Jenrick
Member
After going shooting with some friends and shooting BP for the first time (in both a flintlock and a percussion cap rifle) I've got a large and urgent need to acquire a black powder rifle (I'm sure this is familiar to all of you). I've decided on a rifle in the traditional vein is what I'm after, for a variety of reasons.
After doing some looking on line at Dixie Gun works, they seem to have a variety of good kits for building rifles. The cost savings is usually not very substantial, and possibly non existent once you look at the need to finish the stock, blue the barrel etc. However I enjoy working with my hands, and the thought of shooting a rifle I put together myself is a pleasant one.
Is building a kit rifle merely screwing the hardware into the appropriate places and some wood/metal finishing? Or is it more along the lines of building a good centerfire rifle or 1911, were there's going to be filing, grinding, and wailing and nashing of teeth? Even if its relatively simple assembly, is it something that for the best results I should have some BP experience to adjust for small minor things?
I don't want my first BP rifle to turn into a negative experience and thus put me off of a new shooting discipline due to my own faulty assembly. If it would be easier to just pay the extra $40-$100 and go with a factory built then I have no problem doing that. However if it basically is just some wood stain, drilling a few pilot holes, and learning how to rust brown then I think it would a great way to get started.
Thoughts?
What are some good books on shooting black powder rifles, of the lose powder (ie non cartridge) variety?
Any companies to avoid or that have strong recommendations? I've obviously heard of Dixie and they seem to have a fairly good reputation. I'm most interested currently in civil war reproductions of "rifle muskets", springfield 1861 and the like.
Thanks for the advice,
-Jenrick
PS Anyone looking to sell a rifle....?
After doing some looking on line at Dixie Gun works, they seem to have a variety of good kits for building rifles. The cost savings is usually not very substantial, and possibly non existent once you look at the need to finish the stock, blue the barrel etc. However I enjoy working with my hands, and the thought of shooting a rifle I put together myself is a pleasant one.
Is building a kit rifle merely screwing the hardware into the appropriate places and some wood/metal finishing? Or is it more along the lines of building a good centerfire rifle or 1911, were there's going to be filing, grinding, and wailing and nashing of teeth? Even if its relatively simple assembly, is it something that for the best results I should have some BP experience to adjust for small minor things?
I don't want my first BP rifle to turn into a negative experience and thus put me off of a new shooting discipline due to my own faulty assembly. If it would be easier to just pay the extra $40-$100 and go with a factory built then I have no problem doing that. However if it basically is just some wood stain, drilling a few pilot holes, and learning how to rust brown then I think it would a great way to get started.
Thoughts?
What are some good books on shooting black powder rifles, of the lose powder (ie non cartridge) variety?
Any companies to avoid or that have strong recommendations? I've obviously heard of Dixie and they seem to have a fairly good reputation. I'm most interested currently in civil war reproductions of "rifle muskets", springfield 1861 and the like.
Thanks for the advice,
-Jenrick
PS Anyone looking to sell a rifle....?