of guys have good luck with it even though it tends to form a crud ring in the barrel which makes quick reloads more difficult). With the Black Mag'3 or American Pioneer in fffg you will probably be able to reload and shoot a second shot without a swab between shots. I would set the rifle up with a peep sight although there seems to be a lot of question as to whether peep sights are legal in Colorado. I have seen a lot of posts that say the residents use them and the game wardens do not complain. If you are old enough for your eye sight to be like mine (at 67) the peep sight is the only open or iron type I can use and get a good sight picture anymore.

Since Colorado I believe has restrictions on sabots, then you need a conical shooting rifle that is light weight. If you have some time, perhaps order a rifle from Doc White in a kit. You can get a White - Whitetail G series kit for around $230.00. This would shoot the 460 or 495 grain No Excuse Conical excellent. Give Doc White a call or email. He is a great guy to deal with I have been told.

Another alternative is a CVA Buckhorn .50 caliber. You could then load it with Powerbelts and hunt elk with that. Both of them can have a sling thrown on them and would not be all that heavy of a rifle...

A lot will depend on how much money you want to spend and how much time you have before you hunt. After all it takes time to work the rifle up into a good load.

Another option would be to either cut the barrel down and make it a carbine (probably not what you want to do with a nice Hawken), or you could order a Green Mountain drop-in replacement barrel and have it cut down to carbine length.

It's too bad T/C doesn't make the White Mountain Carbine anymore. I have one in .50cal that used to be my dads, and it is one light handly little rifle. Granted, it's not a super-duper, 150 grain fire-breathing monster, but stuff a 385 grain Great Plains conical down the pipe and it'll flatten deer out to 100-125 yards pretty well. Kicks like a mule, though, because it weighs only about 6 pounds with a light 4x scope. Without a scope (which are illegal in CO for ML season, anyway), it'd weigh no more than 5.5lbs.

If I can dig out my digital camera I'll post a picture of it. It's a great little gun.

Mike

Here's the picture:



Mike

Here ya' go Pops!

Buy a hotter nipple for it when ordering. The ones with the gun are tepid.

Slinged Lyman Deerstalker 1-48" twist

Spit-Fire Nipples (you need 6X75)

That deerstalker is a good lucking rifle

With the exception of the sling you can make the same rifle with your Hawken and order a Green Mountain drop in barrel with shorter length and faster twist for the conicals and the cost is about $160. I think there are sling adaptors for the front of the rifle also unless you do not want to mess up your Hawken by installing the rear sling stud.

MLKeith... an excellent idea. They make a short 21" .50 caliber with a 1:28 twist for that Hawkins of his. It would cut the weight, and be able to shoot a conical real well. Green Mountain Barrel Company are great barrels. You can call and talk to them at (603) 447-1095