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My 50 cal load is 70gr which has been very effective on deer I’ve shot out to 70 yards. The MV difference between 60 and 70 gr should not make that much of a difference, and lessens even further as the distance increases.

Besides geometry and spring balance, the common denominator with my most reliable, fast lock time, longest flint life, and plenty of spark are my locks that have a powerful main spring(cock). Required cocking force is noticeably heavier then my other locks. I was quite surprised with my Kibler...

Like others, I have no drying out issues(for as much as a few weeks) when pre-lubing the block. Make sure that the holes in the block are well sealed, and that the fit has sufficient clearance as to not overly compress the lubed patch/ball, and, the patched ball can be loaded and removed from...

I’d be curious if anyone has any data on how many shots it takes to have a material change in flash hole dimension due to shooting erosion. I have not noted measurable erosion with my rifles over the years which have probably seen between somewhere between 500 and 1000 shots. Most of my rifles...

Lots of inspiring movies are mentioned that I’ve enjoyed, but the one that is my most memorable was the early episodes of a TV series from the late 70’s, James A. Michener’s “Centennial”. It was well done, and coincided with the opening of the first dedicated muzzleloader season in my state...

IMO, much like Traditional archery, traditional muzzleloading will continue to be a shrinking niche market. Lots of factors are likely driving this. The continued shrinkage in the number of hunters and accessible hunting land, a younger generation that is driven to simplicity/efficiency vs...

Adding to the many general comments about Kibler;s workmanship and quality, I thought it might be useful to provide some additional detail of the shooting/performance attributes of the Kibler that are the primary appeal to me. -Kiblers rifle-rifle QC is excellent. My 2 buddies with recent 54...

Jim Kibler makes a great rifle! Been a couple of years since I completed my Colonial with interchangeable barrels in 50 and 58 caliber. While both barrels shoot exceptionally well, the 58 quickly became my favorite. I really like the balance, handling, very manageable recoil, and confidence in...

Double post—-disregard

This: Very versatile…works with both brass and steel(very light -dark grey, when applied to heated steel gives a worn color case(see lock in avatar photo)

My 62 cal Fowler and 1851 Colt Navy.

Hard to choose!. For hunting, it would be my 58 cal Kibler Colonial. For all-around shooting, my M. Kemper, Dickert style Early Lancaster 45 cal.

I haven’t broken a wood rod in over +40 years. I have always pinned the brass end fitting and made sure to have a good finish. Most breaks or failures I have observed were due to: -glued vs pinned tips, particularly if the ball is pulled. -long strokes with a tight fitting load -Improperly...

I have made shims for the dovetail using a cheap feeler gauge set(blade type)…..Choosing the proper size, cut and and trimmed, I can achieve a perfect fit that is unnoticeable when touched up with some browning or bluing solution.

Having done some experimentation with my 58cal, your current load(assuming a 270gr LRB), should have a similar killing power at 50-75 yards to a 50cal loaded with LRB’s at 1800 FPS MV. The lower velocity of the 58 cal is off-set by the larger/heavier 58 cal LRB. Sighted in at 50 yards the...

My Kibler Colonial, which I have 2 interchangeable barrels, a 50 and a 58, both with 43” swamped barrels weight in at 8.75 and 8.0 pounds respectively. Preferring the 58, the difference in weight and balance when off-hand shooting is quite noticeable.given my medium build. My buddy has a 54...

My first flintlock, bought in the late 70’s. I tried just about everything(flint size, position, spring adjustments, etc.etc.) to achieve reliable ignition. I agree fully with Phil Coffins that it is an unreliable, poorly designed lock, and could not be trusted for hunting. However, it was...

LOL…I stopped getting “upset” by naysayers decades ago. A well tuned/loaded flintlock rifle is very capable of shooting a PLRB 1 MOA at 100 yards. The primary issues(aside from LOTS of practice and familiarity with your rifle/load) are the primitive sights(AKA, consistent sight picture) and...

Being a long range shooter(1000+ yards) for many years with modern rifles, I have spent some time applying the same principles with my 58 cal Kibler Colonial loaded with LRB’s out to 200 yards. With careful attention to load accuracy/consistency, wind conditions, and sight/target acquisition, I...

The bulk of my squirrel hunting is late season(cold/snow), with the opportunity for coyote. Like others, I use a 40 cal, agreeing to the easier loading and greater flexibility. Most all my squirrels are shot at under 25 yards, with the 40 cal being accurate enough for head shots at this...