What are the actual differences between Pecatonica and Chambers kits given the same style of rifle?
From a builders vewpoint
- Thread starter Liver eatin’ Johnson
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From a builder's point of view very little.... You still have to contend with things being out of your control (holes drilled, etc). I don't like'em because they're hard to put in a milling machine :winking: with out clamps and a few bad words.
Geoff Jones
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LEJ,
BOTH are great kits...
Chambers kits will have more items inlet, the buttplate tang is inlet and shaped, tha lock, of course, the sideplate is mostly inlet with the lock bolt holes marked, not drilled...the entry RR thimble is partially inlet as are the other RR thimbles. Trigger guared is NOT inlet. All barrel lugs and RR thimble lugs are partially marked.
The stock on the Pecatonica will have the buttplate partially done (some models) and of course the lock if you order it that way...
I've done several of both...and both companies supply wood which is easily one or two grades higher than what you order...I've always been very pleased with both.
Chambers barrels are Rayle, Getz, or Rice...(did I forget one)? Anyway, they're the best quality...none are straight. You're choices are open with Pecatonica. Colerain and Green river are available....both good barrels. Also on the Chambers barrels, the dovetails for the underlugs are milled.
Chambers brass is top quality yellow brass...you can pretty much finish it with sandpapers....Both investment and sand cast are available from Pecatonica.
Locks....obviously the full array of Chambers locks are available from Chambers. Both Chambers and several others from Pec.
For the beginner, I guess the Chambers has more already done and that could be an advantage on an early build. Personally, I'd rather inlet from scratch on a precarve or blank...it allows complete control over lock, trigger placement and subsequent wrist configuration.
Ya' can't go wrong with either....
Geoff
BOTH are great kits...
Chambers kits will have more items inlet, the buttplate tang is inlet and shaped, tha lock, of course, the sideplate is mostly inlet with the lock bolt holes marked, not drilled...the entry RR thimble is partially inlet as are the other RR thimbles. Trigger guared is NOT inlet. All barrel lugs and RR thimble lugs are partially marked.
The stock on the Pecatonica will have the buttplate partially done (some models) and of course the lock if you order it that way...
I've done several of both...and both companies supply wood which is easily one or two grades higher than what you order...I've always been very pleased with both.
Chambers barrels are Rayle, Getz, or Rice...(did I forget one)? Anyway, they're the best quality...none are straight. You're choices are open with Pecatonica. Colerain and Green river are available....both good barrels. Also on the Chambers barrels, the dovetails for the underlugs are milled.
Chambers brass is top quality yellow brass...you can pretty much finish it with sandpapers....Both investment and sand cast are available from Pecatonica.
Locks....obviously the full array of Chambers locks are available from Chambers. Both Chambers and several others from Pec.
For the beginner, I guess the Chambers has more already done and that could be an advantage on an early build. Personally, I'd rather inlet from scratch on a precarve or blank...it allows complete control over lock, trigger placement and subsequent wrist configuration.
Ya' can't go wrong with either....
Geoff
CrackStock
69 Cal.
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Some of this depends upon the specific gun that you are looking to build. I think that Pecatonica has a good product for some guns. But an example would be that their Tennessee could have a more correct lock than a Siler. You could get a stock that is not yet inlet for the lock and do it yourself with a lock of your choosing.
CS
CS
Only for you Liver Eatin Johnson!
As you know, I haven't built a Chambers "kit" however I have built over 13 Pecatonicas so I can't really compair them based on what comes in the box.
I did a little research though and came to this conclusion:
If you want one of the 10 different styles offered by Chambers which includes the York, Lancaster, English sporting or smoothbore and Christian Spring plus a few others then Jim Chambers is a possible option.
If your tastes run towards another style of stock then Pecatonica River's selections of over 33 different styles are very much worth considering.
These include Reading, Bedford, Buck, Beck, Leman (half and full stock), Hawken (half and full stock), Ohio and over 5 different Southern styles.
The costs for the Jim Chambers seems to be around $850 while Pecatonicas are around $560.
I don't know if you can get a "custom" kit from Jim Chambers but you can from Pecatonica.
What do I mean by custom kit?
If you don't like the lock offered by Pecatonica for instance, you can ask that they supply the stock without the lock inlet. This permits you to inlet the wood for the lock you want to use.
The Pecatonica River stocks are usually not cut for the buttplate. This allows you to install it with the length of pull you want.
The Chambers guns stocks all have 1/4 inch cast built into them while Pecatonica River stocks do not.
I don't know what type of Curly Maple the Chambers kits supply. I do know that most of the Pecatonica stocks are made using the soft Curly Maple (which often has better curl although it isn't quite as easy to get really sharp carvings. (I might add here that soft maple is still harder than walnut).
When all is said and done, I am sure both companys produce excellent kits. I know I have never been disappointed with Pecatonica Rivers parts.
Zonie
As you know, I haven't built a Chambers "kit" however I have built over 13 Pecatonicas so I can't really compair them based on what comes in the box.
I did a little research though and came to this conclusion:
If you want one of the 10 different styles offered by Chambers which includes the York, Lancaster, English sporting or smoothbore and Christian Spring plus a few others then Jim Chambers is a possible option.
If your tastes run towards another style of stock then Pecatonica River's selections of over 33 different styles are very much worth considering.
These include Reading, Bedford, Buck, Beck, Leman (half and full stock), Hawken (half and full stock), Ohio and over 5 different Southern styles.
The costs for the Jim Chambers seems to be around $850 while Pecatonicas are around $560.
I don't know if you can get a "custom" kit from Jim Chambers but you can from Pecatonica.
What do I mean by custom kit?
If you don't like the lock offered by Pecatonica for instance, you can ask that they supply the stock without the lock inlet. This permits you to inlet the wood for the lock you want to use.
The Pecatonica River stocks are usually not cut for the buttplate. This allows you to install it with the length of pull you want.
The Chambers guns stocks all have 1/4 inch cast built into them while Pecatonica River stocks do not.
I don't know what type of Curly Maple the Chambers kits supply. I do know that most of the Pecatonica stocks are made using the soft Curly Maple (which often has better curl although it isn't quite as easy to get really sharp carvings. (I might add here that soft maple is still harder than walnut).
When all is said and done, I am sure both companys produce excellent kits. I know I have never been disappointed with Pecatonica Rivers parts.
Zonie
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Chambers parts are of the highest quality, and there is good reason he does not offer Colrain barrels. If he has the style you want, that is the best place to get it. You get what you pay for.
Guest
Chambers wood is top-notch. Their standard grade of wood is probably grade 5 or better. Their parts are also top-notch. The brass is real brass that is awesome to work with.
You can also have them custom carve your stock, and leave out the lock and sideplate inletting, as well as the buttplate inletting if you need a longer LOP.
You can also have them custom carve your stock, and leave out the lock and sideplate inletting, as well as the buttplate inletting if you need a longer LOP.
Mike Brooks
Cannon
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Chambers uses a grade 6 as his standard wood.
