While I have never handled one of Mr. Kibler’s southern rifles, I have handled a number of originals, and I understand Jim’s southern rifle is very faithful to the style. It certainly looks the part!
The originals I have handled and shot were neither ”whippy” nor particularly light. Forty-four inches seems about average for barrel length in the ones I have handled, and smaller (sub-.40) calibers predominate. I don’t remember what our originals weighed, but they had some heft. When I was younger, and shooting more, I was able to shoot these rifles off-hand. I’m not sure I could handle the same rifles as well now, with loss of muscle mass and strength due to aging, but it is documented that the old-timers generally preferred shooting from a rest when possible, so that point may be moot. Most people these days, at least the folks on this forum, seem to want light weight, thin walled barrels. The physicists amongst the crowd here may educate the rest of us regarding barrel whip and harmonics, but it has always been my simple-minded understanding that thin-walled, light-weight barrels are more prone to whip, as would be hard steel barrels as opposed to the soft, “dead iron” that was used for barrels in the old days. I guess this may be the OP’s concern, and reason for asking.
Again, the Kibler southern rifle looks true to the type. I don’t think it was intended to be a mass-marketed, all-purpose rifle engineered to fit “the average guy.” It looks to me like a real specialty product, intended for people who specifically want an authentic, high-quality reproduction of a late era longrifle from our southern highlands. If I were in the market for a rifle of that type, I would not hesitate to order one of these. I really don’t think you need to worry about whippiness.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
