it ain't me, it's all about the good wood - hard to screw up pretty tiger stripe grain! however, i've always felt that aqua fortis (iron nitrate) makes it pop better than an actual stain. i used kibler's iron nitrate in two coats, with high heat for both, then 6 thin wipes of tru-oil with lots of cure time and scotch brite scrubs between coats. it's not bad. time to get it sooty 'n' scuffed.
Beautiful rifle. Nice job!!!!!!!!!!!
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when your reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
Great job!! You have a lovely rifle.
Nice job!
The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"
Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!
That's a fine looking rifle!
KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.
Gorgeous, nice work.
I really like it! I especially like the fact that it isn't all decorated with fancy carving & shiny inlays although I know those have there place on some rifles. Guess I'm partial to the "utility" look. Let us know how it shoots please.
Stuart
i like plain rifles and smoothbores, with no carvings and inlays, and all metal - barrel, lock and furniture - left as is with no mucking up. honest 18th century guns for sustenance and defense. with this gun i broke down and went for the bling wood; i usually don't. the images show the glossy oil finish, which best shows off the wood grain, so i took the pix for posterity. that'll tone down a bunch after shooting, the glow will become a more muted satin, and the tiger stripes less dramatic. a range outing is planned this week, results to be published. hopefully, it'll be a shooter.
range visit yesterday and the first firings of the kibler colonial. as expected, i had some sight alignment issues that required rear sight adjustments that were tested at 15 yards, then on to longer distances.
left face is offhand at 25 yards, right face is benched at 40 yards. distances set with a nikon range finder.
on the left face, the two lower holes were with .010" patching, the other holes used .015". on the right face, the two left holes were .015" patching and the two right holes were .010" patching. the patch lube is heat saturated gato feo and the balls were .526" and cast with a jeff tanner brass mould. the .015" patching clearly grouped better. these are "loose ball" loads and i don't doubt the accuracy would increase two fold with a hammered in .020" pillow ticking wrapped .530" ball, but that ain't how i roll with a trad muzzleloader.
Last edited by rfd; 06-27-2019 at 06:14 AM.
Very nice, the stripes really popped. I particularly like the patchbox!
Good looking rifle, nice shooting. For the money and quality you cannot beat this kit.
Just finished my first Kibler Colonial in 54 cal. What an awesome product Jim is producing. Very little skill and tools required to make a fine shooting rifle.
As usual your attention to detail /and craftsmanship are 1st rate/Ed
Looks like all you had to do was assemble it and stain the stock! How much did it cost?
Nice looking piece and good groups, too.
What's that 54 weigh?
They go for about 1K give or take a couple hundred bucks.Originally Posted by smithnframe
Probably a little over 9lbs. I think the .58 handles the best.
So you leave the barrel plain steel and just wax it for protection? Should develope a nice natural patina that way. Lovely smoke stick!
I have the 58 Colonial and it balances very well for me.
Don
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| BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
| BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
| BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
| C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
| HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
| PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
| LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
| GC | Gas Check |
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