Breaking in a new Hawken
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
Breaking in a new Hawken
My brother and I were able to get out on the range today and despite the 32* weather, he did extremely good!
We took a total of 6 shots to break the barrel in with the break in patch lube, went inside to warm up and reload.
This time I decided to push it up to a hunting load of 90gr 2fg goex, .020" patch and hand cast .530" round ball.
So much for 1:48 twist barrels not being accurate with round balls!
We were shooting 50 yards and she needed a lot of sight adjustment.
In the end, the 90gr load was super accurate and a great elk load for September should he draw a tag. If not, a good deer load for sure.
Now that I know shes a shooter, its time to clean her up, strip it down and start the wood work. A lot of wood to remove off the wrist and the butt plate area of the stock.
We took a total of 6 shots to break the barrel in with the break in patch lube, went inside to warm up and reload.
This time I decided to push it up to a hunting load of 90gr 2fg goex, .020" patch and hand cast .530" round ball.
So much for 1:48 twist barrels not being accurate with round balls!
We were shooting 50 yards and she needed a lot of sight adjustment.
In the end, the 90gr load was super accurate and a great elk load for September should he draw a tag. If not, a good deer load for sure.
Now that I know shes a shooter, its time to clean her up, strip it down and start the wood work. A lot of wood to remove off the wrist and the butt plate area of the stock.
Last edited by MountainDevil54; 09-23-2018 at 01:04 PM.
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
Oh I believe this will be a mixture of the birchwood casey walnut and dixies antique gun stain. I will use the walnut stain over the antique to cut back the reddish brown color. It really highlights the wood when you go over one stain with a darker color.
#4
Do you use a "filler" type stain? I tried min-wax (I believe a gel type) type stain on a .22 rifle stock one time and was repulsed with the outcome. Ended up stripping it and have yet to re-finish it with another stain.
BPS
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#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
no filler. Once its stained, I lightly buff with with 0000 steel wool to make the wood smooth once more and then follow up with 2 coats of hand rubbed linseed oil that I allow to soak in for 24 hours. Wipe the stock down HARD with a rag and then I start applying thin coats of Truoil.
#6
no filler. Once its stained, I lightly buff with with 0000 steel wool to make the wood smooth once more and then follow up with 2 coats of hand rubbed linseed oil that I allow to soak in for 24 hours. Wipe the stock down HARD with a rag and then I start applying thin coats of Truoil.
BPS
Last edited by Blackpowdersmoke; 01-15-2016 at 03:44 PM.
#8
Have you ever wrapped a stock that you were in no hurry for in linseed oil soaked cloth and just put it away? Maybe just soaking the cloth at intervals to maintain that oil soak? Seems I read somewhere that old time rifle builders would do that with a chunk of maple or walnut so that the wood was impregnated with the oil prior to their shaping it.
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#10
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Boncarbo,Colorado
Posts: 9,186
another new lube I am testing out that I recently made. Its to polish any imperfections out of the bore like scratches, burrs, from a new barrel or to freshen up a well used barrel that may have suffered from some lighter pitting here and there.
A picture of the bore new,
After we took those 12 shots today,
A picture of the bore new,
After we took those 12 shots today,
Last edited by MountainDevil54; 09-23-2018 at 01:04 PM.