- Joined
- Sep 28, 2018
- Messages
- 303
- Reaction score
- 269
I hate long posts and am sorry for this one. But...I decided to try the custom gun route. Im a hunter and the guns I own are dedicated hunting rifles. I wanted something heirloom quality but fully functional. And most important accurate. I know what sidelocks are capable of and own several that drive tacks. No matter how pretty a gun is if it won’t shoot extremely accurate it’s a no go for me.
I researched and settled on John Bergmann as the builder. He’s known as one of the top Hawken builders there is. Super nice guy who has been building muzzleloaders for 50 years. I drove the 7 hrs to his house and spent the day discussing with him what I wanted.
After some time I received the first of four rifles from him, a dedicated elk rifle in .50 cal with a fast twist green Mt barrel and curly maple stock. I have a bunch of excellent pure lead 400 gr conicals poured by a good friend for this gun. Gonna be good elk medicine
A few days ago I received the second gun. I wanted a smaller framed lighter n quick handling deer rifle for the woods of Mississippi. It’s a .45 cal based on a Hawken squirrel rifle with a custom 7/8” Bob Hoyt barrel. It’s a gain twist barrel finishing at 1:30 and designed to shoot conicals in the 300 gr range. My eyes are still adjusting to the buckhorn n blade sights but it’s a shooter. And the gun is a work of art. Initially I was going to go all brown hardware. And John is too nice of a guy to give you an opinion unless you ask for his. I’m awful glad I went with his suggestion of a pewter nose cap and silver escutcheons.
He’s currently building 2 more guns for me (another elk rifle and a Hawken for roundballs) and im contemplating another. I’ve gone a little crazy I know but while I can still see to shoot, I’m gonna.
I researched and settled on John Bergmann as the builder. He’s known as one of the top Hawken builders there is. Super nice guy who has been building muzzleloaders for 50 years. I drove the 7 hrs to his house and spent the day discussing with him what I wanted.
After some time I received the first of four rifles from him, a dedicated elk rifle in .50 cal with a fast twist green Mt barrel and curly maple stock. I have a bunch of excellent pure lead 400 gr conicals poured by a good friend for this gun. Gonna be good elk medicine
A few days ago I received the second gun. I wanted a smaller framed lighter n quick handling deer rifle for the woods of Mississippi. It’s a .45 cal based on a Hawken squirrel rifle with a custom 7/8” Bob Hoyt barrel. It’s a gain twist barrel finishing at 1:30 and designed to shoot conicals in the 300 gr range. My eyes are still adjusting to the buckhorn n blade sights but it’s a shooter. And the gun is a work of art. Initially I was going to go all brown hardware. And John is too nice of a guy to give you an opinion unless you ask for his. I’m awful glad I went with his suggestion of a pewter nose cap and silver escutcheons.
He’s currently building 2 more guns for me (another elk rifle and a Hawken for roundballs) and im contemplating another. I’ve gone a little crazy I know but while I can still see to shoot, I’m gonna.
