TOW Leman Kit?

[SavageArcher]

Been looking over the TOW site and I can't stop drooling over the Leman kit. Its suppose to be one of their easier kits and the price is about what a completed GPR goes for. I feel its a bit early to tackle a kit yet but I wonder what everyone's opinion is of TOW's products is?
Something about a full stock 36" barreled .58 cal rifle makes me feel all warm inside.

 

[CrackStock]

Early?

Like many things, there is never a good time to start these things -- you just do it anyway.

Many of Track's "kits" are really a collection of parts. Contact them and discuss your tools, skills and what the particular kit needs done. They can do some of it for you in advance at extra cost.

Good luck,
CS

 

[oldarmy]

Go for it. Prices are just going to go up. I think if you shop around and pick and chose your parts like the expericanced builders you can save a few bucks, but the
TOTW kits are a complete set of parts.
I am not that familer with the Leman, but you might want to buy the drills and taps just this once. Have them cut the dovetails and install the breechplug. Just for this first time.
Buy Dixon's book and ask for building advise from this forum.
You will not be dissapointed and the feeling you will get when you hold your own handbuilt rifle is great.

 

[SavageArcher]

The only thing really holding me back is money. Time and tools I have plenty of including a metal lathe which I wouldn't be needing for the Leman Trade Rifle kit. The idea of being able to built a gun to fit is very appealing to me. At 6'3" most guns feel a bit short as far as pull goes unless I'm wrapped up like an eskimo.

Right now its a toss up between the Leman kit at around $450 and a GPR kit from MidSouth for around $250. The Leman would certainly be something differant but the GPR is a proven performer as this will most likely be for a hunting rifle. After all I got to shot some bucks to make buckskins.

 

[oldarmy]

If you have all the tools and equiptment you need to build your own. I would go for it. The money is truly a concern, but you will be much happier with the one you build yourself.
The Lyman is a run of the mill, factory made gun..
The one you build is a one of a kind and long after you are gone, it will still be a one of a kind, hand made flintlock, who knows 100 years from now someone will wonder about the builder and mavel at his/your skill

 

[SavageArcher]

I thought about that. But if I went with a GPR kit I could embellish it some myself. I think a GPR with a Leman patchbox and mybe some simple checkering would give it considerasble character over a finished over the counter model. I have a month to decide which route to go.

 

[oldarmy]

You are right about adding your own custome touches..
last argument is the GPR is imported and the TOTW is made in america.

 

[SavageArcher]

Another good point, but Italy is one of the few countries I don't mind doing business with and they do seem to have some vitue as craftsmen. And where ever in the US TOTW parts are made there probably Italians working in the plants atleast in the Northeastern US. ::

 

[oldarmy]

The Italians make good re-production weapons. The fit and the finsh is very nice for the price.
The way they have supported us in Iraq is a good reason to buy their products IMHO
TOTW sent me some brass parts on my new kit that I feel are substandard anyway
Good luck with it
Mike

 

I have a .50 cal. TVM Leman. While I like the gun, the narrow, deeply curved butt plate is not exactly kind on the shoulder. A .50 cal. 15/16 x 36 in. barreled gun weighs 7.75 lbs and offhand shooting is OK but it definitely will wack you if fired from a seated position and a rest. I normally shoot 60 gr. of 3fg. I also find I shoot a .40 cal. gun of the same weight, more accurately than the .50 cal. At 50 yards, I shoot .40 cal. offhand groups of 2 to 3 in., about an inch and a half smaller than the .50 cal. Smaller bores also use less powder.

I would go for a lighter caliber or a different style gun. Check out TVM's Southern Rifle and various Lancaster styles if you are going with a .58 cal. Or else get a gun weighing at least 9 lbs.

 

[SavageArcher]

I sometimes relieze I'm not as sharp as I think I am. The way the kits are set up in TOTW, I don't need to buy the whole kit and kaboodle. I could just get what is required to get the stock inletted and fitted like lock and barrel, etc.. And later get the sights, underlugs, triggerguard when I can afford or am ready for them.

Come to think of it that makes it possible to tackle some of their pricer kits too. This would strech out the time needed to finish the project but might protect me from my one great failing, I get impatient with new toys and if I had all the parts I might get in too big of a rush and make hasty mistakes.

Still got at least a month or more before I have enough saved to decide what I'll go with but it just looked up for the Leman kit.

 

[oldarmy]

hasty misstakes!! great point
I am so bad, once I get the parts... its git-r-done.
My first kit was done in a couple of months..it's rought but shoots staight and true.
My second is in the works, I didn't have as many things done by TOTW.
I inletted the lock, buttplate,cut my own dovetails,
Switched the lock to a more PC one and now am cutting my own sideplate.. O BOY.
I am trying not to make the same misstakes I made on the first one..
anyway you still have the right idea. Build you own

 

Boonedocker,
you may want to check out pecatonica long rifles. I've been told they make a lot of the kits sold by TOW and Muzzleloader builders supply. I bought a full length walnut stock as a replacement for my T/C and they treated me right.

Mark

Lord, Make Me Fast and Accurate

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Boonedocker, yes the imported kits are nice and shootable....but, there not sportin a green mountain barrel, best production barrel in my mind! my son and I are gettn ready to order a couple Leman kits, not sure if theyll be from totw or pecatonica, prices are close, but ive seen pec stocks and track stocks, pec makes a lotta stocks for track kits, who do you think gets the best wood in this case? :imo: