Which Rifle Kit?

[wild_willie_10]

I would like to try my hand a building a Flintlock ML Rifle. The only limitation would be that the stock would need to be 95% or better, inlet. There would not be any offer limitations. Who's kit should I look at, to meet my needs? Thanks to all.

 

[bwhoffman]

TC hawkins follwed next with a Lyman GPR. these are both great kits and the stocks are nicely inletted, PROPERLY, not generously with gaps!

my opinion....

Brett

 

[Mike Brooks]

One of Chamber's kits

 

[J.D.]

One of Chamber's kits

Yep, Chambers probably provides the best kit on the market. However, if you merely want an in the white kit that you can finish, Chambers is not for you.

Chambers "kits" are more of a parts kit with a 95% inlet stock. Anyone with some basic skills with hand tools, who is willing to take thier time and do a little reading can build a very nice gun from a Chamber's kit.

IMHO, anyone who wants to build a parts kit, like the Chambers, would do well to buy a DVD on building the Chambers kit. They are available online.

I would suggest renting the DVD set to see what you will be getting into, BEFORE you decide if a parts kit is for you.
[url] http://smartflix.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=119_33[/url]

J.D.

 

[bioprof]

What one realizes after they have built a few rifles from precarved stocks is that the last 5% is the hardest part to inlet. Sometimes it is easier to inlet a part from scratch, rather than trying to enlarge an inlet that was done by machine.

After doing 3 precarved rifles and building a pistol from a blank, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather inlet the lock myself rather than using a precarved inlet. You still have to do a lot of hand fitting even with a precarved, but it's hard to get the part to lay flat on the stock with a partial mortis already there.

That's my two cents worth anyway. It sure is fun to do though. Once you start one, you will probably be planning the next before you even get done.

 

[Vaino]

Have built many LRs from blanks, but just ordered an "Early Lancaster" kit from Chambers. Have assembled and sold a finished rifle from this same kit 2 yrs. ago and it was a pleasure working on it. The lock is probably the best on the market, the bbl is by Rice {tops} and the brass components are investment cast from soft yellow brass. The stock was profiled very close to the finished size, but left ample wood for carving and moldings. The various inlets are close, but require some chiseling, mainly in the corners. Inletting the breech in reference to the inletted lock pan and "White Lightning" touch hole liner location isn't at all difficult but probably is the most involved operation of the assembly. This kit isn't low cost {$900 and up} but all the components are first rate and could result in a superb LR, depending on the assembler's skill. Outside of the "factory sand and finish kits"{ some of which are good}, the Chambers kits are the next step if cost isn't a deterrent....Fred