Looking for a good muzzleloader kit.

[Mn Fats]

I got a lot of help on my search for an o/u here on the THR. I was hoping to get a little more help on what might be a good muzzleloader kit.

I own an 1858 Army repo and built a Kentucky style pistol kit I found in the garbage. I'm looking to add a traditional percussion muzzle loading rifle, like a Hawken or a Kentucky, to my small BP collection.

Any recommendations on a good one? Any to stear clear from? I'd prefer a kit just for the fun of putting it all together.

Thanks.

 

[milemaker13]

Ive been casually looking at kits myself. For sub- 400 price range traditions has hawken kits and such. People say their ok.

In the 600 + range (skys the limit here) there are some really nice things available.

Not sure how to link to a thread... but i had a thread " best traditional ML kit" that folks linked some higher end mfgs.

 

[milemaker13]

https://www.jimkibler.net/

 

[Mn Fats]

Oh wow, pretty nice looking, milemaker. I suppose I'd like to keep it around 4 or 5 hundred (or below). I tried googling some good kits but can't find a general consensus. I'll search for your thread here. Thanks.

 

[milemaker13]

Yeah, that's what i said. He does make nice looking stuff... also maybe only flintlick.

Look at the traditions st. Louis hawken kit. Google that and i think it was cheapest on muzzleloaders.com....

 

[Mn Fats]

Ok, I'll check that out. For anyone who has a completed kit, it'd be neat to see some pics. Color of stain. Type of bluing etc.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

T/C arms is the way to go not mine just one i saw up for sale as in sample https://www.gunbroker.com/item/777205818

 

[Mn Fats]

^ I don't see a kit being offered by T/C. I see Traditions has a Kentucky on sale at muzzle-loaders.com for $250. Can that be any good?

 

[bannockburn]

Mn Fats

I built a Tradition's Hawken percussion rifle a number of years ago (I think the parts were made in Spain). Assembly was fairly straightforward with the butt plate giving the most trouble getting it lined up and fitted with pre-drilled holes. The lock work also needed some additional fitting but nothing major. Stained the wood with a mix of walnut and a little mahogany from MinWax. Cold blued the barrel and gave the brass parts a nice matte finish. All in all it made for a fun winter build.

 

[milemaker13]

Ive read reviews where people wernt thrilled by the two piece wood stock on the Kentucky kit. I guess its joined by a brass piece??

 

[Mn Fats]

Mn Fats

I built a Tradition's Hawken percussion rifle a number of years ago (I think the parts were made in Spain). Assembly was fairly straightforward with the butt plate giving the most trouble getting it lined up and fitted with pre-drilled holes. The lock work also needed some additional fitting but nothing major. Stained the wood with a mix of walnut and a little mahogany from MinWax. Cold blued the barrel and gave the brass parts a nice matte finish. All in all it made for a fun winter build.

Good to hear. Post a pic if you feel like it

 

[Mn Fats]

Ive read reviews where people wernt thrilled by the two piece wood stock on the Kentucky kit. I guess its joined by a brass piece??

I wonder what the issue there was.

 

[Mn Fats]

On a side note, I wonder what type of accuracy can be expected out of a sub $400 kit? Of course that's subjective from person to person, gun to gun, load being used etc. Any personal experience out there?

 

[paul harm]

Guns like Hawken or KY had browned barrels, not blued. It's probably easier to get a good brown finish than a good blued one. And, it's what was done back then.

 

[milemaker13]

I built a cva frontier rifle 25+ years ago. I cant really say if its accurate or not but it is a good gun and fun to shoot.

 

[ThomasT]

There is nothing wrong with the kits offered by Traditions. They are not heirloom style rifles but good basic BP rifles. They aren't hard to build and are good starter kits. I have built a few of them and the Hawken kits that were offered by Cabelas. I have also bought them in pawn shops were the gun was built but not built very well. I redid them and ended up with nice rifles.

And every barrel from Traditions I have looked down with a bore scope has been a very smooth bore with deeper rifling than I see on the T/C and Investarms guns. Check out this place and also Dixie gun works for kits. Dixie's website is not very good. you may want to order their catalog.

Click on the "rifles" tab in the upper left corner. https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/

Also check here. https://www.deercreekproducts.net/

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

It's probably easier to get a good brown finish than a good blued one.

Much easier

I remember when CVA and TC kits were pretty common. They were fine if you were lucky and got a straight stock and or forearm. I think the warped and flawed stocks found there way into the kits.
I built a couple from parts I ordered and stock blanks I purchased locally. It wasn't cheap and that was 20 years ago.
Fun to shoot and hunt with though.

 

[bannockburn]

paul harm

I would have loved to have browned the barrel but at the time (pre-internet), I couldn't find any so I made do with Birchwood Casey bluing solution. Looks okay to me and that's all that matters.

 

[bannockburn]

Mn Fats

The problem with the two piece Kentucky rifle stock was that sometimes the three pieces were difficult to get lined up properly. Sort of like the same problem I had with the shape of the brass butt plate with the butt stock.

 

[ThomasT]

Here is a good read on remaking that kentucky rifle sold by Traditions and CVA.

http://www.tradrag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=5418

Taken from https://www.frontiermuzzleloading.com/

The owner of the site post here sometimes.

 

[bannockburn]

Mn Fats

Good to hear. Post a pic if you feel like it

As per your request:

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

^ I don't see a kit being offered by T/C. I see Traditions has a Kentucky on sale at muzzle-loaders.com for $250. Can that be any good?

no you would have to look around for a kit but i do see used rifles around
https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-us/suite

 

[ThomasT]

Bannock that looks like the same Springfield Hawken I have that cost $105 for the kit.

 

[Norton Commando]

I don't think you can find a better quality kit than Kibler's.

https://www.jimkibler.net/

 

[midland man]

I don't think you can find a better quality kit than Kibler's.

https://www.jimkibler.net/

is the kits that jim sells are they drilled and taped on the holes for the screws etc?