Looking for a good muzzleloader kit.

[Mn Fats]

Mn Fats



As per your request:

View attachment 794905

Awesome.

 

[robhof]

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?

I've got 2 Hawkins type, one flinter and one cap that were kits, one was a gift an Investarms and the other is a Thompson, both were under $300 at the time they were bought. Off the bench with careful load I can get 1 1/2" groups at 50 yds all day long.

 

[bannockburn]

Ratshooter

Yep that's probably the same one as I still have the manual for it and has both Springfield and Traditions printed on it.

 

[bannockburn]

Norton Commando

Those are some beautifully stocked and finished kits Kibler's customers have built there! Thanks for the link!

 

[midland man]

sadly all new muzzleloaders kits and all, the prices have shot up extremely high!!

 

[milemaker13]

Sad but true.how can a kit cost more than a finished rifle?

 

[Mn Fats]

sadly all new muzzleloaders kits and all, the prices have shot up extremely high!!

Must be tongue and cheek. I didnt think they were too bad. The Traditions Kentucky kit over at muzzle-loaders.com is on sale for only $250. I think I'm going to go ahead and order that. Any good recommendations for a starter kit for that BP? I have the powder. I have lead. Any good mold recommendations? I have stain, sand paper, a garage full of tools, anything I'm missing? Tips? Etc. Thanks.

 

[Ironhand54]

I have assembled TC, CVA and Lyman kits. Of the 3 I found the TC and the Lyman equal in skill level. Both are better quality than the CVA.

My personal choice would be the Lyman Great Planes rifle. It is more historically correct and the 1 in 60 barrels are capable of very good RB accuracy. The kits are still available, no searching for old stock. If I were to build another one it would be a 54 cal flintlock but it also comes in 50 cal and caplock.

Here are some links for you

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/628/1

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...rcussion-1-in-60-twist-32-barrel-in-the-white

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/muzzle-loaders/great-plains-rifle.html

IronHand

 

[Mn Fats]

Thanks for the links ironhand.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I have built several Pedersoli kits and was impressed with the quality. Depending on the model you want they may not be below your price point though. I bought all of my kits from Dixie Gun Works https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...4/category_chain/312,322,324/name/Percussion/

They also have flinters in kits. I have built two of those, a Brown Bess musket and a Harpers Ferry pistol. If you have moderate woodworking skill as well as a lot of time and patience the experience can be very rewarding.

 

[ThomasT]

Those kit prices are impressive. When I bought my GP rifle from Natchez Shooters Supply the kit was around $219. The finished rifle was about $250. I saw right off that I could buy the finished rifle and redo it if I felt it needed it. It didn't. I thought they did a pretty good job on it.

I feel the kit and finished rifle prices are really high for a gun my uncle called a crowbar with a hole in it. In a way he was correct. There just isn't much to a BP rifle. I know you can get into a lot of style with carving and such but the basic rifles shouldn't cost what they are priced for. Thats why I do all my shopping for used rifles. Unless they are custom built by a known maker they don't have a lot of resale value.

 

[midland man]

yep think that's bad, guys look at the BP shotguns they are extremely high priced and that's just crazy!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Kibler for beginner.

 

[midland man]

Kibler for beginner.

is the kiblers kits are the screw holes taped and threaded??

 

[milemaker13]

I think kiblers kits are prefitted so there is minimal sanding and fitting. All the holes will be drilled and tapped for you. I think his website goes into detail.

 

[jdavis123]

The Lyman GPR kits are good and with proper care you will have a fine Hawken that is similar to the original.
I found better prices at Midsouth Shooters Supply. Some kits are in stock and others can be backordered. Worth the look if you want a Great Plains rifle.

 

[Mn Fats]

Just lookin for a Jeremiah Johnson style rifle (sorry, I don't know technical terms on the old muzzleloaders). I do want a percussion though, not a flint. As far as ease of building the kit, I'd prefer something on the harder side. If it just went together like Lego's, I don't see the fun or reward in that.

 

[midland man]

well the reason I asked about pre drilled holes is I don't have a drill press nor the drill press vices to lock parts to be drilled so for me to do a finishing kit I need the holes drilled and tapped but at some point looking at harbor freight I will buy these drill press vices to hold parts in place plus a drill press just hadn't figured out which drill press I need etc?

 

[Pete D.]

Take a look at Lyman’s Great Plains Rifle. Arguably the best bang for the buck available today.

 

[Mn Fats]

Take a look at Lyman’s Great Plains Rifle. Arguably the best bang for the buck available today.

For $200 more than the Traditions Kentucky, is there any noticeable difference in quality? If so, what? I believe I've read it's more historically accurate? Anything other than that? Thanks.

 

[milemaker13]

I would go for the traditions st. Louis hawken.

 

[ThomasT]

Just lookin for a Jeremiah Johnson style rifle (sorry, I don't know technical terms on the old muzzleloaders). I do want a percussion though, not a flint. As far as ease of building the kit, I'd prefer something on the harder side. If it just went together like Lego's, I don't see the fun or reward in that

If you do it right the Lyman GP rifle should give you all the challenge you are after and its a good introduction to making your own custom built gun someday. And the Jeremiah Johnson style rifles are called Hawkens or Plains Rifles in the generic sense. But there were many other builders of half stock rifles besides the Hawken brothers. And some were even full stock. Do a little reading and research on the Lyman GP rifles. They have been recalled and there are some complaints about cracked wood and other defects. The older ones were well made.

Here is a good tutorial on building the Great Plains rifle kit. Its a multi part series that gives some very good pointers on correct stock shape. I believe this guy post here every once in a while.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

If you go for the Kentucky kit you can do away with that silly brass spacer in the fore stock. Its fairly easy to hide the joint between the pieces where as that brass thing stands out like a pounded thumb.

 

[Ironhand54]

IMHO the Great Planes is well worth the price difference. The quality of the components is much better. I believe they are still made with a coil mainspring lock. The stock also is better, less blocky, easier to shoot well. In the end you will not regret the extra cost.

IronHand

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

If you intend to shoot patch and ball, the Lyman will probably be the best choice because of the 1 in 60 rifling and deeper groves. I think all the Traditions barrels are 1 in 48. I have seen 1 in 48 barrels that shot well but not as good as slower twists. I would also go with the 54 cal.