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Thread: Traditions Crockett rifle kit questions

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    Traditions Crockett rifle kit questions

    I'm thinking about assembling a muzzleloader kit for the first time. I have woodworking and metalworking experience and tools, but I've never worked on any black powder guns. I don't have access to private hunting property any longer so hunting opportunities are limited to public land. I thought I'd start out with small game hunting to see if I enjoy it, so 32 or 36 caliber is appropriate.

    There don't seem to be many options that I can find but the Traditions Crockett Rifle kit keeps popping up. Do any of you have experience with one of these kits? Quality of parts seems to be a consideration and I don't want to invest time and money in something that is worth neither. Are the locks and barrels well made? Are there any other 32/36 caliber kits I should look at?

    Thanks for looking.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Check out this site. I have never ordered from them so you may want to do some checking.

    https://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/index.html
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Last year I bought a Crockett Kit to build for my wife.
    I was very pleased with that kit , and think it is worth the money.
    I did some upgrades , like adding a brass patch box and some decorations like brass Dragonflies to the stock and one on the lid of the patch box.
    We haven't had time to go out and shoot it yet.
    But from everything I see on the rifle , I think it will be a good shooter.
    The Traditions Quality is good , but not great.
    But you get what you pay for.
    One of my next kits that I bought is a Pedersolli .32 "Cub" deluxe model in flintlock.
    IMO.
    The Pedersolli is of a higher quality like the lock and Walnut stock.
    But it cost me 1/3 more than the Crockett Kit.
    I also built a Traditions St. Louis Hawkins Kit.
    The only thing I didn't really like is the Plastic Sights that come with the kit.
    I did upgrade those to better sights , and did Lichtenberg Fractural wood burning on the stock to dress up the light colored wood.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Traditions has stepped up their game quite a bit as far as quality is concerned, they made some real junk years ago. The small bore stuff is great fun and economical to shoot. I would recommend the .36 as starter gun on account it's got good power for its size, you can take down coyotes and jackrabbits with ease. I shoot mine with 45 to 65 grains of powder and it does what I want very nicely.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    I decided I wanted to start with a flintlock in 32 caliber and ordered a Pendersolli kit this morning. Expected delivery in 7-10 days. I wanted something to get started on soon rather than waiting for backordered parts so that affected my decision.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    You picked a good rifle to start with.
    Which model did you order.
    They sell several models in the .32 flintlock.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    FK3320. The FK3260 looked very similar but I like the looks of a patchbox, so I went with that.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    That looks to be the Longer version of the rifle kit that I bought.
    Mine is the F3350 Cub in .32 flintlock.
    The patch box is the reason I went with that model.
    The shorter barrel was because my wife doesn't like the long front heavy barrel.
    But I don't think that model is front heavy at all.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Hannibal's Avatar
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    I liked the idea of the longer sight radius. At 6.5 lbs IIRC I don't anticipate weight to be a big issue. I'll find out soon enough.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    You might look into a Kibler kit. E has options and you end with a very high quality rifle.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I agree that the Kibler Kits are a far higher quality than Traditions Kits.
    But you also pay for the difference.
    Spending most of your money on a First Build does not make much sense.
    But from what I have seen ,
    The Kiblers are really super easy to put together.
    But the final finish on the stock and metal is your quality.
    I intend to build a Kibler Kit as soon as I finish up 7 more used rifle rebuilds and a couple more kits that I bought.
    One draw back on the Kibler is they are Flintlocks.
    Not all first time builders go with percussion rifles.
    But I am getting back into using flintlock.
    But it is the Kibler model that will allow me to produce a really Fancy rifle.
    They in a way are much better looking and more historically looking than most of the other kits out there on the market.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

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