Tell me why you like your Traditions Kentucky?

[ORBushman]

Kind of on the fence over this rifle. I like the 1:66 much better than a 1:48 simply because all I shoot is PRB. So, for those of you who own one, tell me why you like it and any other thoughts you'd be willing to share. Also, post photos because we all love eye candy!

 

[64Springer]

I like Traditions Kentucky rifles because the instructions are very clear.

Step 1: Throw the brass nose cap in the trash.

Step 2: Epoxy the front and aft stock pieces together.

Step 3: Cut the barrel back and cut a new front sight dovetail.

The percussion locks are actually very nice. Never had one fail. Never had one jump to half cock. And as long as your percussion cap isn't a piece of crap, thinking of you CCI, those hammers will pop em. Every time.

 

[ORBushman]

Step 3: Cut the barrel back and cut a new front sight dovetail.

Don't understand "Cut the barrel back"?

Do love the looks of that rifle though! Especially the blackened color of the stock!!

 

[64Springer]

Following step one, the barrel will overhang the fore stock too much.

I cut my barrels back to within an 1/8th inch of the fore stock.

The dark finish is aqua fortis. I make mine from muriatic acid, hydrogen peroxide and 0000 steel wool.

 

[Greg_E]

My CVA is nice because I built it when I was a kid. It also shot well enough the last time I shot it, need to get fixing it for use again. Said to be basically the same as the Traditions, only probably better quality control 40 years ago.

Mine is a 45, and I intend to try Lee REAL in it, they claim it should work. I haven't cast any of these yet, but getting closer, I bought the REAL with a round ball mold. So one of the two should work, or maybe both.

 

[ORBushman]

My CVA is nice because I built it when I was a kid.

PIcs? And I surely wish Traditions would make theirs in a .45!

 

[Greg_E]

Cameras took film back then, and I don't have any current pictures. I should probably take some after I fix a mistake made so long ago and get it cleaned up a little. I think it will be OK, had it good and clean and well oiled after the last use, the nipple and clean out screw don't look bad, so I think I should be OK. it shows the attention span of a typical teenager, it is not the best build you will ever see. But I don't think I want to change it either, should just leave it the way I did it back then and put lead down range.

 

[ORBushman]

But I don't think I want to change it either, should just leave it the way I did it back then and put lead down range.

Sometimes it's best to leave things be! If for nothing else, at least for nostalgia reasons. If it shoots, and shoots straight, I say hit the range and looks be darned!

 

[Loja man]

Mine shoots great!! It’s a 50 cal. I love how it balances. I don’t like the Roman nose stock. It beats me up, only with deer loads. Had I know I would have take 1/2”-3/4” off the top of it. I took the brass spacer out. I also moved the ram rod spring up and added a pin to hold it in place. Kit directions call for the front lock screw to hold the ram rod spring. But if you pull the lock for cleaning then the spring falls down into the stock. Then you have to pull the barrel to put it back in place. Hence the pin.

 

[64Springer]

Dat's a purdy one.

 

[ORBushman]

Mine shoots great!! It’s a 50 cal. I love how it balances. I don’t like the Roman nose stock. It beats me up, only with deer loads. Had I know I would have take 1/2”-3/4” off the top of it. I took the brass spacer out. I also moved the ram rod spring up and added a pin to hold it in place. Kit directions call for the front lock screw to hold the ram rod spring. But if you pull the lock for cleaning then the spring falls down into the stock. Then you have to pull the barrel to put it back in place. Hence the pin.

 

[SDSmlf]

Kind of on the fence over this rifle. I like the 1:66 much better than a 1:48 simply because all I shoot is PRB. So, for those of you who own one, tell me why you like it and any other thoughts you'd be willing to share. Also, post photos because we all love eye candy!

The CVA Kentucky predates the Traditions version and is very similar, if not identical, at least the ones I have seen. The barrels will shoot. Other than that, not much good to say. I have owned five or six of them over the years, a couple of CVAs, the others Traditions, some new, others picked up on trades. Have found the locks, particularly the flint version, to be junk, while the percussion were at least serviceable, but not impressive. The birch wood stocks (or whatever ‘hardwood’ used) were not impressive, and the unslotted factory under lugs/tenons cause the two piece stock to separate because of humidity changes over time. No surprise at the price point over the years.

As an example, below is a photograph of an unfired, CVA Kentucky factory made gun, with 40 plus years in a humidity controlled environment (Heat/AC plus dehumidifier in the safe). It’s been on my todo list for years to slot the tenons so the stock is free to move over time without opening up seam between the two pieces, but with a gun that’s never been shot it just doesn’t get to the top of the list.

 

[Tumbledown]

Step 3: Cut the barrel back and cut a new front sight dovetail. Make a new nose cap.

Fixed it for you. (I've built two of them.)

 

[andy52]

Personally, I don't care for the two-piece stock, if I were to buy any Traditions rifle it would be their Pennsylvania rifle. In my opinion, it's a much nicer look gun.

 

[bang]

Found it 4 years ago 80% built and got it for $150.

 

[jdw276]

The first muzzle loader I ever had. Built in i my lap at 22 yrs old in my living room winter of 77 in indiana. Yea, big drifts and a new born daughter. Still have Jenny and she is a redhead now was a brunett. She shows that I am not a gun builder even today. Clover leaf at 75 yards and she was and will be my first forever. She does not get out much anymore.

 

[kyron4]

Mine is a flintlock but same gun otherwise. I left out the brass spacer and opened up the ramrod hole where the two halves met and inserted a 6" section of 1/2" aluminum tubing , 3" into each section and epoxied together. Solid one piece stock now. I had to fill and re drill the nose cap holes to line up with the barrel threaded holes, but not a big deal. I went with the "poor boy" look , just a basic no frills rifles for a poor trapper or farmer. Browned barrel, blackened brass, and BLO finish on stock over BC water based walnut stain My only complaint would be the small low mounted sight and the drop on the stock; check bone takes some punishment from the bench. 50 gr. of FFFG and a .490" ball with .018" patch shoots 1" groups a 25 yards.

 

[ORBushman]

Mine is a flintlock but same gun otherwise. I left out the brass spacer and opened up the ramrod hole where the two halves met and inserted a 6" section of 1/2" aluminum tubing , 3" into each section and epoxied together. Solid one piece stock now. I had to fill and re drill the nose cap holes to line up with the barrel threaded holes, but not a big deal. I went with the "poor boy" look , just a basic no frills rifles for a poor trapper or farmer. Browned barrel, blackened brass, and BLO finish on stock over BC water based walnut stain My only complaint would be the small low mounted sight and the drop on the stock; check bone takes some punishment from the bench. 50 gr. of FFFG and a .490" ball with .018" patch shoots 1" groups a 25 yards.


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I really like the looks of the blacked out brass!

I put this in the Percussion section before realizing it came in Flintlock also. Was maybe thinking now, Flintlock may be the way to go with the scarcity of caps nowadays!

 

[64Springer]

Mine is a flintlock but same gun otherwise. I left out the brass spacer and opened up the ramrod hole where the two halves met and inserted a 6" section of 1/2" aluminum tubing , 3" into each section and epoxied together. Solid one piece stock now. I had to fill and re drill the nose cap holes to line up with the barrel threaded holes, but not a big deal. I went with the "poor boy" look , just a basic no frills rifles for a poor trapper or farmer. Browned barrel, blackened brass, and BLO finish on stock over BC water based walnut stain My only complaint would be the small low mounted sight and the drop on the stock; check bone takes some punishment from the bench. 50 gr. of FFFG and a .490" ball with .018" patch shoots 1" groups a 25 yards.


View attachment 184862

I like your aluminum tubing idea. I will use that in the future. Along with the steel pins in the kit.

And I agree that the Kentucky stock is poorly shaped. It's a cheek beater for sure. Removing a lot of that sharp comb helps.

I prefer raising my head a touch over having my jaw whacked.

 

[Loja man]

I like your aluminum tubing idea. I will use that in the future. Along with the steel pins in the kit.

And I agree that the Kentucky stock is poorly shaped. It's a cheek beater for sure. Removing a lot of that sharp comb helps.

I prefer raising my head a touch over having my jaw whacked.

If I had only known when I was making it! At this point though I don’t want to refinish the whole stock!