First Kit Question

[Aggie1105]

Hello all,

I know the forum abounds with posts about deciding which Kibler kit to purchase, but I figured I’d ask with certain considerations in mind.

I live in an apartment and do not have access to extensive workspace/tools aside from an indoor desk. I have some basic handtools and sandpaper from other projects, but no specialized chisels/woodworking tools.

I’m interested in either a woodsrunner or SMR in .45 caliber, primarily for target shooting, but with the potential for some hunting. I’m leaning towards the SMR because of the set trigger. Would either one of these be better over the other given decreased workspace? Also, this would be both my first kit and first flintlock.

Thanks in advance

 

[The Crisco Kid]

A cordless drill, a sharp 1/4" chisel, and some sort of vise you can clamp to the kitchen table while you use the drill and chisel are what come to mind. Kiblers are great for folks in your situation. I had the SMR but it was a little on the long side for me for several reasons. In your case you might want the Woodsrunner although I don't know how much shorter it is.

 

[FlaminCrow]

Definitely will need the kitchen table for room.
The woodsrunner requires the least amount of work, but I hear the smr kits have become more refined since the time I did mine.

 

[Daveboone]

A table top Black and Decker Workmate would be very handy and can be used as you need it. Absolutely can be done, it will just take longer because it will not be easily accessed when you want to just putter on it for a few minutes....but absolutely...most of your time is spent filing/sanding/polishing, which I did in front of the tv with a canvas painters tarp on my lap. the Workmate will be needed for filing the flats, fitting the barrel, butt plate, etc.

 

[Aggie1105]

A cordless drill, a sharp 1/4" chisel, and some sort of vise you can clamp to the kitchen table while you use the drill and chisel are what come to mind. Kiblers are great for folks in your situation. I had the SMR but it was a little on the long side for me for several reasons. In your case you might want the Woodsrunner although I don't know how much shorter it is.

Forgive the novice question… what’s the drill typically needed for? Screw holes? I get the sanding & chisel for the barrel channel and fitting furniture.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Kibler supplies a drill guide for the barrel pins and I think the ramrod pipes. As I remember he also supplies the drill bit. The thing you should do is to watch his tutorials on Youtube. He will walk you through the whole process. It will explain things better than we can do here.

 

[FlaminCrow]

The Woodsrunner underlugs are already drilled and slotted but I don’t remember if the pipes were.
Smr and colonial need to be drilled. As Crisco said, he provides the drill bits and guide.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hello all,

I know the forum abounds with posts about deciding which Kibler kit to purchase, but I figured I’d ask with certain considerations in mind.

I live in an apartment and do not have access to extensive workspace/tools aside from an indoor desk. I have some basic handtools and sandpaper from other projects, but no specialized chisels/woodworking tools.

I’m interested in either a woodsrunner or SMR in .45 caliber, primarily for target shooting, but with the potential for some hunting. I’m leaning towards the SMR because of the set trigger. Would either one of these be better over the other given decreased workspace? Also, this would be both my first kit and first flintlock.

Thanks in advance

As an aside, since you live in an apartment you need to be cautious about other tenants and their visitors seeing you coming and going carrying what is obviously a long gun (which has value) in a case. Could set you up for a robbery in the future.
Don’t know what the answer is, but it may be something you should be thinking about.

 

[Troopertree]

Hello fellow Texan I have a 45 Smr, a 54 Woodsrunner and a 32 SMR. The kit for the Woodsrunner was simple but my preference is the SMR. The drill and work vise to hold the stock and barrel for work with a small chisel for wood. The barrel will need a mill file and the vise to work the barrel. Harbor Freight has some of what you need. I have small wood clamps for the barrel pins and pipes for installing pins. You got this. The SMR is my favorite but I was after callibers. Great Rock breakers by Kibler and videos at every stage by Jim.

 

[stubshaft]

I live in a small apartment also and had no problem building the WoodsRunner in it. I do not own a vise and/or Workmate although I will concede that they may have made the build a little easier. Draw filing and sanding was done over a trash can and browning was done over the bathtub.

I think it came out pretty well.

 

[SDSmlf]

Hello all,

I know the forum abounds with posts about deciding which Kibler kit to purchase, but I figured I’d ask with certain considerations in mind.

I live in an apartment and do not have access to extensive workspace/tools aside from an indoor desk. I have some basic handtools and sandpaper from other projects, but no specialized chisels/woodworking tools.

I’m interested in either a woodsrunner or SMR in .45 caliber, primarily for target shooting, but with the potential for some hunting. I’m leaning towards the SMR because of the set trigger. Would either one of these be better over the other given decreased workspace? Also, this would be both my first kit and first flintlock.

Thanks in advance

Should not be that difficult of a project to take on. I put a T/C 54 caliber Hawken kit together in our 2 bedroom apartment’s ’spare bedroom’ about 1980. I had nothing more than a few basic hand tools, a wobbly old desk, a pair of C clamps and a piece of 2x6 for a work surface that I could clamp the stock and barrel to while I worked on them. The C clamps and 2x6 idea came from T/C’s kit instructions. I know many others put these and other kits to together with no ‘shop’ to speak of and just had to use their ingenuity.

Still have the gun and the original kit instructions.

And I can’t imagine anyone claiming that the old T/C kits were ‘easier’ to put together than a Kibler.

 

[Aggie1105]

Should not be that difficult of a project to take on. I put a T/C 54 caliber Hawken kit together in our 2 bedroom apartment’s ’spare bedroom’ about 1980. I had nothing more than a few basic hand tools, a wobbly old desk, a pair of C clamps and a piece of 2x6 for a work surface that I could clamp the stock and barrel to while I worked on them. The C clamps and 2x6 idea came from T/C’s kit instructions. I know many others put these and other kits to together with no ‘shop’ to speak of and just had to use their ingenuity.

Still have the gun and the original kit instructions.
View attachment 391589
And I can’t imagine anyone claiming that the old T/C kits were ‘easier’ to put together than a Kibler.

Thank you for sharing this! I have a couple of big C clamps that I could definitely use like this if I needed to. I’ll try to find a vise as a preffered option but this will be great to keep in my back pocket.

 

[Aggie1105]

I live in a small apartment also and had no problem building the WoodsRunner in it. I do not own a vise and/or Workmate although I will concede that they may have made the build a little easier. Draw filing and sanding was done over a trash can and browning was done over the bathtub.

I think it came out pretty well.

It looks great to me! Glad to know it’s doable within apartment confines

 

[Aggie1105]

Kibler supplies a drill guide for the barrel pins and I think the ramrod pipes. As I remember he also supplies the drill bit. The thing you should do is to watch his tutorials on Youtube. He will walk you through the whole process. It will explain things better than we can do here.

Thank you! I think I’ll start by watching his videos before I purchase to get an idea of what to expect

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Hello all,

I know the forum abounds with posts about deciding which Kibler kit to purchase, but I figured I’d ask with certain considerations in mind.

I live in an apartment and do not have access to extensive workspace/tools aside from an indoor desk. I have some basic handtools and sandpaper from other projects, but no specialized chisels/woodworking tools.

I’m interested in either a woodsrunner or SMR in .45 caliber, primarily for target shooting, but with the potential for some hunting. I’m leaning towards the SMR because of the set trigger. Would either one of these be better over the other given decreased workspace? Also, this would be both my first kit and first flintlock.

Thanks in advance

I’ve built two Kibler kits, an SMR .40 calibre and the 20 gauge English Fowler, and I’m about to start my 2nd SMR in .32 calibre.

Honestly, you can build these kits with minimal tools, and skill. And when you’re done, you’ll have the most beautiful historical firearm…simply amazing.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

When I built my rifle, I used all hand tools. Even bought a hand drill.
You can build any of those kits with hand tools.

 

[olskool]

with what you are working with I would get the WR, to do it correctly the SMR takes a lot more time and fitting. the butt plate can go either way, sometimes they are quick and fairly easy to fit and sometimes they are a pain! the WR butt plate is already fitted. also, the SMR is longer, requires more room. I would get the WR if I were in your salutation. also to drill and pin things on the SMR you really need some way to hold the stock. also, you have to fit the ramrod pipes, for this I use a small gouge to inlet the wood and a file and belt sander to fit the metal to barrel. then to do it right there is draw filing the barrel, this does require a vice. I draw file every barrel, if you don't you will see every machine and tool mark in the metal. some have slapped them together and called it good, but to do it right takes time and tools and patience and effort, if you have questions and if I can help just ask,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

Agree with @olskool. The WR comes almost fully assembled and fit up. That leaves finishing the metal and wood the only major things to focus on. Someone above mentioned that the butt plate on the SMR's can be troublesome. Mine was one such case and took considerable time and tools to correct plus I then had to make a toe plate and fit it to the stock and butt plate.

 

[wingnut]

My recent Woodsrunner experience (late 2023 kit, assembled in late 2024):
All woodwork on the stock was complete when received, only finish sanding required. All pin hole locations were predrilled. Barrel was smooth with only very minor machining marks. Draw filing done by me was probably not required.
Underlugs and slots for sights were already machined into the barrel. Inlets for barrel, lock, and everything else were complete. Minimal filing and sanding was required on butt plate, trigger guard and ram rod pipes. Ram rod required fitting/ sanding, completed as shown on Jim’s video - no problem, just takes a bit of time.
Watch all of Kibler’s Woodsrunner videos and go for it. You won’t regret it.

 

[Grenadier1758]

When you get your chisels and gouges, get a set of diamond stones, the cheap ones from Harbor will be sufficient to put and keep an edge on your tools. Time spent getting sharp tools will be time saved working on the wood fitting.