First Kit, Decided On A Kibler

[Spalding]

New guy here from Illinois. After lurking for awhile, decided to join up and try to learn as much as possible.
Always had a curiosity with black powder since I was a teenager, and now that I’m retired I figured I wasn’t getting any younger and it’s now or never. My local range I belong to has a pretty active muzzleloader group and they’ve been prodding me for a while, so there’s that,too.
After much studying and buying any books on the subject I can, I’ve fallen for the Tennessee, N.Carolina style of mountain rifle. There’s just something about the working class look I love.
Anyways, I finally decided on Kiblers SMR for a first build. Went with just the plain maple stock in .40.
I’ve been a fabricator, machinist, for both pay and hobby since High School, and have fairly adequate woodworking skills, but after much internal debate, I decided to go with one of Kiblers as a first build just to get the feel for it.
Katherine says .40 are about a month out now, so I’ll keep updates posted when it arrives.

Bob

[Ken G]

Welcome to the forum.  You made a good choice from what I have seen of his kits.  They are top notch.  The wait will be worth it.   Lots of time to do some searches and read through the archives.

Ken

[ScottH]

Welcome
And I bet you will have a bunch of fun with the kit and shooting it when done! 

[ScottH]

Oh, and if you have not already, watch all the Jim Kibler kit videos on youtube.

[hanshi]

Welcome to ALR.  I'm envious.  I want a Kibler SMR in .45 very much; and like you, this style really does appeal to me.  Good luck.

[oldhunter1954]

You will love it. I just finished a Colonial in 54 cal.

[Rwnblack]

I just finished a 45 cal Kibler and love it.  They are lovely light rifles, you will enjoy your rifle.

[Spalding]

I think I’ve searched out every Kibler build on the web in the last couple months along with watching Jim’s videos and also Bill Raby’s excellent series on building a mountain rifle. Had a hard time deciding between .36 or .40, but when Katherine said .36 was 2-1/2 to 3 months out and .40 were only a month that sealed the deal. Right now I just wanted a range plinker, small game rifle so hopefully it fits the bill. I’m looking forward to enjoying it this summer.

[timmit]

You will like the Kibler SMR kit.  I have two, one in 45 and one in 36.  I enjoy shooting both.  Mine both have Rice barrels and are very accurate.  They shoot better than I do.  The 45 I use for deer and the 36 for squirrel and other small game along with plinking and both are used in trail walks.

[Frozen Run]

I decided to go with one of Kiblers as a first build just to get the feel for it.

They also make a great study piece for future builds since it comes so correct out of the box. Many of the principles in the rifle you selected will translate to other styles of rifles as well. Run your hands down it, study the curves and how areas blend into each other and transition, their correlation with the parts, and the lines they create.

 

[Craig Wilcox]

Bob, welcome to the forum.  I am sure that you will really enjoy your first build, and the shooting.

Rabbits, squirrels, coons and possums are hereby notified that Bob Spalding is loose in the woods!

By reading through the various topics here, you will be receiving a great education.  Muzzle loaders are, on the surface, a very simple item.  The joy, however, is in the details, and here is where you will learn the most about them.