Main Discussion Area > Muzzleloaders

GM Drop-in Barrel for TC

(1/3) > >>

Eric Krewson:
I wanted a GM drop-in barrel in .54 for my .50 TC Hawken, GM quit making these a while back so they are very scarce. I found a place that still had them in stock and bought one. The .54 in a 15/16 barrel is nice and light by comparison to a .50 in the same barrel. The barrel was a good find, pricy but when you want something it is a done deal. The Gun Works Emporium had them but after I let the cat out of the bag on several sites there may have been a run on them, Track is sold out of them.

My findings on the drop-ins, this one needed a little adjustment like my last one; fits the stock nicely but the underlug is a little too large and the wedge pin wouldn't go in the fore end slot, a little opening up the lug with a file corrected this. The underlug is a little deep and partially blocked the ramrod channel, the ramrod wouldn't make it past the lug, again some filing was in order. I took some metal off the bottom of the lug and rounded the corners of the lug and the ramrod jag so they could slide past each other and not catch on any square edges, problem solved.

The ramrod it typical of mass produced stuff, lots of runout and unpinned jags, it was also too big in diameter to go through the pipes easily. I chucked the ramrod up in my drill and sanded it down to a good fit for the pipes. I pinned both jags on the ends just to be on the safe side. I stained the ramrod with leather dye to match my TC stock and put the first coat of truoil on it this evening.

It is going to rain today, I finished up at dark yesterday evening so it may be Thursday before I try er out. I have had great luck with GM barrel in the past and expect the same from this barrel.

Hawkdancer:
Nice fitting!  I was looking for a .40 cal GM drop-in for my .50 cal TC Hawken, but never found one, and the guys I know that have one aren't letting them go!  I did score a drop-in Sharps 20 gauge barrel from a friend.  Still have to pattern it, though.
Hawkdancer

Eric Krewson:
The Gun Works has an Oregon barrel line of drop-ins, custom made to be any length and caliber you want. They cost as much as your compete TC Hawken is worth but if you want one........

Eric Krewson:
I shot the rifle yesterday with the new barrel, all I had were .535 balls which were a tight fit even with a .012 patch. I tried some .010 patches first but they blew to pieces, the .012 were cut but intact.

I suspect the patches were getting cut by the lands on loading so I loaded a ball with a large patch and pulled patch and ball back out of the barrel with a pair of pliers, sure enough the patch was cut at each land.

I shot a bit more, I was using a .535 ball, 80gr of 2F and a .012 patch. My groups weren't great, about 3" at 50 yards. I can't see sights very well with my 73 year old eyes but I am sure I can do better than this when I figure out the right load.

I like a thicker patch so I ordered a .530 mold to give more me options when I start working up a load. For some reason there has been a run on Lee molds, even Lee is sold out of them as are all the M/L suppliers. I found one guy selling them on eBay for about $10 more than they normally sell for but I needed one so it is on the way

When I cleaned the barrel I used the thumb and 220 grit sand paper routine to smooth out the lands and crown so they won't cut patches any more.

Hawkdancer:
Smoothing the lands might help tighten up the groups, too. 
Hawkdancer

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page