Kit opinions TOW vs TVM

[Capt. Fred]

Take your time with it and ask lots of questions. Try to always be thinking ahead of where you are so you don't back yourself into too many corners.

Been there and have a couple of the tee shirts! :surrender:

 

[Arie]

Once it gets here I plan on starting a build thread so I can ask a lot of questions :grin: I know I'll have a lot

Thanks for all the comments

 

[silly goose]

Looking forward to it.

 

[phoenix511]

ToTW. Chambers, Pecatonic, TVM, MBS, all have nice kits. But a note of caution.

I've two examples from ToTW where I ordered a stock pre-inlet for the barrel and lock. The lock placement was too far back by 1/4" to 3/8", which means I would be drilling the touchole into the breech plug. I caught the first one and made an adjustment in the barrel placement, I sadly missed the second one, and had to do some extensive work on the barrel. Moving the lock placement too far foward means a hard trigger pull.

Typically the barrel is inletted first, then the lock location is determined by the face of the breech plug and inletting begins. If the lock is pre-inletted, You can move the barrel backwards in the stock, but it leaves a strange looking area at the top of the lock.

 

[Zonie]

This is aimed at no-one and everyone who is thinking of building a rifle or pistol from many of the suppliers.

Something people building rifles from stock blanks from TOTW, Pecatonica River, Muzzleloader Builder's Supply etc need to realize is these are "blanks", intended for use with many different locks, barrels, barrel breeches etc.

They always have excess wood left on them at all of the locations where wood and metal parts will fit together.

This is based on the idea that it is much easier to cut off or remove some wood than it is to put wood back onto the stock.
This is the reason the lock panels are ALWAYS much too large for the common locks modern builders use.

The wrist is always too fat. The comb is always too high and too long, the forend is always too fat and the barrel channel is always too short.

These are not "drop together" gun kits.

They are made so the builder can have material to shape and modify to get the proper alignment, fit and shape that the finished gun should have.

Even Chambers, who does a lot more fitting than I like to see leaves extra wood on the stocks he supplies.