Investarm Hawken

[moose1]

Anyone know about these rifles i hear they make the lyman rifles. I have been offered one looks like a modle 130b like new but estimated at 30 years old. Anyone know what they are worth ? and if you think it would make a good entry level gun for someone just getting into muzzelloaders

Thanks for the help guys
Bruce

[GoldenLakePete]

I did a quick "Yahoo" search on "Investarm muzzle loader" and came up with a lot of info. One place had one for sale for $165.

[TPM]

My first muzzle loader was an Investarm Hawken. It was a decent quality gun and I had a lot of fun with it at the range for years. I eventually got a TC Hawken which is a definite step up in quality but also a big step up in price.
The Investarm was under $300 new back in the mid 1990's and I sold it about 8 or 9 years ago for $200. Traditional style muzzle loaders have been on a steady decline in popularity for years now (sadly) so I'm going to guess at $150-$200 maybe $225 depending on condition. I think it's a great entry level gun. Mine was very reliable and reasonably accurate. I wish I'd have kept it as a back-up gun.

[huntaway]

I shoot Lymans and they are reasonably acccurate. My 50 flinter is pie plate accurate at 100. A caplock should do that easy. I searched the internet too and like the fella's said, 200 would be upper end for it.

Make sure the nipple will unscrew and if you shine a light through the nipple area you should be able to see it from the muzzle.

Good luck.

HA

[Bushbaby]

I have two investarm guns, a short barrelled hawken in left hand percussion and a gallyon shotgun. The hawken is seems well made, fit and finish are good. I have only shot it once but it will shoot as well as I can and is a nice little carbine. It is marked safari arms as well as the investarms symbol. It seems as well made as a TC rifle but i would take the tc renegades etc over it, they just seem to fit me better. The Gallyon is a beautiful shotgun, and seems much better made than the hawken, it only has the investarms symbol on it.

[moose1]

So i bought the investarm hawken from a guy on CGN flintlock 50cal should see it some time next week. So my Next Question is what else should i be purchasing to get started? I have been looking at TOTW website but what would you guys recommend as required items?

[TPM]

For shooting:
- Whatever projectile you want to use. (patched ball, conical)
- Powder, I use Goex FF
- No. 11 percussion caps
- adjustable powder measure
- powder flask (for easier dispensing into measure)
- brass funnel for pouring powder down bore
- patch lube

For cleaning:
- nipple wrench
- nipple pick
- patch jag
- worm pick for removing cleaning patches that get stuck in the bore

Lots more accessories you can add later but off the top of my head that should get you started. I can post pictures of the cleaning sequence I use for my Hawken if you'd like. Should be the same process for yours.

[GoldenLakePete]

If you're serious about black powder shooting I would suggest that you buy a copy of Sam Fadala's book "The Gun Digest Black Powder Loading Manual".

To add to TPM's list: - a ball puller for the inevitable time when you forget to put the powder in the barrel.
- a "short starter" to push the ball down the barrel a few inches so that you can then use your ramrod.
- a "capper" to hold caps and to put caps on the nipple.
- lots of pipe cleaners.
- hornet or wasp nest material to act as a buffer between powder and patched ball.
- a "possibles bag" to hold everything.
- a brass or fibreglass "range rod" (for when your wooden ramrod is not strong enough).

[moose1]

Lots more accessories you can add later but off the top of my head that should get you started. I can post pictures of the cleaning sequence I use for my Hawken if you'd like. Should be the same process for yours.

Post away any help is great and if anyone has a copy of Sam Fadala's book "The Gun Digest Black Powder Loading Manual". that they are willing to let go send me a pm

[TPM]

Thanks Pete, I was typing from bed and I knew I'd forget a thing or two. A short starter should have been high on my list and a capper is very handy too. Gotta ask, what do you use the pipe cleaners for?
Moose1, Sam Fadala also has a book called "The Complete Blackpowder Handbook" which I still use as my main reference book. Well worth looking for. I'll do up some pics of the cleaning sequence I use in the next couple of days.