First ever high-end rifle kit build.

[Shiloh1944]

Here is my first ever high-end rifle kit build. It is a TOTW Kit Carson Hawken kit that I bought from an individual on another traditional muzzloader site. It was a kit he ordered and decided not to build so I purchased it from him. After receiving it and looking it over I thought maybe I had jumped off the deep end. When I got into proceeding with the build there were times I was certain I had gotten in over my head, but I stuck with it. I made a few mistakes along the way but thankfully was able to correct them. My difficulty with working on a kit like this is compounded because I have a serious equilibrium problem and when it comes to tedious tasks my head begins to feel like the steel ball in a pin ball machine bouncing in all directions. I must quit for awhile until everything calms down before proceeding. Not trying to make excuses that's just the way it is.

Many years ago, like over 30, I built two TC Hawken rifle kits, one percussion and one flintlock. The first one was a very early TC kit and was more difficult than their later kits were, but they neither one came close to this kit. I also recently did one of those old simple CVA Kentucky rifle kits that was given to me by a friend. After I started this kit, I read on TOTW's website that the half stock Hawken rifle should never be your first kit to do, but instead should be about your third kit to attempt and I don't think they meant TC and CVA kits. Too late, I had already started and now that I have done it, I am ready to see if I can find a flintlock kit to do. Hopefully a Hawken full stock flintlock. We shall see.

[hotfxr]

Now that is a thing of beauty! Waiting for the range report.   

[Patocazador]

One of the best-looking Hawkens I've seen.

Good job. 

[Shiloh1944]

Now that is a thing of beauty! Waiting for the range report.   

I took it to the range already. Here is my report.

I got to the range and no one was there so I had the entire 50 to 100-yard range all to myself. That seldom happens. After setting up my target and all my paraphernalia I loaded up the rifle to get ready for the very first shot. I centered up my sights, settled in at 6 o'clock on the bull, pulled the set trigger, gently laid my finger on the firing trigger, and squeezed off the first shot. Through the cloud of smoke, I saw a ball strike the berm behind the target and I thought for certain I was close but when I looked through my spotting scope there was nary a hole in the target anywhere. The way the dirt blew up behind the target I thought for certain I was on paper. I loaded her up again and fired but this time I saw no dirt blow up anywhere and after looking through the scope still no hole in the target, so I proceeded to load her up five more times with the same results. I was beginning to get frustrated as I knew I had to be shooting either high or too low, but I couldn't tell which. Finally, about the 7th or 8th shot I saw dirt blow up way in front of the target. I then realized when I saw the dirt blow up behind the target on the first shot the ball must have ricocheted off the hard ground in front of the target and struck the berm on the ricochet. I realized I was shooting way too low, so I used Kentucky windage to adjust my aim higher since the sights on the rifle are fixed and fired off another shot. This time I not only saw dirt blow up behind the target I heard the ball strike the target. When I looked through the scope, I saw I was just off the target in the back stop about an inch. I fired two more shots with greater success but was having a hard time remembering where I was focusing my sights. I ended up stapling a dark green square card about 3" square around 14" high directly over the bull's eye on my target. That way I had a spot to consistently sight on. I fired 6 more shots. The three on the left of center line on the target were shot before I did a slight adjustment on the front barrel sight. The three shots almost on center line, one about 1 ½" above the bull, the one in the bull, and the one just out of the bull were after the adjustment.

The rifle will shoot but I need to find a taller rear sight or one that will adjust. All the shots I made were from 50 yards. With all the difficulty I had getting it on at 50 yards I didn't even want to attempt further without a spotter.

[Patocazador]

I'm not familiar with the sights on that rifle. However, I would strongly consider shortening the front sight or get a new shorter front sight. Otherwise, get a rear sight adjustable for both windage and elevation.

[Shiloh1944]

I'm not familiar with the sights on that rifle. However, I would strongly consider shortening the front sight or get a new shorter front sight. Otherwise, get a rear sight adjustable for both windage and elevation.

If I need to I plan on filing the front sight down some but again I don't want it to look unnatural. I want to keep the rifle period correct.

[old salt]

Shiloh1944

I am not a gun builder, the only kits I have messed with CVA and traditions. So the suggestion I have may not work, but can you get a shorter front site and replace the one you have.

Old Salt

[Papa]

 What's unnatural about a low front sight? I have a collection of originals and some sights are nothing more than a sliver above the top barrel flat. Adjustable sights are more unnatural if you are looking for a period correct look.
Mark

[Shiloh1944]

What's unnatural about a low front sight? I have a collection of originals and some sights are nothing more than a sliver above the top barrel flat. Adjustable sights are more unnatural if you are looking for a period correct look.
Mark

Papa, TOTW has a period correct adjustable rear sight especially for the Hawken rifle and I am considering getting it. It is just that the dovetail that has been cut into my barrel is slightly larger than the dove tail on the sight TOTW has. I am thinking I will shim the dive tail slot on my barrel so the TOTW sight will fit on my barrel. And as previously stated I will file down the front sight some if necessary.

[Hanshi]

I recommend working up the most accurate load for the rifle before you even touch the sights.  That way you'll know it's only the sights and not the rifle/load that's in need of adjustment.  And that is a beautiful rifle, too.  You did a fine job on that build.

[Hanshi]

By the way, what caliber is that beauty?

[Shiloh1944]

By the way, what caliber is that beauty?

Hanshi, it is a .54 caliber 36" Colerain barrel with a 1:56 twist for patched round balls.

[Papa]

Unless the dovetail on the barrel is extremely oversize you might consider preening it down to hold the sight base. More solid than a shim unless you solder the shim on and file it to fit.
Mark

[Shiloh1944]

Unless the dovetail on the barrel is extremely oversize you might consider preening it down to hold the sight base. More solid than a shim unless you solder the shim on and file it to fit.
Mark

Papa, the dove tail on the adjustable Hawken sight from TOTW is .370 and the dove tail on my barrel is supposed to be about .385. I have some brass shim material I could silver solder to the TOTW adjustable sight.

[Watauga]

  Shiloh1944  Nice!  I have the same fear     Buying a thousand dollars worth of parts and then ending up making a $400.00 Gun   
You did a fine job on yours!  Even on the Traditions Kit guns I put together after a few years I will Refinish and shape them to suit my likes and thin the fore stocks so they fit the hand better....