Easier to put together, Woodsrunner or Southern Mountain Rifle

[David LaPell]

Well, I've decided that the only way I am going to get the funds for my Kibler is to just start selling some of my things I don't use. My son had an injury recently and the insurance wouldn't cover his walking boot he needed, so that was out of pocket for three bills, not to mention today will be my fourth co-pay in a month, so I am well up to the four hundred dollar range and it's not likely to end with today. So in the meanwhile, I have to ask, not having put one together but having rebuilt a few kits from other makers and modified them for L & R locks I have some experience, but I have to ask, as a first timer putting together a Kibler when I get one, which one would likely be easier, a Woodsrunner or a Southern Mountain Rifle? I was thinking about a .36 SMR but I already have my .32 Kentucky rifle and I'm wondering how much more fun it would be to hunt deer with a Woodsrunner in .45.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

My Woodsrunner literally snapped together. I did nothing but sand the wood, draw file the barrel, sand/rasp the brass and that's it. Super simple and super easy. I used sand paper, scotch brite, two screwdrivers, a ball peen hammer and a set of vice grips for the pins.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I put together an early SMR kit back when they had a 46" barrel and a Chambers lock, I hear that they are more refined now. It took me about 15 hours to complete my rifle and I have a good bit of gun building experience. The factory inletting was just close, not drop in by any means, the crescent butt plate took the most time to inlet.

 

[rbeave]

I have both and put together both. For me the woodsrunner was much easier kit and came out better. Its the rifle I really prefer all around. The trigger gaurd and buttplate come installed.. thats a big deal. I bet a woodsrunner in 45 would be sweet. Maybe a little heavy. Mines a .50 alot of good said about the .54

 

[RobertIN]

Woodsrunner should be snap together and finish, but don't let that stop you from an SMR. It's a little bit more work but it's still easily done. Go with whichever suits you visually and stylistically you can't go wrong.

 

[EC121]

The Woodsrunner is mainly a metal polishing exercise. The metal has small cutter marks on it. The wood just needs sanding. The parts mostly snap together. It goes together a bit easier if you put some windage on all the metal but the buttplate. The WR fit me better.

Never done an SMR.

 

[wiscoaster]

I've done a SMR. Woodsrunner is probably a little easier. I don't think "ease of assembly" should be the OP's first level criterion for choosing, as the difference is not significant, and the skills, tools and knowledge needed to complete either are pretty much on the same level. It seems to me, from re-reading the OP, that his main criterion for use is .45 caliber, and so the choice between the two is pretty much level on that decision point. I think that means the choice devolves down to secondary considerations. And that's how I'd suggest the OP make his choice: not on ease of assembly or on caliber but on which of these two styles of flintlock rifles is most pulling at his heart strings. As that is a comparison point on which the two are the most different.

 

[springfield art]

I put together an early SMR kit back when they had a 46" barrel and a Chambers lock, I hear that they are more refined now. It took me about 15 hours to complete my rifle and I have a good bit of gun building experience. The factory inletting was just close, not drop in by any means, the crescent butt plate took the most time to inlet.

I'd bet the CNC factor really made the fit better! It's brilliant, using computerized space-age tech to make things from 200 years ago!

 

[Rock Home Isle]

My SMR went together with no problems, very smooth, very balanced gun. .40 calibre, shoots like a dream

 

[longcruise]

View attachment 371214My SMR went together with no problems, very smooth, very balanced gun. .40 calibre, shoots like a dream

Hmmmm, did I see that rifle at Ft Lupton?