View Full Version : Jim Kibler .54 Colonial Rifle Kit
really fabulous kit with amazing attention to details and a fine winter's project.
https://i.imgur.com/VZQsYyL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/35Z9up7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vkfgjRS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Gu8uJXE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/MWfSH68.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/okzMVqN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Oy3kdXL.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3Lxxvnw.jpg
chsparkman
12-12-2018, 07:19 PM
That does look like a lot of fun. What a beautiful curly maple stock!
dagger dog
12-12-2018, 07:59 PM
Nice wood, make sure to post some after photo's.
DIRT Farmer
12-12-2018, 09:31 PM
I handled a 32 kit a few years ago at the CLA show. II still want one.
Traffer
12-12-2018, 10:03 PM
Yes sir! That maple stock is absolutely beautiful. Have fun with it.
arcticap
12-12-2018, 11:49 PM
Primo!
RustyReel
12-13-2018, 06:07 AM
Somewhere on the web Jim has posted several videos showing how to put one of these together and finish it. Worth a view even if you don't have one of his kits. Looks like a great project that should result in a very nice rifle.
Edward
12-13-2018, 06:46 AM
I think that"s one that your going to hang onto for a long time , good luck with it !
Somewhere on the web Jim has posted several videos showing how to put one of these together and finish it. Worth a view even if you don't have one of his kits. Looks like a great project that should result in a very nice rifle.
jim did cellphone vids of his colonial rifle build - excellent info for any rifle build, including his SMR kit. they're all on youtube, there are 8 vids in all, starting with this one ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_AVBh1dYGs
I think that"s one that your going to hang onto for a long time , good luck with it !
you'll get to shoot her, come spring! :drinks:
Beerd
12-15-2018, 07:36 PM
My first thought was the same as everyone else, NICE LOOKING PIECE OF WOOD!
Is that a swamped barrel? How long?
..
rice barrel company, swamped, 43-1/4" length, standard squared rifling.
time flies by and work has started, stopped, started, stopped, and now near finished - actually, it's at the finish stage. will do aqua fortis under tru-oil.
some random pics of the build ...
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ready to finish ...
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Looks great. Want to see it finished and have the range reports! Well done.
pretty much done, ready for baptism .... at last!
https://i.imgur.com/o8AR9db.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3bWwLhe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tDjwAqr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OJylbBB.jpg
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https://i.imgur.com/71PXdSB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aU9MDeK.jpg
Edward
06-22-2019, 08:58 PM
Rob ya dun good ! If it shoots as good as it looks I guess I"l be running to the trophy shop a lot . Awesome comes to mind :bigsmyl2:
nicholst55
06-22-2019, 09:23 PM
A very nice looking rifle! I'm guessing that's the 'extra fancy maple' stock.
Outstanding! What a beautiful rifle. I'd say it's tooooooo pretty to shoot, but that would be ridiculous. Let us know how she does.
arcticap
06-23-2019, 01:12 PM
Its beauty is stunning!
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. :shock: :neutral: :cool:
M-Tecs
06-23-2019, 06:51 PM
Beautiful rifle. Nice job!!!!!!!!!!!
Geezer in NH
06-23-2019, 08:50 PM
Great job!! You have a lovely rifle.
waksupi
06-24-2019, 10:37 AM
Nice job!
Beagle333
06-24-2019, 01:33 PM
That's a fine looking rifle!
Rick Hodges
06-24-2019, 04:27 PM
Gorgeous, nice work.
taco650
06-25-2019, 06:30 AM
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.
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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.
wapiti22
06-27-2019, 07:29 PM
Very nice, the stripes really popped. I particularly like the patchbox!
Old Footman
10-08-2021, 07:05 PM
Good looking rifle, nice shooting. For the money and quality you cannot beat this kit.
wapiti22
10-28-2021, 01:21 PM
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.
Edward
10-28-2021, 01:58 PM
As usual your attention to detail /and craftsmanship are 1st rate/Ed
smithnframe
10-28-2021, 02:39 PM
Looks like all you had to do was assemble it and stain the stock! How much did it cost?
fast ronnie
12-01-2021, 11:47 PM
Nice looking piece and good groups, too.
badwolf
12-02-2021, 05:53 AM
What's that 54 weigh?
freakonaleash
12-02-2021, 10:55 AM
Looks like all you had to do was assemble it and stain the stock! How much did it cost?
They go for about 1K give or take a couple hundred bucks.
freakonaleash
12-02-2021, 10:55 AM
What's that 54 weigh?
Probably a little over 9lbs. I think the .58 handles the best.
Cosmic_Charlie
12-02-2021, 01:28 PM
So you leave the barrel plain steel and just wax it for protection? Should develope a nice natural patina that way. Lovely smoke stick!
Nazgul
12-02-2021, 07:56 PM
I have the 58 Colonial and it balances very well for me.
Don
Beautiful and accurate to boot!
dave951
12-19-2021, 11:14 PM
One of my shooting friends builds these for his clients. Here's a group I shot for him at 50yd in a test session with a 54 Colonial. Ball dia is incorrect in the data, it should read .530.
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bigted
12-23-2021, 09:07 AM
One of my shooting friends builds these for his clients. Here's a group I shot for him at 50yd in a test session with a 54 Colonial. Ball dia is incorrect in the data, it should read .530.
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Was gonna comment on the ball diameter as well. Figured I would just wait to learn something new with a .526 ball.
Have had several 54's ( yep favorite cal) and they consumed .530 with a couple doing great with .535 inch balls.
I also do NOT like super tight loading combo's so am interested in further discussion on the smaller dia balls.
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