Ok, got a question for you guys with experience with longer barrels on rifles. Thinking of ordering a Kibler colonial kit but don't know about a 43" barrel longest I've got experience with is 36" maybe not much noticeable difference,what's your opinion? Thanks.
Killer colonial kit
- Thread starter pkarr
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My flintlock rifle has a 44" swamped barrel and my upland smoothbore a 42" swamped barrel.
I don't find the length a hinderance when hunting - and I hunt NY brushlots and woodlots. A bit more weight but they balance nicely.
Storage may be an issue (I wall-mount mine), as can car transport.
The advantage is a nice sight radius.
I don't find the length a hinderance when hunting - and I hunt NY brushlots and woodlots. A bit more weight but they balance nicely.
Storage may be an issue (I wall-mount mine), as can car transport.
The advantage is a nice sight radius.
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Hi,
Not knowing what your 36" barrels were, I can state that Kibler's are swamped barrels by Rice. Swamping means they are largest at the breech, taper thinner toward the muzzle and then flare a little starting about 6" back from the muzzle. That brings the weight back toward your shoulder making the gun feel very well balanced. The longer length cause little hindrance while hunting although the overall weight of the gun may be a little more than your 36" barreled guns depending on what barrels and guns those were. For example, Kibler's colonial rifle is lighter and much better balanced than any original half stock plains rifle I have handled.
dave
Not knowing what your 36" barrels were, I can state that Kibler's are swamped barrels by Rice. Swamping means they are largest at the breech, taper thinner toward the muzzle and then flare a little starting about 6" back from the muzzle. That brings the weight back toward your shoulder making the gun feel very well balanced. The longer length cause little hindrance while hunting although the overall weight of the gun may be a little more than your 36" barreled guns depending on what barrels and guns those were. For example, Kibler's colonial rifle is lighter and much better balanced than any original half stock plains rifle I have handled.
dave
Hi,
If I may ad my 2 Cents worth.
The Kibler rifles should prove to be a very graceful rifle.
From my experience, myself being height challenged at 5'8" makes the longer guns unwieldy, also the long barreled rifles are somewhat of a problem getting into a typical car today.
They don't fit in the trunk, unless you can pass them through the back seat.
They are clumsy to load in tight locations.
I base these complaints on a Dixie mountain rifle that I had many years ago.
On the plus side, the longer sight radius is great.
If you have any gun building skills, I really doubt that you can find a better kit to start from.
The reviews on the Kibler guns are great.
Have a great day!
Fred
If I may ad my 2 Cents worth.
The Kibler rifles should prove to be a very graceful rifle.
From my experience, myself being height challenged at 5'8" makes the longer guns unwieldy, also the long barreled rifles are somewhat of a problem getting into a typical car today.
They don't fit in the trunk, unless you can pass them through the back seat.
They are clumsy to load in tight locations.
I base these complaints on a Dixie mountain rifle that I had many years ago.
On the plus side, the longer sight radius is great.
If you have any gun building skills, I really doubt that you can find a better kit to start from.
The reviews on the Kibler guns are great.
Have a great day!
Fred
pkarr said:
At my age, and seeing yours, I can advise with experience. Health issues can affect us at anytime even though you might be in very good condition at the threescore and ten point. Long story short. My beautiful long barreled flinter has been a safe queen now for almost three years. This after decades of giving great service. A smaller rifle (Chambers Little Fella) is in progress and I hope to get back in the shooting game with it this fall. Point is, buy the long barreled rifle and enjoy but realize it may have to go on display when the body starts breaking down.
I think it might defend on what your getting. A 13/16 isn’t going to weigh much more in 6 or 7 inches. While a 1 inch barrel might be very noticeable. In hunting I find no difference, in loading the taller is more comfortable for me. And I just like the looks more.
Took exception of my rule to not take orders and agreed to build a LHed Lancaster w/ a 44" bbl. Upon completion called the customer and told him his LR was done. He said he'd pick it up.
Well....3 weeks went by and no customer showed himself. Called again and he repeated that he'd pick it up.....After another month he finally showed up and tried to pay me $1000 less than the agreed upon price. He finally paid the agreed upon price and took the LR.
10 days later I called him to see if was satisfied w/ the LR and if he had decided to keep it....there was a 10 days inspection period and he could return it w/o any questions asked. He said he would keep it.
Then I asked him why he didn't pick it up earlier and he said he was disappointed that the LR w/ its 44" bbl wouldn't fit in his gun safe.
Shown below is the LR which now hangs over his never used fireplace. Never took another order.....Fred
Well....3 weeks went by and no customer showed himself. Called again and he repeated that he'd pick it up.....After another month he finally showed up and tried to pay me $1000 less than the agreed upon price. He finally paid the agreed upon price and took the LR.
10 days later I called him to see if was satisfied w/ the LR and if he had decided to keep it....there was a 10 days inspection period and he could return it w/o any questions asked. He said he would keep it.
Then I asked him why he didn't pick it up earlier and he said he was disappointed that the LR w/ its 44" bbl wouldn't fit in his gun safe.
Shown below is the LR which now hangs over his never used fireplace. Never took another order.....Fred
Nothing below?
This is why I only build spec guns.
It's there now! :hmm: I SWEAR it wasnt there....I don't drink in the mornings :blah:
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Beautiful!
JBird
36 Cal.
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For what its worth I have the Kibler Colonial in 54, And it feels better in the hand than the TVM Southern rifle I built last year with a 42" straight 13/16" barrel in .45
And both of those rifles point more naturally than my TC Hawken in .50 which I believe is 32" x 15/16"
And both of those rifles point more naturally than my TC Hawken in .50 which I believe is 32" x 15/16"
Beautiful rifle Fred!!
IMHO, for a builder taking orders, a left handed longrifle is very hard to sell compared to a right handed rifle. If the customer who ordered it backs out of the sale, your chances of getting your asking price are greatly diminished!
IMHO, for a builder taking orders, a left handed longrifle is very hard to sell compared to a right handed rifle. If the customer who ordered it backs out of the sale, your chances of getting your asking price are greatly diminished!
I agree. That's the chance a builder takes, I guess if orders are taken. My spec guns sell for less than if ordered but no hassle is involved.
Like to put in a plug for Dunlap stocks...the above LR was made from a #7 red maple blank and was very hard. A #4 and a #5 were bought at the same time w/ a 25% discount. The Lancaster shown below was made from the #4 blank and also was very hard. The # 5 was made into a Bucks County LR also shown below. I used to buy expensive quarter sawn blanks and one of these blanks cost more than all 3 of the Dunlap blanks.....Fred
Like to put in a plug for Dunlap stocks...the above LR was made from a #7 red maple blank and was very hard. A #4 and a #5 were bought at the same time w/ a 25% discount. The Lancaster shown below was made from the #4 blank and also was very hard. The # 5 was made into a Bucks County LR also shown below. I used to buy expensive quarter sawn blanks and one of these blanks cost more than all 3 of the Dunlap blanks.....Fred
Beautiful guns Fred! That Lancaster really catches my eye, wish I had one.
Percy
Percy
Snakebite
45 Cal.
Your carving is absolutely beautiful. Truely art. Only a fool would haggle over an agreed price with quality like yours.
:hatsoff: :hatsoff:
:hatsoff: :hatsoff:
don hepler
58 Cal.
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In our club, we have 3 Kibler SMR's. The first done by an experienced kit builder. The second was built by an inexperienced builder, but got help from experienced club members. The third was sent to a custom builder. Obviously, the third looks the best, the first was very nice and the second came out nice.
These were all .40 cal. and shoot better than most rifles, custom or not.
If you feel comfortable, then....no problem. Or...do like the second guy and seek help, but you still can do most of it, with help from the more experienced. Or...do like the third guy and find someone to finish it. Wouldn't be necessary to use a custom builder, but more than likely, they wouldn't charge to much. However, a good novice kit builder, that's willing would not have any problem.
Most of the fitting is done and done nicely.
These are just out-and-out great rifles. Look good....shoot good.
These were all .40 cal. and shoot better than most rifles, custom or not.
If you feel comfortable, then....no problem. Or...do like the second guy and seek help, but you still can do most of it, with help from the more experienced. Or...do like the third guy and find someone to finish it. Wouldn't be necessary to use a custom builder, but more than likely, they wouldn't charge to much. However, a good novice kit builder, that's willing would not have any problem.
Most of the fitting is done and done nicely.
These are just out-and-out great rifles. Look good....shoot good.
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Helluva nice rifle Fred! :thumbsup:
