AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: hawkeye on April 14, 2021, 03:23:45 PM

Title: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: hawkeye on April 14, 2021, 03:23:45 PM
Maybe I'm wrong, but this morning looking at the website from Jim.
I was reading that the SMR has a 44 inch barrel, I thought before it was a 46 inch barrel. Am I wrong or is it just so?
Best regards
Hawkeye
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 14, 2021, 04:17:30 PM
Mine has a 46" barrel.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Big Bubba on April 14, 2021, 04:23:29 PM
Mine is 44" and it is one of the newer Green Mountain barrels. The under lugs are part of the barrel.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: hawkeye on April 14, 2021, 04:37:06 PM
Just curios, how do they balance. Someone had the opportunity to handle both to know the difference?
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Big Bubba on April 14, 2021, 06:44:37 PM
Just curios, how do they balance. Someone had the opportunity to handle both to know the difference?
The balance on th 44" is great. This rifle is very slender. The front end is smaller than most wood broom handles.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Rwnblack on April 14, 2021, 11:22:29 PM
Mine is 44” with the new Green Mountain barrel in 45 cal.  I love the balance of it.  I have to modify my gun safe to fit it but that is a small price to pay.

Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Big Bubba on April 15, 2021, 12:07:19 AM
Mine is 44” with the new Green Mountain barrel in 45 cal.  I love the balance of it.  I have to modify my gun safe to fit it but that is a small price to pay.

Yea, I would have to cut a hole through the top of my safe to stick the barrel through to get mine in there. ;D
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: hawkeye on April 15, 2021, 12:35:06 AM
What twist has the new green mountain barrel?
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Big Bubba on April 15, 2021, 01:09:05 AM
1:70 for the .45 cal. Don't know about the others.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Scota4570 on April 16, 2021, 03:34:05 AM
I think that is a good move.   Both of mine are 46".  I think that is to long, Especially in the small calibers. 

I would like to see a 42 or even 40.   It is a dainty rifle after all.  I find the  super long barrel is cumbersome to load.  I am 5'10" tall.  I bet a shorter person would need a step stool.   At organized shoots, it seems best to  load with the barrel vertical for safety appearances. 
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Daryl on April 16, 2021, 03:58:26 AM
As long as someone isn't walking behind you, they won't trip on the butt. Otherwise?
My Beck .50 rifle has a 44" bl. and that is plenty long enough. When cleaning the barrel, I have to stand 2 steps up on the
stairwell steps to the basement, where I clean with the bl. breech in a 1-gallon pail of water. The rod I use for cleaning is a
5/16" x 48" piece of stainless.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Scota4570 on April 17, 2021, 12:02:25 AM
My club shoots are at a formal range.  Loading is on at tables behind the line.  I agree on a trail walk or loading from the bag it is less of a perceived issue. 

I'd still buy a 40" version as fast as possible. 
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Daryl on April 17, 2021, 04:58:35 AM
Perhaps you could talk Jim into building one with a 38" bl.? This is mine of that length.
It's not a Kibler by any stroke, but it works just fine.

(https://i.ibb.co/KxGCvCH/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k2yYCYF)

(https://i.ibb.co/g9xtF54/OLYMPUS-DIGITAL-CAMERA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SyzV7hf)
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: smylee grouch on April 17, 2021, 05:17:57 AM
There are lots of different opinions on barrel length. I like the long barrels at home but when I have to transport them any distance shorter just works better for me. At home deer hunting my group goes from one area to another 3-4 times a day so getting in and out of a truck with those real long guns is awkward at best. The places I hunt Bear can be so thick that its the same there too. Different strokes and reasons for different folks and seasons.
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: Scota4570 on April 18, 2021, 07:31:21 PM
"Perhaps you could talk Jim into building one with a 38" bl.? This is mine of that length"

Because of the CNC manufacture there are no substitutions. 

An A-weight 40 cal 40 or 42" rifle is in the que.   A southern mountain rifle sounds good as does another Armstrong with all the bells and whistles.  Parts are tough right now.  I am seriously shopping northern Idaho property.   Once those issues are settled I will get back to building. 
Title: Re: Kibler SMR kit
Post by: BadDaditood on April 20, 2021, 05:06:39 AM
I have the old 46” bbl, in .45 cal it’s very light and balances nicely right behind the entry pipe.
Being my longest gun I’ve had to make a few adjustments; had to hack a hole in the top of my safe, at the range I dug a hole where I load... oh and it wouldn’t fit in the cab of my mid-size truck so I had to get a bigger one.
It’s a fine shooter and worth it ! :o