Kibler Colonial Caliber Question

[longrifle1757]

I plan to order a Kibler Colonial in the next day or so and wonder which caliber/smooth or rifled to get. This along with SMR I already have on order in .40 cal will be my first flints. I am about to be 70, not a hunter so I’ll be target shooting and just having fun. I have a 50, 100 and 200 yard range at home. I shoot steel plates, paper targets, water filled jugs, bowling pins and any thing else that looks like a good target. I have 50 cal goods that I feed my Lyman Great Plains percussion bit wanted to consider another caliber. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[Daveboone]

I have a .58 (finished but havent shot it yet). I specifically bought the .58 because it was significantly lighter than the other offerings. If you shoot at distance any, the .50 certainly has an advantage due to the minimal drop compared to the .54 or .58, but I imagine even with the swamped barrel holding that telephone pole out in a .50 would be a challenge.

 

[rafterob]

No reason to go beyond .50 if you are not hunting. .45 is my favorite shooting caliber, that is what I recommend.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I'm thinking along the lines of @rafterob. The 45 would be at the top of my recommended list.

 

[longrifle1757]

Good suggestions guys. Would you do smooth or rifled?

 

[david w]

Small calibers such as the .40 have won several matches. They are also more economical to shoot. I can get around 230 shots per pound of powder, and a little over 100 rounds per pound of lead with my .36. Shooting my .62 is fun, but I can only get 85 shots per lb. of powder and 20 balls per pound. The SMR will have a swamped barrel, which improves the balance.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I plan to order a Kibler Colonial in the next day or so and wonder which caliber/smooth or rifled to get. This along with SMR I already have on order in .40 cal will be my first flints. I am about to be 70, not a hunter so I’ll be target shooting and just having fun. I have a 50, 100 and 200 yard range at home. I shoot steel plates, paper targets, water filled jugs, bowling pins and any thing else that looks like a good target. I have 50 cal goods that I feed my Lyman Great Plains percussion bit wanted to consider another caliber. Any suggestions? Thanks

The .40 calibre SMR will use less powder and lead per shot. The gun is light and very amiable and fun to shoot...so there is a financial savings and an emotionally enjoyable benefit to that purchase.

The Colonial Rifles are all larger calibre, .50 calibre and above, and run about 8.5 lbs to 9 lbs. They will consume more powder and lead per shot...so more expensive to shoot. They physical requirements to hold and shoot them over extended periods is a benefit. If you hunted, I would say get both and enjoy. My personal Preference would be the .54 calibre rifled, with a nice curly maple stock.

You might consider inflation and its effects on our sport...Prices are going up and they look to be going even higher. Rumors are that we could be seeing the leading edges of Hyper Inflation.. As the inflation rate explodes, money becomes devalued. That means that these guns today are going to be worth more tomorrow. If we go into Hyper Inflationary situation, these guns could be selling for $2000 or $4000 a year from now, while money in the bank becomes worthless.

In an inflationary system, people who save money will lose, and people who buy assets will gain and stay ahead. With prices on the rise...these guns could be considered an investment asset and a small hedge against future inflation. So you could buy both guns, enjoy your usage of the guns and if money becomes tight, you will probably be able to sell them for more than you paid for them, even in the short term.

 

[longrifle1757]

I like the.40 cal in SMR and think it would be a pleasure to shoot. It seems the .54 cal rifled Colonial might be a good choice concerning overall weight. Thanks gents for your input.

 

[French Colonial]

I picked the 45 SMR precisely to keep the weight as low as possible for offhand shooting.

This will not help my aging eyesight but some of my guns have, over time, become to muzzle heavy to shoot well.

Have not shot it yet but dry firing in the house it is a joy so far.

 

[david w]

Good suggestions guys. Would you do smooth or rifled?

If you're going to shoot close range at 50 yards or less, a smooth bore will get the job done. They will not be a good choice over 100 yards. The SMR will be the best balanced, and lightest in weight.

Oh, yeah. Welcome to the forum!

 

[EC121]

I had a .58 Colonial. It weighed 8.6lbs. and balanced quite well, but due to the weight, I wouldn't enter a match with it or carry it all day hunting. Still hunting would be fine. Someone larger or younger might not have a problem with it. I used .562 balls.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have a Kibler Colonial in .54 and like it A LOT. .54 is also my favorite overall caliber in a muzzle loading rifle, for no particular reason other than it ain’t a .50. Nothing against a .50 mind you (I have a few), but they just don’t do it for me like a .54. I originally wanted a Colonial in .58, but lucked into the .54 already built by an accomplished builder and am very glad I got it. I think it will serve me better than the .58 in the long run. Same thing with the Kibler .36 SMR I got from the same builder. I was about to order an SMR in .45 when the .36 came up for sale. I had not considered a .36 but really enjoy shooting it and it is more of a unique caliber and certainly economical to shoot. Although if economics are driving your decision, don’t buy anything at all and just throw rocks. BTW, I am just shy of 62 and hit the gym three days a week to work on upper body stuff (knees are shot so leg workouts hurt too much). I don’t enjoy lifting all that much but I keep telling myself it is to benefit my off-hand shooting! Hey, whatever gets me to the gym. ; )

 

[david w]

I have a Kibler Colonial in .54 and like it A LOT. .54 is also my favorite overall caliber in a muzzle loading rifle, for no particular reason other than it ain’t a .50. Nothing against a .50 mind you (I have a few), but they just don’t do it for me like a .54. I originally wanted a Colonial in .58, but lucked into the .54 already built by an accomplished builder and am very glad I got it. I think it will serve me better than the .58 in the long run. Same thing with the Kibler .36 SMR I got from the same builder. I was about to order an SMR in .45 when the .36 came up for sale. I had not considered a .36 but really enjoy shooting it and it is more of a unique caliber and certainly economical to shoot. Although if economics are driving your decision, don’t buy anything at all and just throw rocks. BTW, I am just shy of 62 and hit the gym three days a week to work on upper body stuff (knees are shot so leg workouts hurt too much). I don’t enjoy lifting all that much but I keep telling myself it is to benefit my off-hand shooting! Hey, whatever gets me to the gym. ; )

I think the 54 is about the best caliber for deer sized critters. My deer rifle is a 62 Early Hawken in flint. I chose a 62 because a shop had a Hoppy Hopkins barrel for a good price. I wish I had bought all of his stock. Hoppy's barrels were perhaps the best barrels ever made. I didn't know it at the time. I've shot five deer with it. A .62 is actually over doing it on deer.

 

[longrifle1757]

I have a Kibler Colonial in .54 and like it A LOT. .54 is also my favorite overall caliber in a muzzle loading rifle, for no particular reason other than it ain’t a .50. Nothing against a .50 mind you (I have a few), but they just don’t do it for me like a .54. I originally wanted a Colonial in .58, but lucked into the .54 already built by an accomplished builder and am very glad I got it. I think it will serve me better than the .58 in the long run. Same thing with the Kibler .36 SMR I got from the same builder. I was about to order an SMR in .45 when the .36 came up for sale. I had not considered a .36 but really enjoy shooting it and it is more of a unique caliber and certainly economical to shoot. Although if economics are driving your decision, don’t buy anything at all and just throw rocks. BTW, I am just shy of 62 and hit the gym three days a week to work on upper body stuff (knees are shot so leg workouts hurt too much). I don’t enjoy lifting all that much but I keep telling myself it is to benefit my off-hand shooting! Hey, whatever gets me to the gym. ; )

I probably would never got into flints until I found Kibler’s mentioned in the forums. From what I’ve read and looking on his website it is really impressive. I’ll probably go with the .54 Colonial since I wanted a little variety in calibers. With a .54 Colonial and .40 SMR I think will be a good pair to enjoy.

 

[david w]

I probably would never got into flints until I found Kibler’s mentioned in the forums. From what I’ve read and looking on his website it is really impressive. I’ll probably go with the .54 Colonial since I wanted a little variety in calibers. With a .54 Colonial and .40 SMR I think will be a good pair to enjoy.

I can't disagree. Aim small, miss small, my friend.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I probably would never got into flints until I found Kibler’s mentioned in the forums. From what I’ve read and looking on his website it is really impressive. I’ll probably go with the .54 Colonial since I wanted a little variety in calibers. With a .54 Colonial and .40 SMR I think will be a good pair to enjoy.

I also can’t disagree. I figure with my .54 Colonial and .36 SMR I still have room for a .45 Woods Runner and .62 Fowler to round out a fair Kibler collection.

 

[longrifle1757]

I also can’t disagree. I figure with my .54 Colonial and .36 SMR I still have room for a .45 Woods Runner and .62 Fowler to round out a fair Kibler collection.

Yep I look forward to Jim’s next offerings.

 

[painter]

I also look forward to Jim's next offering. I don't want a Colonial...too heavy for this old man. I might just get a smaller caliber SMR than my 45 to replace my Pedersoli 36.

 

[Zutt-man]

I have a .58 Colonial and it’s incredibly balanced and weighs in at a smidge over 9 lbs. Great shooting gun as well.

Jim will also be coming out with a lighter (7-8 lbs) hunting rifle in .45, .50 & .54 calibers called the Woodsrunner in May or June

 

[Siringo]

I have the 54 Colonial. Balances well.