Rifle Kit

[Ryan Saunders]

Well, at first my trouble was deciding the caliber I want lol. Now I'm worried about who to get it from. I have to have the parts by the first of November, preferably sooner. Should I be concerned that I might not get parts from TOW for 6 months? I know someone told me this, but just wondering, how often does that happen? I've some other questions after I get some answers for this one so please help me if you can

 

[wattlebuster]

I have had very good service from Chambers flintlocks ordering and building their kits. fast service an i have never had to wait over a week or so on any kit i ordered. I have never built a TOW kit yet but have had great results on any accsessories I have ordered in the past.

 

[Melton Kidd]

Call the various suppliers and ask if they have what you want in stock. I'm sure that they will be happy to tell you. Track says that if their web site has it, they do. Each order is subtracted from inventory it is placed, or so their man on the phone told me when I called to ask about availability on a part.

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, just be sure to ask if ALL the parts are available. When stuff is in stock, TOW seems to get it out real quick. But, I have waited several months for stuff from them that they had to backorder. Also, don't forget the other suppliers like Pecatonica, Tip Curtis, Muzzleloader Builders Supply, and Jim Chambers. Mike Brooks also sells some kits you may like.

 

[saber]

if it is a barrel you are waiting on it can be a long wait I have had up to 6 months on barrels from TOW

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Ordered all my parts from TOW in Jan. got the lock in Feb. the stock in June. Quick to ship when in stock but no telling when they will get what you want. As said check with others if they are not showing it in stock.

 

[Jason Lewis]

FYI, if you decide on getting a chambers parts kit, which is what they are a parts kit. be ware that if the barrel is an ed rayle you could be waiting up to a year to get the barrel. i know, it happened to me. however the parts and barrel are top notch.

 

[Dane]

Just a quick question.... why do you need the parts by Nov 1st?? These are not snap together "kits", rather component sets. If you've never built a component set before, be ready for somewhat of a challenge on your first attempt.

If you go with Chambers, call Barbie or Jim, and they will tell you what they have in stock. Problem solved.

By the way, Chambers does NOT use Rayl barrels.

 

[Flintfan69]

Just call them and ask if they have what you want in stock. All of these retailers basically get their parts from the same few suppliers, so if one part is back ordered at one place there is a good chance it might be back ordered someplace else. Be somewhat flexible, if you want a .54 Green Mountain barrel and it's out, ask about a .50 or a .58. If you want a grade 3 stock and it's out, ask about a grade 2 or 4...etc.

The problem is the suppliers are too overwhelmed to keep up with all the retailers. Anyone who has been shopping for Green Mountain barrels the last couple years, knows what I am talking about. Good luck.

 

[fitter]

Yes they do in the fowler and pistol kits, but not in the rifle kits. Check out Buckeye barrel co.

 

[Slash]

If you are just waiting on a Green Mnt. barrel, Tip has the best selection of them. With the stock being from a duplicator, you should be able to get everything and call Tip for the barrel to match the barrel channel (7/8, 15/16, etc.). Most of their stocks require some fitting on the barrel anyway.
slash

 

[dlpowell]

My TOW gun didn't come as a kit. I picked various parts I knew would work. The lock, barrel, and stock I couldn't change. The stock was preinlet for the barrel and lock. All the other parts I could choose from a number of different styles. I checked availability daily and when everything said it was there online, I called to verify and placed my order that day. Took 2 weeks to get here.

I've done a Sitting Fox kit also. That took a couple of weeks to get here. Still had to get screws from TOW as I didn't like the ones that came with the kit.

Next one will be a Chambers.

 

[MSW]

what Dane said ... give Jim or Barbie Chambers a call, and you can't go wrong!

 

[rootsy]

Have had a Rice 38" Transitional C weight lying around for a year or so and with the completion of my last build I began to think about the long cold winter and going stir crazy... So...

I ordered a Chamber's Isaac Haines last week and it arrived yesterday. Should be a nice easy build that allows me to concentrate on shaping, decoration and tight fitting rather than spending half of the time removing copious amounts of wood from a blank. This will probably be 1/3 the work that my last smokepole was.

The lock was back ordered and I hadn't noticed it on the invoice. When I called yesterday they told me it'd be here in a week or so but alas UPS dropped it off today... Nothing but polite, cheerful individuals to speak with down there in Carolina...

Thus far in test fitting there is plenty of wood so that no inlets are sloppy and can all be hand fit. The figure in the maple is superb and I ordered the "base" wood which I was informed at ordering was anything but plain. I had requested the hardest piece of maple they had and that is what I received and it cuts cleanly and controlled across grain.

The only thing I can see at this moment is 1/32th or so gap at the waist of the barrel on each side but that's easily taken care of with a wet towel and some tubing... Could be my barrel is a bit undersize in the waist... Have not measured it... I can close it up with finger pressure applied. It's nothing to be concerned about for sure.

Squared the end of the channel and got the barrel set in firmly last night so things don't get too out of control in the up / down humidity cycle we get this time of year.

Just what the doctor ordered for post-hunting season entertainment...

You may cringe at the price initially but now that I have their work in front of me I see that they erase a lot of hours of tedious work for a beginner. You don't want to go this route if you want the freedom to change things up as you see fit with regard to placement, style, etc... Pretty much everything is pre-inlet to an extent.

When people say that the components are top notch they aren't lying...

I guess I feel a bit ashamed to have gone such an easy route... Guess I'll have to make up for it on the next one... Which I am already planning... We'll use this as a skill refining project...

Buy with confidence.

 

[Jason Lewis]

By the way, Chambers does NOT use Rayl barrels.

um, yeah they do. my fowler from chambers has a rayle barrel.