Kentucky rifle kit, and questions.

[PonyKiller]

Hello fellows and ladies if applicable. I'm building a CVA Kentucky rifle kit, it's an older one made by the Spanish Company Jukar. Other than needing a few odds and ends which seem readily available it's ready to go together.

Here is what I'm unsure of, The wood stock is totally unfinished, which is fine, i'm pretty proficient at wood finishing.. specifically refinishing, i've done a few stocks on my other rifles and shotguns. It's got some dirt and smudges in it from laying around for about two decades, what's best to clean it with before finishing it.

I'm not going to use the provided sights, i'm replacing them with some fiber optics, should i measure them and try to acheive the same height or just get a matched set. Also should i blue the barrel before or after they are installed, i've got the permablue that i've had good results with on my other firearms projects.

Lastly it's a 1/44(IIR) there abouts twist barrel, Any suggestion on where to start for hunting projectiles, powerbelts and the like?

Thanks,

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

for cleaning, depending on what the "dirt" is I'd go with either sandpaper or paint thinner / mineral spirits

 

[frontiergander]

A little mineral spirits with a scrubby brush.

 

[gojuice101]

As far as projectiles, my Bobcat is 1/48" twist and it shoots powerbelts great. For target shooting, I usually buy sabots in bulk and use standard 45 cal pistol bullets. Shoots them with no problems at all either. Accuracy is great. Your's is a little faster twist, so it should do fine as well.

 

[AJumbo]

If that's an "older Jukar" Kentucky, they always seemed to shoot very well with patched round balls. I never checked one, but I'll bet it's rifled 1:48". They always seemed built too lightly to withstand much slug-level recoil.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'd get a match set of sights.

As for finishing, install the sights to make sure they fit, and then finish the barrel and finish the sights. Then assemble them.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

According to the Gun Digest, "Black Powder Loading Manual, 3rd Ed." (c1995), the CVA .45 caliber "Kentucky Rifle" had a 33-1/2" barrel with a 1:66" twist.

Optimum hunting load was 75 grains GOEX FFG.
MV: 1,856 fps; ME: 979 fp
Vel @ 100yds: 1012 fps; Energy @ 100 yds: 291 fp

Note these are factory recommendations.

 

[rcmodel]

what's best to clean it with before finishing it.

Well, you have to finish sand it and steam and raise the whiskers, then finish sand it lightly again before you can finish it.

It should be real clean of dirt & smudges when you get done doing that!

rc

 

[63]

I have one and it has 1in66 rifling. Using 60gr of Goex fff behind a prb.

 

[Bluehawk]

The older CVA Kentuckies are very accurate with roundballs but I have found they are just as good with the Lee cast bullet that looks like a hollowbase wadcutter. I've had three of these rifles since 1980 and still have two of the original three...and yes the twist is 1:66 inches.
Cleaning the wood...it all depends on what the "dirt" is. Soap and water is always a good place to start!!!
Hope that helps