Thread: Hawkins Barrels

Hi all,

New to the forum and was wondering if anyone may have some knowledge about a barrel on a rifle i've recently acquired.

The only markings on the barrel are as pictured in the attached photo. I have done a little research myself, but haven't been able to track down any info. Just wondering how old it may be and its origins.

Any info appreciated.

Tony Hawkins was a barrel maker whose premises were in Onehunga Auckland, Tony passed away in the mid 1980's if my old memory is correct. Someone purchased his plant and carried on in Tauranga, don't remember if they used the Hawkins name or changed. Your barrel is probably 40 odd years old, Tony made some excellent barrels plus some which weren't quite there. He was a very talented fitter-turner.

Thanks for that, just the info I was after. I had come across Tony's name in my own research, but was unsure if the barrel was his as it seems his forte was Muzzleloaders.

Had the same issue as you, finding info on Tony Hawkins, as my BSA P14 has one of his barrels on it chambered in 7x57. Nice to see another one crop up and there was a Mauser actioned one not so long ago on here in 7x57 as well.
I think the reason there’s so little info is because he was operating pre interweb/social media.

He definately made barrels for other-than-muzzle loaders.

Pretty sure he made his own deep-boring machine , and made some decent barrels at a time when no one else in NZ was making them.

Originally Posted by Fee Knicks

He definately made barrels for other-than-muzzle loaders.

Pretty sure he made his own deep-boring machine , and made some decent barrels at a time when no one else in NZ was making them.

Made all his own barrel making machines, he made barrels for Browning BAR's with the locking lugs machined into the new barrels, at a time when others were leaving the old chamber and threading the new barrel on to it. Also made chamber reamers when they were hard to source overseas, very talented.

I have seen a few of the p14 he rebarrelled in 308 norma magnum.
The way he elegantly reshaped the Military receiver into a civilian look as not many equals.

But one must not misunderstand his name with Hawkins rifle made mainly by Thompson / center in the 70’s after the famous movie with Robert Redford ( Jeremiah Johnson) as a reproduction of the Hawkin rifles of the old old west.

I sold my Dad's one about 10 years back. Left hand bolt was no use to me. Hawkin's heavy barreled 243 on a Sav 110 action probably made early-mid 1970's. I know he won at least one 308 as a prize at the southland NZDA range.

Z

I had a Hawkins 45/70 barrel back in the 80's, I don't know how good it was as in hindsight I knew nothing about accuracy back then.

I must have picked up that barrel shortly after Tony died, I remember going in to the Onehunga workshop and dealing with his young apprentice, he seemed more interested in his super charged M1 V6 Escort than running the business lol.

Took it to the range for the first timeyesterday, thought I had a dud when it was grouping wildly at 100m with 3-4 inch groups shooting 100 and 90gr. Then I tried some 80 grain and got some much better groups. I'm guessing it may be 1:12 twist as didn't seem to stabilise any of the heavier pills.

I had Tony rebarrel my Rem 700 6mm Rem with a 1:12" twist mostly shot 87 HPBT Hornady and 90 grain Speer hot core very accurate barrel
also had a P14 with a .308 barrel also very accurate, his .308 Norma mags were very good a couple of mates had them great long range hunting rifles.

I have a hawkins barrel on my Remington 700 in .222 made I believe in Tauranga cant remember when fitted early eighties ?? really rate it and still shoots very well

Originally Posted by Brass

Took it to the range for the first timeyesterday, thought I had a dud when it was grouping wildly at 100m with 3-4 inch groups shooting 100 and 90gr. Then I tried some 80 grain and got some much better groups. I'm guessing it may be 1:12 twist as didn't seem to stabilise any of the heavier pills.Attachment 264048

Try a shorter,blunter cup n core 100grn if you haven't already...it's not weight of projectiles that is issue,it's the length of it apparently...rem coreloct probably easiest start place.