Kibler Colonial/WR .50 vs .54

[CascadeRob]

Question for those of you who have handled a Colonial in .50 and .54. I have had two colonials both in .50 (I own neither now) and was on the fence about getting a .54 one day or a WR in .54. My question is mainly about weight/balance the .50 I would assume is going to be a touch heavier given there is more steel there compared to the .54. Now for comparison I also own a WR in .50, and the difference between the two is night and day. The WR feels nimble, while the Colonial just feels like the barrel is 5ft long and nose heavy. Although I LOVE the look of the longer barrel. I have heard that folks who have shot/held a .54 WR say it's got to be about the best rifle weight/balance they ever shot. My issue with the WR is I have long arms so the LOP sometimes feels awkward I guess, and I think buying Jims taller rear sight would solve that issue.

So I guess at the end of the day what I'm trying to say is if I were to purchase a Colonial in .54 would it solve the issue of being on the heavier side/nose heavy feeling. Or would it be worth it to go with a WR in .54 and get that almost guarantee of satisfaction, with hopes the taller rear sight will solve that shorter LOP feeling?

 

[stubshaft]

I have a 58 Colonial and a 54 Woods Runner. Although the Colonial has good balance it is slightly nose heavy. The WR is lighter and has a more neutral balance to it. I stand 5'11" and do not find the LOP of the WR to feel cramped with the standard sight.

 

[olskool]

I have shot the 50 col. and it is heavy! I have handled the 54 and it ain't bad. i am 6'1 and have long arms and the WR feel perfect for me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Art Caputo]

Seeking the same ergonomics with my 50 cal Colonial. I bought an second barrel in 58 cal.(Kibler, Green Mountain). I got exactly the balance and feel that I was seeking with the added bonus of being the most accurate ML I own, along with better wind drift, energy, and flatter trajectory then the 50 or 58….. Recoil isn’t much more then the 50/54. And I like the cost!

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Not sure I've ever shouldered a more balanced, comfortable rifle than a .54 WR.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

The .50 calibre Colonial rifle is nose heavy, in my opinion, the .54 calibre is less, and the .58 calibre even less.

The .54 calibre WoodsRunner is the most perfectly balanced hunting rifle…there is no compare.

 

[CascadeRob]

I have shot the 50 col. and it is heavy! I have handled the 54 and it ain't bad. i am 6'1 and have long arms and the WR feel perfect for me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Maybe I ought to tinker more with WR. I shot my Colonial more on the hopes I’d find that sweet spot but always found shooting off hand 20-30 rounds a day got tiring.

 

[CascadeRob]

The .50 calibre Colonial rifle is nose heavy, in my opinion, the .54 calibre is less, and the .58 calibre even less.

The .54 calibre WoodsRunner is the most perfectly balanced hunting rifle…there is no compare.

I’ve shot a colonial in .58 it balanced well but man it seemed to be a bear. Now that could be the fact that the gentleman I borrowed it from loaded it, and likes hot loads lol.

This seems to be the common theme with the .54 WR, there must be a reason behind it.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

The WR has a swamped barrel and add the big ol' .54 bore with a "wide" butt stock and you get balance.

 

[longcruise]

I'm wishing for a 58 woodsrunner.

 

[Togo]

Having a taller rear sight will not solve your LOP issue. Jim made the taller rear sight because some ppl's WR's were shooting way low, some would literally file all of their front sight off and still be low. I have shorter arms so my 54 WR fits me perfectly. I went with the taller rear sight from the beginning, my rifle was pretty much right on other than some left/right adjustment

 

[CascadeRob]

Having a taller rear sight will not solve your LOP issue. Jim made the taller rear sight because some ppl's WR's were shooting way low, some would literally file all of their front sight off and still be low. I have shorter arms so my 54 WR fits me perfectly. I went with the taller rear sight from the beginning, my rifle was pretty much right on other than some left/right adjustment

I see, I guess I should have stated that the taller rear sight might help with me not having to crane my neck down to align the sights, not so much the literal LOP. Seems some of the reviews on Jim’s website mentioned that the taller sight helped so said issue.

 

[mrfritz44]

I see, I guess I should have stated that the taller rear sight might help with me not having to crane my neck down to align the sights, not so much the literal LOP. Seems some of the reviews on Jim’s website mentioned that the taller sight helped so said issue.

One thing to be aware of is that if you get one of the WR's like I have that shoots high, the taller rear sight might not work, at least not with the stock front sight.

I installed the taller rear sight out of the box and it'll stay there until after hunting season at this point, but in February I'll be installing the short rear sight so I can hold and hit dead center.

 

[CascadeRob]

One thing to be aware of is that if you get one of the WR's like I have that shoots high, the taller rear sight might not work, at least not with the stock front sight.

I installed the taller rear sight out of the box and it'll stay there until after hunting season at this point, but in February I'll be installing the short rear sight so I can hold and hit dead center.

Good to know. Maybe when the time comes to getting one I’ll assemble it, shoot it then assess it from there

 

[JimFlint]

The .50 calibre Colonial rifle is nose heavy, in my opinion, the .54 calibre is less, and the .58 calibre even less.

The .54 calibre WoodsRunner is the most perfectly balanced hunting rifle…there is no compare.

Each time I hand my .54 Woodsrunner to someone to hold, they have that exact same comment.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

A .54 Woodsrunner has to be held to be appreciated.

I’ve got one on the bench (okay, crappy wal-mart plastic table but still) and assembled “in the white” as we speak.

I am a very small man at just 5’ 7” in tallth. The Woodsrunner fits me like an absolute glove. Not just a glove, an absolute glove.

The balance? It’s more balanced than a ballerina. LOVE IT.

 

[CascadeRob]

A .54 Woodsrunner has to be held to be appreciated.

I’ve got one on the bench (okay, crappy wal-mart plastic table but still) and assembled “in the white” as we speak.

I am a very small man at just 5’ 7” in tallth. The Woodsrunner fits be like an absolute glove. Not just a glove, an absolute glove.

The balance? It’s more balanced than a ballerina. LOVE IT.

You sir should be a salesman for Jim!

I think I know what my next kit will be lol

 

[yellowhammer]

... I have heard that folks who have shot/held a .54 WR say it's got to be about the best rifle weight/balance they ever shot....

I have a .54 WR, and heartily agree with all in here and say it's the best balanced best handling larger-bore flintlock I've ever seen.

 

[JimFlint]

One problem that has come from building my .54 WR is that I now keep my Pedersoli's in the display case. They were just fine to hunt with until I had something very well balanced to compare to.

 

[yellowhammer]

.54 Woodsrunner:

click, sssst, BOOM!