Decisions, decisions....

[Oldbear63]

I have a .50 CVA percussion rifle (from a kit) but I want a flinter, preferably something I can at least assemble myself.

I do like the lines and history of the 1803 Harpers Ferry and may yet build one of the kits on the market. I like the idea of keys instead of pins for easier take-down and cleaning and I am OK with half stock over full stocks. The idea of having to completely inlet a barrel and lock is intimidating and I don't necessarily want to spend that much time (I work).

I prefer .50 over .54, mostly because I already balls for .50 for my rifle and a couple of pistols. The 1803 is only made in .54.

There is a mostly completed kit by Traditions, the mountain rifle kit. It has a hooked breech (wasn't that much later than 1803?) and a 1:48 twist barrel (I would probably be only shooting round ball). My problem with this is the cheap appearing lock and the idea that I would essentially end up with a flintlock version of the same gun I already have.

The Track of the Wolf 1792 Contract Rifle looks quite interesting (.50 cal) and period correct. I don't need a 42 inch barrel, but I am looking for a simple working gun and that seems to fit the bill.

Price is also an issue and I would love to keep this project well below $1000.

Anyone have any comments or opinions?

 

[LawrenceA]

You have available to you a vast array of kits that are little more than assemble and finish from Traditions to Kibler.
If you want a Flintlock then I think I would want something with a slightly better pedigree than Traditions.
Maybe Lyman or Pedersoli?
Hopefully someone with a better understanding of what is available to you will answer.

 

[FishDFly]

You might look to see what Dixie has to offer.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

After doing some research I've decided to go with a Kibler .50 Cal Colonial Rifle Kit. I've been told that TOTW kits are a collection of their parts they've combined for much more advanced builder and much inletting and fitting work is needed. If your skills are up to the task their kits might be a fun challenge. The Kibler kits have a lot of the inletting done, barrel already fits, holes pre-drilled etc. Folks seem to really praise the quality of the parts and the lock is known to be great quality and throws a lot of sparks. The base price of this kit is 1050.00 so it's just a little over your budget.

 

[EC121]

I have Kibler Colonial in .58. It weighs 8.8 on my digital bathroom scale. I can shoot it OK, but I wouldn't want to shoot a match with it. The .50 is going to be near 9lbs. However, it balances well.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I have Kibler Colonial in .58. It weighs 8.8 on my digital bathroom scale. The .50 is going to be near 9lbs. However, it balances well.

Does your .58 have a "Swamped" barrel?

 

[EC121]

All Kibler rifles have a swamped barrel.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

All Kibler rifles have a swamped barrel.

Great! and btw your rifle (above pic) looks nice!

 

[EC121]

It is a nice rifle. I wish I could take credit for it, but Mike Brooks assembled it. The only thing I did was write a large check.

 

[Grenadier1758]

A note to @Oldbear63: The 1803 Harper's Ferry does have a key in the stock, but is not a hooked breech rifle. It is easy to remove the tang bolt and lift the barrel from the stock.

Remember, in regards to a flintlock, satisfactory performance is all in the lock. Cheap locks lead to frustration. Get the best lock you can find. Chambers, Chambers Delux Siler, some Davis locks and L&R locks. These will just need a bit of polishing of some of the parts. Lyman, Pedersoli and Traditions will need lock tuning, a process far more involved than polishing some burrs off some sharp corners on a Chambers lock.

 

[olskool]

2nd the chambers lock. I have a chambers and a Bob roller, they are my best two,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Grenadier1758]

Bob Roller is no longer making locks,

 

[hanshi]

A Kibler kit would certainly be my choice; only I'd get the .45 SMR kit. I have a few Chambers locks and they are top tier. Kibler's locks are considered to be right up there with the Chambers locks.

 

[Art Caputo]

I just finished a Kibler Colonial a couple of months ago. It has quickly become one of my favorite rifles. I have interchangeable 50 and 58 cal (GM) barrels for it. I’m really liking the 58cals balance(lighter forward weight), and shooting performance. With LRB loads for each barrel producing approximately 1000FPS at 100 yards, accuracy, trajectory, and felt recoil show little difference.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Art, you have just what I'm thinking of buying, a .58 cal. smooth rifle from Kibler's. What kind of a load are you using and did it take awhile to get your gun, from their ad a smooth barrel takes a little longer so I have to put that into the equation.
Got any pictures?

 

[Art Caputo]

My rifle took about 7 weeks to receive. The second barrel (58) arrived in three days from the time I ordered it. The first load I tried worked perfectly, so I stuck with it. I’m using a .570 Hornady LRB, 80 gr FFFG, .015 patch. It’s very accurate!!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

After doing some research I've decided to go with a Kibler .50 Cal Colonial Rifle Kit. I've been told that TOTW kits are a collection of their parts they've combined for much more advanced builder and much inletting and fitting work is needed. If your skills are up to the task their kits might be a fun challenge. The Kibler kits have a lot of the inletting done, barrel already fits, holes pre-drilled etc. Folks seem to really praise the quality of the parts and the lock is known to be great quality and throws a lot of sparks. The base price of this kit is 1050.00 so it's just a little over your budget.

You literally could not have made a better choice!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

You did a great job on the gun, you can be proud of that! You can be proud of that target too. Thanks for showing it, can't get a much tighter group than that.

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

My rifle took about 7 weeks to receive. The second barrel (58) arrived in three days from the time I ordered it. The first load I tried worked perfectly, so I stuck with it. I’m using a .570 Hornady LRB, 80 gr FFFG, .015 patch. It’s very accurate!!

Art are you saying you have one Smoothy barrel and one rifled for this? I hope so because I want that option!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Art, did you up grade your maple stock, just curious?