The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

I'm not one to collect 2 of any kind of firearm but I have a soft spot for these ole brass trimmed front stuffers.
Speaking of brass there's a couple of them that need a good cleaning yet. The one in front was purchased a few weeks ago and went a total restore and given to my wife as a birthday present. Sorry for the rough pictures, they show the brass looking kind of scratched but it isn't.

I had a guy bring in one of these to me the other day wanting to know what it was. He's off now to buy powder, ball and caps, his is a .50. Nice collection.

They are excellent side locks, beautiful too. 90 gr. of pyrodex and a 325 gr. Buffalo bullet will usually knock 'em down.

50''s will bring down a lot of different game. Very nice rifles!!

I have a Hawkens "Hunter" I keep around. it's .58 cal. Hunting for a .50 or smaller barrel for it right now. .58 is too large to fire "just for fun".

Your front one looks re-finished, and the rears two look more original. Oil finished. They are gorgeous rifles either way.

I wish Thompson Center had never cancelled their traditional line of muzzle loaders. When I was young in the late 70's my buddy in high school turned me on to TC Hawkens and after I got married we went on our first vacation. I kept back some cash and spent less on vacation so I could return to the store that had a TC Renegade on the wall. It was still there. 225.00 back then. It was love at first sight.

I had a T.C renegade for a few yrs., got an offer I couldn't refuse. I've now got a Hawkin made by Traditions, looks exactly like the ones above, double set triggers and all. I can't tell ones better that the other. I do all my hunting with a little Fox river .50 I bought for $89 new, weighs about 6 lbs., killed 12 deer with it when I hunted seriously. A rifle with scope that shoots shotgun primers or electric bolt thats accurate to 300 yd. is not a primitive weapon.