Kibler SMR 40 caliber put through the paces!

[Trapper Scott]

As some may already know I was finally able to finish the Kibler SMR 40 caliber and was able to start breaking it in. I tried a lot of different combinations with everything from .390 RB to .395 RB and from patches starting at 0.010 to 0.020 thickness. On the first day of shooting, I was only able to shoot three times because my youngest daughter showed up with two of the grandbabies, so everyone got to shoot it but me. My oldest grandson fell in love with the little rifle, then his Dad had to have a few turns, and eventually, my 8-year-old granddaughter just had to have her turn a few times. So there wasn't much time for working out a decent load yesterday.

Today, I was able to spend some quality time with the SMR and settled on a .395 RB with a 0.015 pillow ticking patch lubed with wonder lube at a small charge of 25 grains of 3F. I shot from my small bench and was able to take my time. The target is a free rifle target I printed off of the Midway USA website in case anyone is interested. I put a small piece of blue painter's tape on the bullseye because I just couldn't see it 25 yards away. I'm sure the groups would have been better in more capable hands but my eyesight and Parkinson's shakes worked against me at every turn. I still had a ball shooting though.

The young lady in the picture is my dear 80-year-old mother that just had to have a picture of the new rifle with her favorite son. I think she was more proud of the rifle than I was.

 

[Ballshooter]

That's awesome very nice Kibler mountain rifle love the patch box. Pretty good shooting too!

 

[Justin.44]

Nice rifle and pics! Glad you got to get some shooting in with the family. That's my plan tomorrow, and best of all it's a paid holiday so I'll be making money while I'm making smoke

 

[Trapper Scott]

That's awesome very nice Kibler mountain rifle love the patch box. Pretty good shooting too!

Thank you, Sir. The shooting could have been better with steadier hands, but I'll take it.

 

[Trapper Scott]

Nice rifle and pics! Glad you got to get some shooting in with the family. That's my plan tomorrow, and best of all it's a paid holiday so I'll be making money while I'm making smoke

Thank you, Sir. It was good times teaching the younger ones about flintlocks and watching them enjoy the shooting. Hope your day tomorrow goes as well as mine did.

 

[TDM]

Great job Trapper!

 

[Trapper Scott]

Great job Trapper!

Thanks, Buddy. We had a great time shooting and working up a decent load.

 

[azmntman]

I anm such a friggin chicken! My .40 SMR in the white is still in the white cuz I just know I will dick it up staining and browning it. Gotta get a project gun for practice cuz its killing me seeing all these rifles at the range.

Great pics, yer Mom is an awesome lady and tell her she looks sharp and makes that Kibler look GOOD! I love the shooting picture, look at that! The pan and barrel smoke are simultaneous like a cap rifle.

 

[Trapper Scott]

I anm such a friggin chicken! My .40 SMR in the white is still in the white cuz I just know I will dick it up staining and browning it. Gotta get a project gun for practice cuz its killing me seeing all these rifles at the range.

Great pics, yer Mom is an awesome lady and tell her she looks sharp and makes that Kibler look GOOD! I love the shooting picture, look at that! The pan and barrel smoke are simultaneous like a cap rifle.

Try practicing staining on some scrap pieces of wood first and that should give you a good idea of what you can expect. As far as browning the metal you should be able to do the same thing and may be surprised of much it will build your confidence. And thanks for the compliments on my mom. She is a hoot and enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[BigAl52]

Nice photos and good shooting. If the fun factor was on the high side thats all that matters

 

[Trapper Scott]

Nice photos and good shooting. If the fun factor was on the high side thats all that matters

The fun meter was pegged!

 

[deertraks]

Good job! Makes want to try 25grs in my 40 Kibler.

 

[jackpine54]

Sounds like a great day, flintlocks and family!

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

Thanks for posting this. It will make it easier for me to zero mine when I'm done.

 

[1BadDart]

I anm such a friggin chicken! My .40 SMR in the white is still in the white cuz I just know I will dick it up staining and browning it. Gotta get a project gun for practice cuz its killing me seeing all these rifles at the range.

Great pics, yer Mom is an awesome lady and tell her she looks sharp and makes that Kibler look GOOD! I love the shooting picture, look at that! The pan and barrel smoke are simultaneous like a cap rifle.

Pick up some Danglers browning solution, follow the instructions and it'll come out great. I used ferric nitrate crystals to stain my maple stock, then Minwax satin poly for the finish. Pretty painless to work with.

 

[Trapper Scott]

Good job! Makes want to try 25grs in my 40 Kibler.

Try it and you may be surprised at how well it does.

 

[Trapper Scott]

Thanks for posting this. It will make it easier for me to zero mine when I'm done.

I'm not sure if I was just lucky, but I didn't have to change a thing on mine. The sights stayed put, so no drifting them or filing down the front sight.

 

[Trapper Scott]

Sounds like a great day, flintlocks and family!

It sure was.

 

[david w]

I usually color my bullseyes with a broad tip red sharpie. How long is your barrel? My .36 SMR has the 46" barrel, and it stands eyeball level to me. I cut my patches at the muzzle, so I had to learn to put the powder in the the rifle standing straight up, then tilt it down for the patch and ball. I use 25 gr. Swiss 3Fg, 000 buckshot, and .022" ticking lubed with Mink Oil (actually a paste).

 

[olskool]

that's great! thanks for posting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,