Thompson Center Renegade vs. CVA Hawken

Just curious as to how they compare? One better than the other? About the same? Mainly talking about 50 calibers.

Personally I like the Renegades, to me they just feel better built higher quality and nicer wood usually especially the older ones.. had a couple Hawkens and they didnt do anything for me.

dbowling said:

Personally I like the Renegades, to me they just feel better built higher quality and nicer wood usually especially the older ones.. had a couple Hawkens and they didnt do anything for me.

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CVA Hawken or TC Hawken?

I don’t have much experience with CVA, I own this Old/New Stock CVA Mountain Rifle in .45 Cal (Roundball Twist) I have handled a Few other CVA’s over the Years, They seem like ok Rifles to me. But I personally feel my TC Renegades And Hawken’s are FAR Better Guns. There are a Few things about this CVA MR That i DON’T Like, I am not a Fan of CVA’s Drum/Bolster, I never have liked that Setup! And just behind the Nipple the Way the Wood is RIGHT There, Nothing guarding it, You get Blowback Fouling All over that Wood And it’s Virtually impossible to Clean it Good. The Set Trigger on my Rifle is not much! It’s pretty pathetic Actually! And the Lock, This MR Lock, and Hammer are Nowhere near as Robust as my TC’s.

Here is a Pic i grabbed off the internet to Show examples of What i am Talking about. The Green arrow is Pointing at the Drum/Boslter Setup I don’t like. And the Red Arrow is Pointing at the Wood, You can imagine all the Blowback that gets all over that Area if you don’t have a Shield (They make a Cup/Cone Type Shield Thing for this, CVA should Supply them with their Guns!) To top it off, I actually have to Pull my Barrel in Order to Get a Nipple Wrench on the Nipple Flats and Remove the Nipple on My CVA MR Due to that Wood and Nipple being SO Close together. All in all, i like my CVA Mountain Rifle fine, I don’t regret buying it, But i Wouldn’t Trade 1 of My TC Renegades, Or Hawken’s for a Truck load of them. They just aren’t the Quality of Rifle, Not even close in my Opinion. They have a “Dainty” Feel. The TC Hawken’s, and Especially the Renegades are BEEFY, ROBUST Rifles

I like the Hawkins and renegade by tc for quality. I have a USA made CVA in kit form still I stumbled on. I’d trade the dainty cva kit for a 32 cal Cherokee or Seneca if I was looking for a smaller rifle.

Love the TC RENEGADE they are work horses that's for sure.

knightnut2000 said:

Love the TC RENEGADE they are work horses that's for sure.

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The Old TC Renegade is TOUGH to Beat! They are a Very well Built, SOLID Rifle! I own a Brand New Lyman Great Plains “Hunter” Model Rifle as well (First Brand New Muzzleloader i ever Bought) It’s a nice Rifle, NO Complaints. But it’s NOT in the Same league as My TC’s Either.

A lot of it comes down to Personal Preference? If you prefer a More Traditional Looking Type Gun? Go Lyman Great Plains. If you prefer a Lighter, Trimmer Built Gun? Go CVA, Traditions. If you want a BRUTE WORKHORSE that you can hand Down to your Grandkids, and Their Grandkids, Find a NICE Old TC Renegade WITHOUT QLA Muzzle

How do you tell an Old TCR from a newer one?

halloflin said:

How do you tell an Old TCR from a newer one?

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The 1st thing i look at is the Rear Sight. The OLDEST Guns will have a Short/Blocky rear Sight. And if it’s Original, will likely have a Blade Front Sight instead of a Bead. And lastly, if it hasn’t been Changed? They will have a “High Spur” Hammer

This is 1 of my OLD ones, “High Spur” Hammer, Short/Blocky Rear sight, and Blade front Sight


Here is a Hammer Spur of a Newer Model Gun, See how it kinda “Lays back” for lack of better words


Here is another Example of NICE Older Renegade, I can’t really tell on the Rear Sight of this on? But this one has the “High Spur” Hammer, And Blade Front Sight. This is a Nice Rifle!


Here is another OLD Renegade, “High Spur” Hammer, Short/Blocky Rear Sight, and Blade Front.


The Short/Blocky Rear Sight is the most DEFINITE, The Hole Spacing is really Close together, The newer Guns are COMPLETELY Different here, Noticeably longer Rear Sight, and farther apart Hole Spacing. The Hole Spacing is actually hidden though, you have to Remove the Elevation Screw Which allows the Sight to lift, which will reveal the Spacing.

This is my Oldest Barrel, A LOW 3 Digit Serial #, Notice the Hole Spacing is REALLY close.


And this is the Rear sight off the Barrel above, Short/Blocky but a Slightly Different design than my others. The sight on the Left is from a TC Hawken for Comparison, Which is a Longer Rear sight, Same Hole Spacing as the Renegade. ONLY The OLDEST Barrels will have the Short/Blocky Rear Sight, With Tight Hole Spacing. See how this Short Rear Sight has a Slight Rounded Front? Now if you look at the 1st pic up top you will see that Sight is Also the Short/Blocky OLD one, BUT it’s a Square Shape. So there are 2 Different Short Short/Blocky Rear Sights, This one Below being the ONLY one like it that i have ever Seen? All of the Other Short/Blocky Rear Sights i have seen are Like Picture #1, Short/Blocky, More Square

Here is a little better Pic of the Oldest Short/Blocky Rear Sight, If you see a Renegade with one of these Rear Sights, You can Bet it’s of the OLDEST Rifles, Along with the “High Spur” Hammer



This is what a Newer Model Rear Sight will Look like

Thanks Lewis. I had one of the newer one’s and let a guy talk me out of it. One of those “wish I hadn’t sold that one.” I am looking for another one, 50 caliber

halloflin said:

Thanks Lewis. I had one of the newer one’s and let a guy talk me out of it. One of those “wish I hadn’t sold that one.” I am looking for another one, 50 caliber

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There is nothing wrong with the newer Models, They are EVERY bit as good as the Oldest Rifles. The ONLY Thing I HIGHLY advise AGAINST is the Ones with the QLA Muzzle, I personally wouldn’t have one of them Barrels if it were Free, I truly mean that!

Lewis...Would you pls post pics of a QLA and a non-QLA barrel? Sorry, but I am not 100% sure I could identify the difference. Thx

halloflin said:

CVA Hawken or TC Hawken?

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CVA HAWKEN

Good info Lewis...thanks

halloflin said:

Lewis...Would you pls post pics of a QLA and a non-QLA barrel? Sorry, but I am not 100% sure I could identify the difference. Thx

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I don't believe he saw this...here is an omega barrel with QLA recessed rifling. Guns without QLA have the rifling extended to the end of the barrel.

Perfect...Thanks

toytruck said:

I don't believe he saw this...here is an omega barrel with QLA recessed rifling. Guns without QLA have the rifling extended to the end of the barrel.

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Thank you, and EXCELLENT Pic Toytruck! I did miss Hal’s Question.

I would Avoid these QLA Cut Muzzles like the PLAGUE! Make sure the Rifling comes right up to the Crown

toytruck said:

I don't believe he saw this...here is an omega barrel with QLA recessed rifling. Guns without QLA have the rifling extended to the end of the barrel.

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Man that qla looks a mile long! And check my eyes but it looks off center to me. Top to bottom.

michiganmuzzy said:

Man that qla looks a mile long! And check my eyes but it looks off center to me. Top to bottom.

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TC’s QLA Cut Muzzles are a PERFECT EXAMPLE of a RIDICULOUSLY BAD Idea!