New sights for T/C Hawken

[Johnny Reb]

I replaced the moderns sights on my T/C Hawken with traditional ones. I like the looks of the new sights, I think I'm going to to the same for my T/C renegade

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I did the same thing for my CVA St. Louis Hawken.....I wanted a more traditional sight as well. Just got it back on Sat; haven't had a chance to shoot it yet with the new sights.....hopefully in about 3 weeks.







Sorry for the poor quality of the pics.....I ain't no photographer!

[Johnny Reb]

very nice Mr 16 guage. I got very lucky with my new sights I didn't have to file the sight down, just had to nudge the front sight a little. I'm shooting 2' groups at 40 yds. I originally wanted my barrel milled with a 3/8' dovetail but the local gunsmith wanted a 150.00 to do the job, I just didn't have the money. good luck with your new sights.
Best Regards
Dan

[Ontario Hawken]

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir, but be certain to put some grease under the sight. I took mine off and found some pitting (previous owner's fault).

I put a peep on my T/C hawken last winter and if all goes well I plan to use it for Black Bear this Sept. I find that I enjoy shouldering and shooting this gun much more than my Remington 30.06 semi

[Johnny Reb]

Originally Posted by Ontario Hawken

Maybe I'm preaching to the choir, but be certain to put some grease under the sight. I took mine off and found some pitting (previous owner's fault).

I put a peep on my T/C hawken last winter and if all goes well I plan to use it for Black Bear this Sept. I find that I enjoy shouldering and shooting this gun much more than my Remington 30.06 semi

Thanks for the tip O.H If ya don't mind me asking, What kind of load will you be using for Black Bear and what caliber is your T/C Hawken? I' m hoping to go Black Bear hunting this year too, this will be my first bear hunt. my load will be 80 gr. goex BP and a 460 gr hollow base flat point great plains bullet.

[Gil Martin]

I replaced the front sight beads on my T/C Hawken rifles with blade front sights. Then I put traditional fixed rear sights on all my Lyman flintlocks. Now I can see the sights. All the best...
Gil

[Johnny Reb]

Originally Posted by Gil Martin

I replaced the front sight beads on my T/C Hawken rifles with blade front sights. Then I put traditional fixed rear sights on all my Lyman flintlocks. Now I can see the sights. All the best...
Gil

Hi Gil
before I replaced my hawken rear sights with the fixed sights I thought it would be harder on my 50 year old eyes, to my surprise it was easier for me to see the sights. I'm going to get the ted cash front blade sights for both my hawken and renegade from the track of the wolf. Gil, you said you own lyman flintlocks, do you have a trade flintlock rifle? I'm asking cause I am thinking about getting me one and I was wondering what your thoughts on it are. Thanks
Best Regards
Dan

[Ontario Hawken]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reb

Thanks for the tip O.H If ya don't mind me asking, What kind of load will you be using for Black Bear and what caliber is your T/C Hawken? I' m hoping to go Black Bear hunting this year too, this will be my first bear hunt. my load will be 80 gr. goex BP and a 460 gr hollow base flat point great plains bullet.

Johnny,

I'm in the same boat. I've always you'd a centerfire for hunting bears. I'll be using a T/C Hawken in 50 cal this September for black bear. The shot will be at about 40 yards.

I think the load you're suggesting should do the job, but I might increase the powder to 100 gr. Bears are very different than deer. The hide is thicker, there are a layers of fat and the bone structure is heavier. Plus you are hunting something that can potentiall bite back; make sure you have good shot placement with an adequate load so Yogi goes down and stays down.

Where will you be hunting? Is it a guided hunt? I've whacked 8 black bears to date so if you'd like a few pointers on hunting them I'd be more than happy to share what I know....

[Adam Helmer]

Johnny Reb,

You are correct that fixed sights are the traditional sights for muzzleloaders. I have a dozen muzzloader Hawkens in both flint and caplock and a couple Renegades. I much prefer the factory rear sights from T/C because sight-in with ball or Maxis requires sight adjustments with a screwdriver on factory sights or a hammer and file on fixed sights.

I can see replacing the bead front sight with a medium wide blade sight, but the rear sight for me must be adjustable. If a rifle will be used exclusively for Ball or Maxis, then go for FIXED sights front and rear. Since I cast ball and maxis and shoot both from most of my rifles, I need the T/C factory adjustable rear sights.

Adam

[Johnny Reb]

Originally Posted by Adam Helmer

Johnny Reb,

You are correct that fixed sights are the traditional sights for muzzleloaders. I have a dozen muzzloader Hawkens in both flint and caplock and a couple Renegades. I much prefer the factory rear sights from T/C because sight-in with ball or Maxis requires sight adjustments with a screwdriver on factory sights or a hammer and file on fixed sights.

I can see replacing the bead front sight with a medium wide blade sight, but the rear sight for me must be adjustable. If a rifle will be used exclusively for Ball or Maxis, then go for FIXED sights front and rear. Since I cast ball and maxis and shoot both from most of my rifles, I need the T/C factory adjustable rear sights.

Adam

Hi Adam
I agree with you on the rear sights. I too enjoy shooting both ball and conicals with my muzzleloaders. My renegade shoots conicals as accurate as rb's,So I decided to keep the rear adjustable sight for it. I also am going to get ted cash front blade sights for her. I am using the Hawken strictly for patched ball.

[Ontario Hawken]

Johnny,

Not sure if you got this message on bear hunting.

Location

Near or in heavy cover ***8211; bears are typically cautious and don***8217;t like to cross clearings if they can help it (at least during the daylight). Clear all brush, trigs and set up your stand when you establish your bait. Don***8217;t leave this until just before you hunt or you***8217;ll spook the bears. Also, clear as many twigs, brush etc getting to your stand location so you can set up as quietly as possible

Stand location

You can hunt from the ground, but as with deer getting off the ground is better. Bears don***8217;t have great eyesight, but their hearing is excellent and I personally believe that their sense of smell is better than a deer. I have hunted 40 yards from the bait location, but I think a little closer wouldn***8217;t hurt, esp. if you want a nice clear shot.

Bait

I use a 45 gallon drum with logs propped in the front. The logs will keep the racoons out, but more importantly will let you know that bear has visited the bait (a game camera is handy too). I use oats and old fryer oil. Day-old donuts work very well (if you can get them) as does dairy ration. Apparently there are commercial bear baits available, but I***8217;ve never had the chance to use them.

Burn some honey/pork fat over a stove when you set up the bait. You can also sprinkle some raspberry Jell-O around the bait site or pour some fryer oil on the surrounding trees. Artificial vanilla extract in a spray bottle is also a magnet to bears. This will carry in the breeze and attract bears in the area. Also pour some fryer in front of the bait racoons and the first bear at the site will carry their feet far and wide. You can pour some hog molasses on the trees as well (should be able to get this from a farm supply store).

Put out an 80 lb bag of oats and at least 4 gallons of fryer oil and mix together in the drum. It might sound like too much, but you want plenty of feed to keep a bear or bears in the area. Check the bait weekly during the middle of the day (you don***8217;t want to spook bears in the evening as they feed). If need be reduce or increase the amount of bait as required.

Timing

I find hunting mornings is pointless. On a calm evening the air settles and ***8220;slides***8221; back and forth in the canopy. You***8217;ve likely experienced this deer hunting - little breezes coming from different directions as the air cools. If this happens the bears will pick up your scent; I***8217;d suggest hunting during an evening when there is a slight breeze.

The Bear

If you pop a bear DON***8217;T wait too long to track it. The last thing you want is to be tracking a wounded bear after dark. You***8217;re better off to return in the morning or with a buddy a few hours later and let the bear stiffen up. As a muzzleloader hunter I am certain you are no cowboy; we all pick our shots and don***8217;t fool around ***8220;shooting from the hip***8221; like some center-fire nuts do.

When you shoot a bear it may stand there for one second before bounding off ***8211; this is normal. As it panics you***8217;ll hear lots of breaking branches and you might even hear a death grown as it passes. Keep in mind that bears will head for cover and may try to get under brush or logs as they run out of steam. Track you bear carefully and when you do find it down, come from behind with gun loader and give it a good hard kick (just in case). The furthest I***8217;ve had a bear go is 80 yards after a shot, the shortest was 10 yards.

After the Shot

I was told by hunting guides in Wawa, Ontario, that the reason bear meat tastes badly is because the carcass wasn***8217;t skinned and cooled quickly. Bears are short, stocky and fatty animals with thick skin and fur; you can***8217;t hang them as you would a deer. Gut, skin quarter and cool the meat AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE after the shot. If not, you may find the meat has an off flavour.

We***8217;ve always followed the rule of cooling bear meat quickly before we butcher it ourselves. Bear meat is exceptional and I prefer it to deer any day of the week. When you skin a bear cut off the head, feet and paws with the skin. You can skin these out later yourself or get a taxidermist to do it for you (believe me, its worth the extra money to get them to do it). Put the skin in the freezer ASAP once skinned.

[Johnny Reb]

Thanks O.H for all your time and effort on this post. I much appreciate all your help.

[Ontario Hawken]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reb

Thanks O.H for all your time and effort on this post. I much appreciate all your help.

No worries. Let me know how you make out.

Two other ponts I picked up recently from another bear hunter:

1) Put marshmallows on the twigs around the bait. The bear has to stick around to eat them.

2) if you think there is a large bear hitting the bait, but it never appears go into the stand with two hunters. One climbs into the stand, the other waits a few minites and then leaves. Apparently a large bear will "stage" for awhile (not unlike deer) to listen for possible danger. The bear thinks that only one hunter has come in and then left, unaware that one still in the stand. No idea if this works or not, but an interesting idea...

[Ontario Hawken]

Johhny,

I attached a few pics of some previous success with bears. Hope you like them...

[Johnny Reb]

Thanks for the Pics O.H