Kibler SMR is Here! (Build Log)

[Indy Durtdigger]

34hrs build time:
Proceeding on past yesterday's screw up for the time being, last night I tackled the task of finishing the barrel and a few other odds and ends. I started by shoving a foam ear plug in the muzzle and breaking off a toothpick in the flash hole, after which I gave it a scrub down with hot soapy water followed by drying and a final wipe down with alcohol. I was careful to only handle the barrel with gloves after the soap and water bath. I placed the muzzle end in a large plastic dish and suspended the barrel vertically using a piece of .040 stainless wire looped through the tang. A healthy coat of Jax black was applied using a sponge and I allowed it to remain on the barrel for 3 minutes before dousing the barrel with several gallons of water to end the reaction. After drying the barrel was rubbed back with 0000 steel wool to produce the result shown below. After rubbing it back I again cleaned with alcohol and applied liberal amounts of barricade before setting the barrel aside. I have never had this good of luck using any other cold bluing products so I am a firm believer in Jax black and will use it again on future projects!

View attachment 193493

With the barrel finished I took care of a few other small tasks. I installed and pinned the ramrod end along with filing down the screw heads to fit the counter bores in the butt plate and barrel tang. I also slotted the barrel pin holes in the lugs and final trimmed the pins to the correct length.

All that remains this evening is for me to Jax black the ramrod pipes, install the sights, and put all the little pieces together!

Chris

That came out nice. I do believe I will give that product a try. I just spent several hours with a couple other products on a barrel and I'm still not happy with how it came out.

 

[Fly103]

3 hours tonight, 37hrs total build time. The remaining small tasks have been completed and the SMR has been assembled. I will get some better pictures tomorrow when I take her out for her first range day.

My first 2 observations from shouldering the complete rifle:
1. The balance and feel is really nice!
2. The front sight is tiny and a long ways away! I had to turn the back of it black as I couldn't see the shiny brass blade.

It's been alot of fun putting her together even though I will have to refinish the stock. Better pictures and a full range report to come.

Chris

 

[Fly103]

Just updating this thread, I have about 6hrs invested in stock rework so far. I wet sanded the finish coats back using 320 grit and alcohol, being careful not to over do it and lighten the stain too much but also trying to highlight the curl better this time around. After sanding I gave the stock a good rubbing with 0000 steel wool and a final wipe down with alcohol. Tonight I rubbed in a very light coat of tru-oil and I am much happier with the outcome, now if I can avoid knocking it in the floor again.

Chris

 

[BillyC]

I have the same kit and was wondering if I should blue the ramrod pipes or leave them shiny silver, what’s everyones opinion on silver pipes. Also, I screwed up the rear sight dovetail and now I have a longer rear sight from TOW on order so, yeah, Mr Murphy gets around !!

 

[Fly103]

I have the same kit and was wondering if I should blue the ramrod pipes or leave them shiny silver, what’s everyones opinion on silver pipes. Also, I screwed up the rear sight dovetail and now I have a longer rear sight from TOW on order so, yeah, Mr Murphy gets around !!

I used Jax black on my ramrod pipes and am happy with the result.

One word of caution, make sure the entry pipe is fully inlet and aligns with the hole in the stock before drilling for the pin!

I have since burnished the glossy glossiness from my true oil finish, I will try and get some new pics this weekend.

Chris

 

[Mgbruch]

Premature comments. Sorry.

 

[BillyC]

I used Jax black on my ramrod pipes and am happy with the result.

One word of caution, make sure the entry pipe is fully inlet and aligns with the hole in the stock before drilling for the pin!

I have since burnished the glossy glossiness from my true oil finish, I will try and get some new pics this weekend.

Chris

I noticed on mine the butt plate extends about 1/4 inch beyond the end of the toe. Is that on purpose? Do you leave it that way or file it even with the wood?

 

[Fly103]

I noticed on mine the butt plate extends about 1/4 inch beyond the end of the toe. Is that on purpose? Do you leave it that way or file it even with the wood?

Mine is the same, I left it the way it is because i feel that it adds a bit more protection to the toe of the stock, plus if I ever want to add a toe plate later i'll have a bit of extra material there when I go to fit everything up.

Chris

 

[James Kibler]

The protrusion of the buttplate can be left as is, filed off flush or left slightly long. I usually file it down a bit but still leave it stick out a touch. One of the big reasons is that if the stock absorbs moisture the wood won't end up sticking past when it expands.

Jim

 

[Frontiersman77]

It’s looking great…thanks for sharing the build. Just so you know I have often said “that little man Murph, rides around in my company truck with me” LOL…I can feel your pain.

 

[NavyDoc76-80]

34hrs build time:
Proceeding on past yesterday's screw up for the time being, last night I tackled the task of finishing the barrel and a few other odds and ends. I started by shoving a foam ear plug in the muzzle and breaking off a toothpick in the flash hole, after which I gave it a scrub down with hot soapy water followed by drying and a final wipe down with alcohol. I was careful to only handle the barrel with gloves after the soap and water bath. I placed the muzzle end in a large plastic dish and suspended the barrel vertically using a piece of .040 stainless wire looped through the tang. A healthy coat of Jax black was applied using a sponge and I allowed it to remain on the barrel for 3 minutes before dousing the barrel with several gallons of water to end the reaction. After drying the barrel was rubbed back with 0000 steel wool to produce the result shown below. After rubbing it back I again cleaned with alcohol and applied liberal amounts of barricade before setting the barrel aside. I have never had this good of luck using any other cold bluing products so I am a firm believer in Jax black and will use it again on future projects!

View attachment 193493

With the barrel finished I took care of a few other small tasks. I installed and pinned the ramrod end along with filing down the screw heads to fit the counter bores in the butt plate and barrel tang. I also slotted the barrel pin holes in the lugs and final trimmed the pins to the correct length.

All that remains this evening is for me to Jax black the ramrod pipes, install the sights, and put all the little pieces together!

Chris

I know much time has passed, but I have a question. I too am going to use Jax Black. Zooming in on your barrel, post treatment, did not highlight or reveal any scratches. Did you sand finish the barrel to a particular grit, or did your barrel luckily come pre finished, smooth wise.

 

[Fly103]

I know much time has passed, but I have a question. I too am going to use Jax Black. Zooming in on your barrel, post treatment, did not highlight or reveal any scratches. Did you sand finish the barrel to a particular grit, or did your barrel luckily come pre finished, smooth wise.

My Barrel came scratch free, smooth, and ready to finish. Only scratch on it is one I caused near the rear sight.

Chris

 

[TerryK]

I had to draw file mine and then use finer wet sand paper wrapped on a file. It came out good, but the jax black is like jax-"kinda grey a little". I even tried to get more blue with birchwood casey cold blue. For me the results are a faded antique muted finish. Not what I intended, but it really looks natural and there are speckles and water marks from use. Great result, but not my vision.
Seemed the woodsrunner had more milling marks in the barrel.

 

[NavyDoc76-80]

I had to draw file mine and then use finer wet sand paper wrapped on a file. It came out good, but the jax black is like jax-"kinda grey a little". I even tried to get more blue with birchwood casey cold blue. For me the results are a faded antique muted finish. Not what I intended, but it really looks natural and there are speckles and water marks from use. Great result, but not my vision.
Seemed the woodsrunner had more milling marks in the barrel.

After being up all night working on the barrel, I’m calling it good. Used dry grit to 340 then a final, wet, in 400. I did not get every scratch out which was my intention. I’m now calling them character marks. And can only be seen in the right light and angle. I miss spoke about my choice of darkener. I’m going to use Jax Brown. You mentioned water marks. I actually got a few wet sanding, even though I was wiping dry as I went. Need to finish letting in the butt plate, then I’ll tackle metal staining after Christmas. Merry Christmas all.

 

[reddogge]

A note about your front sight. If you intend to use this rifle for hunting deer in the woods your black front sight will disappear in low light conditions. I had it happen years ago in the PA mountains when I threw the gun up on a deer and I thought the front sight fell out. I had to feel for it and I still couldn't see that front sight. I made the sight out of steel so it was browned. I now use either German silver or brass with a shiny top radius which shows up nicely in the woods.

 

[NavyDoc76-80]

A note about your front sight. If you intend to use this rifle for hunting deer in the woods your black front sight will disappear in low light conditions. I had it happen years ago in the PA mountains when I threw the gun up on a deer and I thought the front sight fell out. I had to feel for it and I still couldn't see that front sight. I made the sight out of steel so it was browned. I now use either German silver or brass with a shiny top radius which shows up nicely in the woods.

Good advice. Fortunately or not, when I got this rifle, it was missing the front sight. Thought I would add the sight after stain. I’ve bought so many trying to fit the dovetail, I forget now which one finally fit. There is a brass one in the bunch. Frustrated with the front sight, I’m putting that off for down the road.