Kit for my son's first BP rifle

[Spot Shooter]

A while back rollingB recommended a bobcat as a not too heavy rifle that'd be pretty good quality for my son.

I've looked around a bit but am having problems finding the dern thing in a kit. Who's the best source ta get me a kit, or should I be lookin' at a different gun?

Spot

 

What cal are you looking for and percussion or flint?

 

Post deleted by Woodhick

 

OOPS!!!
I'm sorry that thread is in percussion and is CVA Bobcat "improvments"...... sorry about that..... but check it out it may be just what your looking for.

Woody

 

[Zonie]

Hee, Hee, Hee.
Now most folk would be postin out there on the Precussion, or the Flintlock, or even the General Forum asking what kind of Muzzleloader they should buy for their kid, but the bug has bit!
Once a person has built a muzzleloader and had it come out better than anything a factory makes, it is hard to just "buy" a finished gun.

For those who don't know, Spot Shooter never had any idea how enjoyable building a gun can be until RollingB talked him into making a Lyman GPR.
Both RollingB and I warned him about the "bug", but he went ahead and ordered the kit.
He had more questions than a backwoodsman on his first night in Reno, but his kit turned out great.

Spot, a lot of people are looking at modifying the CVA Bobcat for youngens. Another thought might be a CVA StLouis Hawken.
They are fairly low cost and can give you the fun of building another rifle.
I would suggest that if you go with either of these ideas, resist the urge to cut the length of pull all of the way down to fit your son. Leave it about 1/2 to 1 inch longer than the length that he needs now.
Kids grow like weeds and you won't want him outgrowing his new gun before it's finished. :: :: :: :crackup: You know what I mean.

 

[Spot Shooter]

Well, I couldn't find a place to buy either of those so a website would be a nice thing for someone to post.

Anywho, the dang kid's already 5' 10 and a half "

Did I mention he was only 14 years old!!! KID.

Anywho, he's got the build of a bean pole so I'm still looking for a shorter quality gun that is somwhat like the GPR.

By the way Zonie, RollingB isn't the only one responsible for me catchin' the bp building bug! (ya old muskrat!)

Anywho, pretend I'm not as smart as I look and tell me if I can get the Bobcat in a kit or I'll be modify'n it like it seems.

Ya'll have a good christmas.

Spot

 

If he's 5"10" You brobably won't have to modify any gun very much. Have you had him try any of these guns. Most 45 & 50's kick less than most 20 gauge shotguns, if they are loaded with a moderate 50-60 grain powder load behind a roundball. If he's slight of build his biggest problem will be barrel weight. That's the problem we ran into most when teaching Hunter safty here in Michigan, and we had a lot of twelve year olds. Our solution was a shooting stick. Easy to make, and it solved the barrel weight problem. these kid's were shooting a 50 cal. Cabela's Hawkin with 55 grains and a.490 round ball, for their first M/L experience. Hope my 2 cents helps

 

[riarcher]

Have you seen Dixie's Pedrosoli Scout Carbine and kit?
In either flint or perc., .32/.45/.50 cal. full stock at 42" and weighs about 6 1/4 lbs. for around $350 ish.
About the lightest "kit" gun I know of.

 

[Birddog6]

Well, considering his size & him being slim, I would get him a Lyman GPR in a .54 cal. He is lanky enough to shoulder it & if he can't handle the weight use a shooting stick until he can. Won';t be a year maybe & he will handle it. Also the .54 is lighter as of more metal out of the bore, and it will shoot real accurate with light 55-60 grains of FF in it & PRB.... Then when he can handle a little more you can bump the load up if ya want. But it is a great gun for the $.
You can usually get a CVA Bobcat at WalMart, or at least they used to have them. Also may check on Auction Arms and fine one there.

I would refrain from cutting down any of them if he is 5'10" at 14 years old ! He grows much more & he is liable to fork again !! ha ha ! :huh: