I have a woodsrunner and a colonial. Locks function perfect.
Honest opinions on Kibler rifles
- Thread starter David LaPell
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Siringo
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I have built five. Three are SMR’s. Two have Kibler locks and the other was from the orginal vendor before Kibler made his own. All function flawlessly. But flintlocks are not magic. You need to learn the ins and outs of these. In my case primarily care the flints. There are many folks that are first time flint users on this site. So take a lot of comments with a grain of salt. You will never ever go wrong with a Kibler. Keep in mind that the SMR will require some minor wood inletting to assemble versus the later models like Woodsrunner and Fowler kits. Watch Kibler’s videos before you even begin. AND then watch them again.
Capt. Jas.
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Although anything produced can throw out a problem child every now and then, Kibler takes care of those if they pop up better than any small company I know.
The people you have talked with must either be ignorant of available flintlocks on the market and their operation or they have an agenda.
The people you have talked with must either be ignorant of available flintlocks on the market and their operation or they have an agenda.
I have built 3 Kibler's, a colonial, an SMR and a Woodsrunner they all performed great! The SMR lock was really fast using the set triggers.
Also in building my latest project, a Pecatonica Abraham Sweitzer rifle I managed to mess up the lock trying to get the set triggers to work well, Jim repaired it without charging me!
Also in building my latest project, a Pecatonica Abraham Sweitzer rifle I managed to mess up the lock trying to get the set triggers to work well, Jim repaired it without charging me!
Kibler locks and kits are the best out there. I don't have the skill will or time to build from scratch. I can finish a Kibler kit in a week or so, working a few hours a night. In the end I have a gun that is better than many "customs" that cost twice as much. I have a couple other kits from MBS and Sitting Fox and they require a lot more time and they allow the builder to make many more mistakes. Other kits are fine but Kiblers take the guesswork out the equation.
I have just completed my 19th Kibler, the locks are as good or better than chambers or any other. the kits overall are the best money can buy. what else do you want to know,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Excellent locks very fast and dependable!!
I built a smr 45 2 years ago and have owned and shot customs and over the counter as well. The custom was a caplock that i competed with 30 yrs ago and if there were locks as reliable and as fast as the smr lock i would have shot a flinter. This things like shooting a caplock with its speed and i have shot approx. 1500rds through it without a problem. It is a mechanical part and things do happen and Kibler customer service is top notch in my book. I'm a shooter and hunter and i'll put this rifle beside any and it will hold its own. The stock, lock, barrel and trigger are all as good as your going to get. All i can say is put one together and see for yourself.
If one has a problem, it is always best to call Kibler Longrifles. One should also have done all they can to learn what they need to know. Jim's videos are great. Learning may resolve many possible issues.
GANGGREEN
45 Cal.
Yeah, I'm far from an expert (I've been messing with flintlocks for 40+ years, have built 6 or 7 of them and have a few custom guns built by other builders), but you're not going to have any issues with a Kibler lock. I have an early SMR, which I THINK has a Chambers lock, but I also have purchased one of the newer SMR locks for an upcoming build and it's an awesome little lock and I'm guessing it's going to be SO quick. I've also seen a few of the round-faced Kibler locks on others guys' guns and they look just as nice. I don't need any more rifles or fowlers, I just don't, but I think when I've got a few coins in the piggy bank that I'm likely to add a Woodsrunner and either another SMR or a fowler from Kibler.
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Need any more reassurance? If so, I can add on. You can't get a finer rifle for the cash in either built form or a kit form. Not even a close second. Now, if only Jim would start giving them away 
I have built and assembled rifles, shotguns and pistols for 49 years and I would recommend a Kibler product to anyone looking for the best value and quality in muzzleloader. As a bonus to their product quality, the customer service is THE best in any retail ordering business.
The namesake of the company ( Jim Kibler) will pickup his phone and politely answer any questions one may have as well. Where is that happening in a busy manufacturing environment?
Proud to be a Kibler customer!
Do you mind telling us what issues the few people you talked to had with their Kibler locks? I believe someone posted here about a frizzen that broke (and quickly replaced), but is really the only issue I remember hearing about on this forum or anywhere else for that matter.
From what I have seen, with proper maintenance (cleaning and lubrication), a Kibler lock should last for a lifetime of shooting and beyond.
Best locks out there, and in the event that there is a problem Jim and Co. will make it right immediately.
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not to sound conformist, but i concur with the consensus ... Kibler locks are the best available (give them a slight advantage over Chambers, even) ,,, his double set triggers are excellent, too.
don't worry ... relax ... get the SMR (if that's where your head is at) and you will have a great looking and great shooting firle in short order
don't worry ... relax ... get the SMR (if that's where your head is at) and you will have a great looking and great shooting firle in short order
I think I built about 14 Kibler longrifles all together, mostly the Colonial model. My last build was the Woodsrunner which I just couldn’t sell because I liked it so much.
The Southern Mountain Rifles (I built 2 or 3 of them) had the fastest ignition of nearly any flintlock I have shot.
The biggest challenge of any of these builds was fitting the butt plate on the SMR. That took hours in for me, (but I can work slow).
The locks are great and consistently highest functioning sparkers.
For any new builder these are the very best to kick-off with. You will get excellent parts, with near perfect fit out of the box, and will have a reliable, accurate high-quality flintlock from the get-go. You will also learn how a flintlock rifle is (should be) made and how the various parts are appropriately mounted.
Top it off with nice stock wood (no disappointments or surprises (save for better-than-expected wood), and a company that stands behind its product, it’s a great kit that’s enabled a lot of shooters with an affordable and high quality flintlock rifle.
(Maybe some day I will be building their Fowler as well.)
-Bob
The Southern Mountain Rifles (I built 2 or 3 of them) had the fastest ignition of nearly any flintlock I have shot.
The biggest challenge of any of these builds was fitting the butt plate on the SMR. That took hours in for me, (but I can work slow).
The locks are great and consistently highest functioning sparkers.
For any new builder these are the very best to kick-off with. You will get excellent parts, with near perfect fit out of the box, and will have a reliable, accurate high-quality flintlock from the get-go. You will also learn how a flintlock rifle is (should be) made and how the various parts are appropriately mounted.
Top it off with nice stock wood (no disappointments or surprises (save for better-than-expected wood), and a company that stands behind its product, it’s a great kit that’s enabled a lot of shooters with an affordable and high quality flintlock rifle.
(Maybe some day I will be building their Fowler as well.)
-Bob
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Bob you are right on the SMR butt plate, that can be A ROYAL PAIN IN THE BUTT!
I guess I am the one bad guy out of the thousands ......
I have built 6 Kiblers this year.
SMR has set triggers and no issues with that, it is really sweet.
4 of the 5 other single triggers had around a 3.5# trigger pull. 1 had a 5# trigger pull. After shooting one of the others it felt like 10#.
Kilbler offered to tune it for free but then after waiting 6 weeks on it to be tuned, it got lost in the return shipping.
They replaced it for free with one that was around 4.5 pounds.
I sent it to Cabin Creek to be tuned. it came back 2.5 pounds and he did a laundry list of adjustments.
I was so happy with it I sent all my locks to them for a tune up. Not only is the pull lighter but my flints last twice as long.
Please understand that I am a BIG fan of the Kiblers and they shoot as well as any rifle I own. If I was not so OCD the stock triggers would have worked to kill every deer I ever wanted to shoot.
I have built 6 Kiblers this year.
SMR has set triggers and no issues with that, it is really sweet.
4 of the 5 other single triggers had around a 3.5# trigger pull. 1 had a 5# trigger pull. After shooting one of the others it felt like 10#.
Kilbler offered to tune it for free but then after waiting 6 weeks on it to be tuned, it got lost in the return shipping.
They replaced it for free with one that was around 4.5 pounds.
I sent it to Cabin Creek to be tuned. it came back 2.5 pounds and he did a laundry list of adjustments.
I was so happy with it I sent all my locks to them for a tune up. Not only is the pull lighter but my flints last twice as long.
Please understand that I am a BIG fan of the Kiblers and they shoot as well as any rifle I own. If I was not so OCD the stock triggers would have worked to kill every deer I ever wanted to shoot.
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or you foolishly drop the hammer without a flint/etc., which I think is a lot more common than talked about.
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I built a Colonial and am working on a SMR. I love them, and get many compliments on them (even unfinished). That said, as good as they are, dont think it is an afternoon project for a museum quality piece. I wouldnt call them a kit...you have everything you need to put together a beautiful rifle, but it takes time, patience and handiwork...for many of us which is a "learn as you go" project. Eagerly awaiting to see his Hawken. I have to admit...dont shame me...I vastly prefer a patent breech to a pinned barrel for a hunting rifle...wouldnt mind the Hawken with a flinter!
