Opinions Requested on Next Kibler SMR Caliber

[wiscoaster]

I have a Kibler SMR .45 cal with walnut stock. Barrel and iron hardware are Jax-blacked. Thinking about ordering another SMR as a winter project. Probably maple-stocked for a change, and browned barrel and hardware. Undecided whether to get another .45 cal or to go with .36 cal for something different. I do like .45 cal and mine shoots great. Goals are mainly just the project with an end result of just target shooting and not hunting. Opinions on whether to go .36 cal or .45 cal?

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

The last few panic buys and resulting shortages have led me to really appreciate the powder and lead miser calibers for non-hunting purposes.

 

[smokepolehall]

You can give some love to a .40.

 

[Spikebuck]

I have the Kibler SMR in .36. Very sweet shooting and miserly on lead and powder. Besides being fun to shoot, it's deadly on small game. I really like mine, except I wish it had more drop at the comb.

That said, a .40 lets you use a 3/8" ramrod, is still miserly on lead and powder, and will give better wind resistance. I bought one of Roundball's .40's when he was reducing his herd and it was really a fun and accurate rifle to shoot. I sold it because I couldn't use it for small game in MN during an open big game season lest I was also carrying a valid deer tag as the assumption here is if you're carrying a deer legal gun, you ARE hunting deer. For targets though, a very good choice, even though that wasn't a choice you asked about.

Lastly...why do you want two guns that are only different in wood selection? I'd take the opportunity to change up the caliber as well.

 

[Polecat_Tom]

I like my .32. It shoots well and cheap on powder and lead.
If you are shooting competition I believe you can go up to .40 cal for squirrel matches.

 

[olskool]

a 36 is great, so is a 40; i have built 18 Kibler's and waiting on 2 more. i think the next SMR i will get it in a 32,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

Mine is a .32, like it very much. I would however like to handle a .36 and a .40 to see how the balance is with the less front heavy barrel.

 

[akroguy]

A woodsrunner in a small caliber would be excellent, at least for me. The really long SMR barrel in a small caliber just seems like it would be very front heavy. I like a rifle to balance more to the rear.

 

[wiscoaster]

.....

Lastly...why do you want two guns that are only different in wood selection? I'd take the opportunity to change up the caliber as well.

Exactly why I'm asking. Thank you. Maybe I should also consider .40 cal. That would be a little lighter in weight than a .36 cal, no? Main reason for .36 cal as the alternate SMR caliber choice is I already have a couple hand guns in .36 cal and so wouldn't have to stock yet another different round ball size.

Reason for different wood selection is just, well, to be different.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

As for me, I like different kinds of wood more than different calibers. I have three Kibler SMRs stocked in pear, ash and oak. I think they are 45, 36 and 40. I put them back in their boxes, waiting time to assemble them, so I'm not sure about the calibers. In practical terms, to keep things simple, sticking with a single caliber makes the most sense. Another 45 would be a good choice.

 

[SDSmlf]

Goals are mainly just the project with an end result of just target shooting and not hunting. Opinions on whether to go .36 cal or .45 cal?

Type of targeting shooting and distance may come into play. Currently I am ‘out of stock’ in 36 and 40 caliber long guns, but enjoy shooting a couple in 32 caliber. Fantastic at 25 yards, ok at 50 and quite the challenge at 100 yards, particularly in any kind of crosswind. A 36 caliber would definitely reach out a bit further, depends what you are shooting at. Easy enough to hit steel with smaller calibers, though a hit doesn’t mean the steel is going to fall.

You say you have a 45 caliber that shoots great. Maybe that’s a 40 you hear calling instead of a 36 or another 45? Really can’t go wrong in any available caliber if you want it in my opinion.

What caliber do you really think you want?

 

[Spikebuck]

The really long SMR barrel in a small caliber just seems like it would be very front heavy.

My Kibler SMR .36 balances very nicely. Not nose heavy at all. While long, that swamped barrel is very sleek!

 

[Spikebuck]

...Main reason for .36 cal as the alternate SMR caliber choice is I already have a couple hand guns in .36 cal and so wouldn't have to stock yet another different round ball size.

Hard to argue with that as it's what I've done myself. All of my deer rifles are now .54. I eliminated the .32, .40, .45, .50, .58, and .62. I do still have a .62 smooth rifle, but that's for turkey or small game with shot. The .36 is for small game. So went from stocking for 8 calibers of rifles to two plus shot components for 1.

 

[wiscoaster]

......

What caliber do you really think you want?

I'd probably be happy with .45 but then the only difference is the stock wood and iron finish.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

That was my sole reason for choosing a .32. Already had the stuff for it so saved money on having to pick up the stuff for another caliber for now at least.

 

[French Colonial]

For those of you who have a Kibler SMR in .32 would it be possible to show us the balance point on the rifle?

Yes, I know it will be slightly different due to wood and wood density but close enough for me to make a decision.

 

[Indy Durtdigger]

I'll put one of mine up when I get home later.

 

[French Colonial]

I'll put one of mine up when I get home later.

Thanks!

 

[JimFlint]

My last few purchases including a Kibler Woods Runner have been in .54 caliber. I try to keep them all same size now, helping with ball size and rod tool inventory. It just helps me to not show up at the range with the wrong ball and equipment for the rifle I am using. Just my point of view. Enjoy your winter build, whatever your choice.