I own a gun built from that kit. It is a fine kit with quality components however....be aware the barrel is HEAVY. The gun has a 48" barrel(as it should, many originals are longer than that) but the meat is in the breech area and mid barrel. The barrel even has the 1/4 flat sighting plane as seen on originals that runs the length of the barrel. The gun shoots great and looks really good but the weight of the barrel is just too much. I know the barrel was over built for liability purposes......to keep billy bob from blowing himself up when he shoots 200 grains, ect. I have a friend of mine that owns several original French fusils......it will spoil you to pick up an original and then feel the weight of this reproduction. Mine weights in at 8 3/4 pounds, I just wish it weighed in around 7 1/2 pounds. I guess it doesn't help to have a Carolina gun that weights 5 1/2 pounds.....Any time I pick up gun to hunt with.....The Carolina goes every time...I have pretty much regulated the French fusil to a match gun. I will leave you with this thought..using the French gun I have won a trade gun match three consecutive times......it is a shooter.
Best luck in your project,
David Hobbs
