southern rifle question

[sghart3578]

I want to thank everyone who contributed to my question that I had about locks in the other thread.  I am fairly new to flintlocks.  I have owned two imported rifles that were disappointing so now I want to try again.

I have purchased a Kibler Woodsrunner from a member here and can't wait to shoot it when it arrives.

I have always liked the looks and the idea of southern mountain "po' boy" style rifles.  And one in 36 or 40 caliber is interesting.  My question is this.  If I wanted to build one with a flat buttstock who would you recommend for a stock supplier?  I really like the Kibler southern mountain rifles but the curved steel buttstock is a deal breaker for me.

I do know how to shoot them.  I have owned a Lyman Great Plains for many years.  But I want one similar to this photo that I shamelessly stole from Guns International.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

[Bill Raby]

If you start with a blank you get the stock any way you want it. If you are going to build it is easier to work from a blank than from a pre-carved stock.

[Gtrubicon]

I’d talk to Pecatonica, I just received a stock from them that was out of the ordinary for their regular pre carves. The gentleman I spoke to was very helpful and friendly.

PS, is this Steve from northern Ca?

[Kurt]

Ask Jim Kibler if he can help you out with that. I have exactly the same issue with the SMR as you but built one anyway. I have fashioned a butt cover to soften the lower stabber. The LOP is a bit long but it is shootable. Look at the For Sale listings., there's a 45 caliber that might be of interest.

[sghart3578]

I’d talk to Pecatonica, I just received a stock from them that was out of the ordinary for their regular pre carves. The gentleman I spoke to was very helpful and friendly.

PS, is this Steve from northern Ca?

Yes sir, this is Steve from Northern California.

[wolf]

you need to understand how to use that butt plate. Bob does a good job answering that question,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Scota4570]

I have three Kibler SMRs.  The butplate curve works for me.  I have large shoulders.  The butplate supplied with Ohio halfstock parts sets is too small a radius for me.  Try a Kibler before passing judgement. 

Unless you have seen and held a rifle with a properly shaped  stock, you will likely make it too chunky.  On many of the precarve part set stocks the web is to thick.  That takes a lot of backtracking to fix.  And, if the lock it pre-inlet your hands are tied. 

The stocks on Kibler rifles are extremely well shaped.  Once you own one you will understand how it is supposed to be done.  Also Kiblers locks are as good as it gets.  Your parts set lock will be a disappointment after you see how good Kibler's locks are. 

IF you want a Southern rifle the Kibler SMR is the obvious choice. 

[Daniel Coats]

you need to understand how to use that butt plate. Bob does a good job answering that question,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I own the southern rifle in Bob's video and will have it at the CLA show in a couple weeks.

[sghart3578]

I do know how to shoot a curved butt plate.  I have owned at least three rifles that had them. If they fit you that's great.

I was asking if anyone can identify and source the stock that I show in the photograph.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed.  I appreciate it very much.

[Steeltrap]

Had some time so I just did a quick search. Came across this https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/southern-mountain-rifle-by-john-bergmann.652458/ SMR built by J. Bergmann and the buttplate is straight\shotgun style.

I'm just thinking out loud, and if I'm off base no need to even comment or reply, but since LOP is measured from the trigger to the center of the buttplate, couldn't you cut the extreme curve that's now on it, and fashion\build a buttplate that will take that new shape?

[Bob Gerard]

If you like the Kibler SMR, have you considered modifying the buttstock? The photo you posted looks like the type of Poor Boy rifle that had only the butt plate “return” which might be easily fashioned to fit the existing cutaway on the Kibler stock.
Here us what it would look like (Photoshopped) with just the shoulder and heel modified. The LOP is unchanged.

[sghart3578]

That's terrific!  I hadn't even considered that.

Thanks very much.

[tooguns]

Can't you get a practice stock from Mr Kibler? I believe they're called Quaker stocks

[reddogge]

I did this southern style rifle with a less pronounced curve to the buttstock. It's very comfortable to shoot.

[sghart3578]

I did this southern style rifle with a less pronounced curve to the buttstock. It's very comfortable to shoot.

That would suit me I think.  If you don't mind me asking where did you source the stock and the kit?

[scottmc]

I, too, have made several southern rifles and they are pleasant to shoot.  You have to shoot them off your upper arm just outside of your armpit.
Whatever you decide to do, please don't use a germanic lock on your rifle like the one you posted.  Drives me crazy 🤪 .  Use a late English lock of some sort like the late ketlands or Durs Egg, Manton...anything but a siler.

Good luck!

[parve]

I used a buttplate from Muzzleloader Builder's Supply for my rifle, it's not too concave as far as southern Appalachian rifles go. They list it as BP-800.

[Bob Gerard]

Pecatonica offers a kit called Tennessee Classic. Most problematic kit I ever encountered, but a wonderful rifle in the end.

[Steeltrap]

When I built my Leman I was not a fan of the "sharp" protruding top of the buttplate. If you look at this pic I measured the amount of metal that was in the buttplate "point". Then I removed a reasonable amount to lessen the "stabbing recoil action" that the rifle would have. I am very happy with the result.

[Bob Roller]

If I live another 88 years I will never understand the idea behind a crescent butt plate and how extreme some are.
They are to me,an addition to the labor in making a rifle of any kind.
Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

I do know how to shoot a curved butt plate.  I have owned at least three rifles that had them. If they fit you that's great.

I was asking if anyone can identify and source the stock that I show in the photograph.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed.  I appreciate it very much.

Probably cut from a plank and the builder felt a crescent butt plate was a bad idea.The crescent plates carried over well into the cartridge gun era.
Bob Roller

[Eric Krewson]

Another Tennessee classic from the "P" place, flawed pre-carve but I didn't let them do the lock inlet so I could straighten out the flaws and make a nice gun. DON'T LET THEM INLET YOUR LOCK, you will be sorry if you did.

[longcruise]

If you want a Kibler and that poor boy look, it should be easy to re shape it.  The LOP can remain the same and you can use what you need of the buttplate.  Think it through,  I'm no expert.

I think the rifle in the pic above is too flat but that's just my opinion.

[reddogge]

I did this southern style rifle with a less pronounced curve to the buttstock. It's very comfortable to shoot.

That would suit me I think.  If you don't mind me asking where did you source the stock and the kit?

I bought two buttplates for this rifle because the first on was too curved. I found both receipts and used the later dated one. It came from Muzzleloaders Builders Supply, Aberdeen, ID 208-397-3008. It was a BP-250-1 York Co or Maryland Buttplate. The stock was a pre-carved blank my friend did for me in the late 80s.