For you guys who own both, is the SMR ignition speed a lot faster than the woodsrunner? I’m getting ready to order one or the other primarily as an offhand shooter, my VA rifle is great but lock speed is not great and it is pretty heavy overall. I’m really on the fence and will buy both eventually, but for now I need a tie breaker.
Lock speed kibler SMR vs Woodsrunner
- Thread starter Texcl2
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With a smaller lock the SMR will be faster. What lock is on the VA rifle?
It’s a caywood Fowler lock.
Any of the larger locks will be slower than a smaller lock. I had a Caywood fowler. The best larger lock is a Chambers Early Ketland.
I have a Colonial and SMR. The larger roundface lock (same one as on the Woodsrunner) is fast, but the SMR is dang near instantaneous ignition.
Don't know if it makes any difference and I'm sure you noticed but the SMR also has set triggers. There is also another current thread where some of us put up pics of the balance points in different calibers if that's of any interest.
Gotta love those double set triggers. Between than and the fast lock time a guy doesn't hardly have enough time to pan-flash flinch.
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I have put together 18 Kibler's, woods runner and SMR and fowler, and have shot most of them I done. they are all lightning fast,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
You've not seen me in action I take it...Gotta love those double set triggers. Between than and the fast lock time a guy doesn't hardly have enough time to pan-flash flinch.
the videos I’ve seen seem to represent the smr as a lot faster but it’s hard to really tell with videos.
Kibler's SMR runs circles around the Woodsrunner for match shooting. The big round-faced lock is fast, very fast, but it's big and there's no comparison to the little lock. Have both and shot both in competition. Won quite a few matches this year with the SMR .45 and am currently building another with a faster twist barrel, more drop in the stock, a Kibler Ketland lock and Kibler set triggers.
TerryK
40 Cal.
I have both, and I swear the SMR is faster. I rarely feel any delay when I pull the set trigger on the SMR. I also think the woodsrunner is faster than my Siler locks. Again that is personal perception.
Both the SMR and woodsrunner are easy on flints. I think that is a sign of a fast shaving lock.
I shoot all offhand, and the SMR holds a lot easier for me. It is very light, yet the long barrel is very steady.
I have the woodsrunner in 54, and SMR in 45. I shoot 50G in both, but the lighter 45 ball naturally has less recoil, and still makes a hole in the paper. Anyway, for me the SMR is easier to shoot paper.
Both the SMR and woodsrunner are easy on flints. I think that is a sign of a fast shaving lock.
I shoot all offhand, and the SMR holds a lot easier for me. It is very light, yet the long barrel is very steady.
I have the woodsrunner in 54, and SMR in 45. I shoot 50G in both, but the lighter 45 ball naturally has less recoil, and still makes a hole in the paper. Anyway, for me the SMR is easier to shoot paper.
Cool, sounds like the SMR is the way to go. I have a Fowler on order from them already, I’m going to go quick ship this time with the SMR and hopefully get it built in time for my Christmas vacation. Thanks for all the info guys!
Got mine in quick ship, ordered 9/25 in my hands 9/30. You should have plenty of time! Enjoy, they're truly wonderful rifles.
I wouldn't agree about the Early Ketland. I am confident our lock is faster and I know it is produced more carefully and to higher / more consistent tolerances.
So what causes the larger locks to be slower? Just takes longer for the cock to hit the frizzen and spark as in more distance? I assumed the SMR lock was just more evolved (later gen) with rollers ect and that might increase speed.
I'm not a flintlock expert by any means. But the longer the travel between flint and frizzen. Should make the minor difference in lock speed . Also the fact that all lock making and assembly is done in house at Kiblers shop I do believe but I could be wrong on that.
A fast lock is when the rifle fires before you feel the frizzen hit bottom. The small locks will do it. It may be that the heavier frizzen sends more of a bounce feel when it stops or some way the spring lets it bounce. I call the bigger locks “clatter bangs” because that is the feel you get when they fire.
Well hopefully some new SMR quick ships post soon, I’m itching to get started. I almost bought one last week but was taking a family member to the hospital and by the time I was done it was gone. Sucks getting old!
Pete G
76 Cal.
All else being equal, the larger locks have more inertia of moving pieces along with more travel.
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