Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Caplock Long Guns => Topic started by: Iktomi on March 19, 2018, 11:34:40 AM

Title: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on March 19, 2018, 11:34:40 AM
 Howdy fellas, I haunted these parts some years back, life got in the way, work, elderly parent in failing health, building EBR's etc etc, and so I had to put some things on the back burner. I have been lurking the last few days, and it's been a treat to catch up a bit. Stoking the fever so to speak, LOL. I really want to do another build or 5. I don't want to do a production kit this time, I'd like something a few steps up in quality and also to challenge my skills. Torn between a bigger bore Jaeger and an American longrifle of some sort. Definitely want a flinter.


Currently my only BP gun is a GPR caplock rifle that I built about 10 years ago. For a production kit, I must say it's a damn good shooter, with the open sights I can consistently group 2 1/2" @ 100 yards offhand, which is as good as I can shoot ANYTHING with open sights. I killed a couple hogs with it, and a cow elk in Nevada a few years back. My pet load is 105 gr. of Goex FF, .530 Hornady ball and ticking patch with my own crisco/beeswax./olive oil lube. I found a good general plinking load using 75 grains of Graf FFF with the same ball/patch combo.  I've shot the snot out of it over the last decade, and I think I'd like to strip it down and give it a thorough refinishing.

(https://i.imgur.com/lQOMrxq.jpg)

 ETA, not sure why my picture isn't displaying. I'm pretty rusty at this interwebs forum bidness I guess.
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Ohio Joe on March 19, 2018, 09:41:41 PM
If you click "Copy" on the following when on Imgur

BBC Code Message Board and Forums (2nd one from the bottom)

it should display your picture.  :bl th up
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on March 20, 2018, 12:14:44 AM
If you click "Copy" on the following when on Imgur

BBC Code Message Board and Forums (2nd one from the bottom)

it should display your picture.  :bl th up

 By golly that works. Thanks! 
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: rollingb on March 20, 2018, 01:20:19 AM
That's a nice lookin' GPR.  :hairy
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Uncle Russ on March 20, 2018, 02:29:30 AM
That's a nice lookin' GPR.  :hairy

Yep, it do be that!
 :hairy

Glad ya found us Iktomi, looking forward to your posts, so pull up a stump and make yerself at home.
When ya do your next one, take a lot of pictures, you seem to have that picture posting down pretty good now.

Uncle Russ...
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on March 20, 2018, 08:13:40 AM
That's a nice lookin' GPR.  :hairy

Thanks. For a mass produced factory kit, there sure isn't a single thing wrong with the way they shoot.
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Ohio Joe on March 20, 2018, 08:35:05 AM
That's a nice lookin' GPR.  :hairy

Thanks. For a mass produced factory kit, there sure isn't a single thing wrong with the way they shoot.

They are quite the rifle for sure.  :hairy
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Eric Krewson on March 20, 2018, 09:33:12 AM
A Kibler Lancaster kit would be a step up from a Lyman but not near as hard as a Chambers or Track kit.

I am finishing up a Kibler southern rifle kit, I found it easy compared to a plank build but you still have to do a bit of fitting. The inlets are very close but are slightly undersized to give you room for a tight fit. The metal is as cast and needs a good bit of cleaning up. Everything is tapped and threaded, even the pin holes are drilled through the stock but not the metal lugs.
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on March 20, 2018, 09:57:44 AM
Well well, looky who's here. Didn't know you were in to smokepoles as well as bonearras  :wave

 I'm not neccessarily looking for "easy", I'm pretty handy, and I'm comfortable with metal work. Drilling, tapping, and finishing metal isn't a problem for me. The Lyman kit was mostly assembly, no challenge whatsoever. I did take my time getting a good level of finish to it though. I'll have a look at the Kibler guns. I'm definitely more drawn to southern/poor boy guns, the plain workman style suits my personal aesthetic, much like the bows I make for myself. Very well made and great shooters, but no frills no bling.

 
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Hylander on March 23, 2018, 01:58:44 AM
That is a Great looking GPR  :hairy
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Mule Brain on April 02, 2018, 12:37:55 AM
Hard to beat a GPR, very well made guns
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: rollingb on April 02, 2018, 02:14:19 AM
Hard to beat a GPR, very well made guns
HEY, ol' hoss,.... where ya been, ain't seen you in a loooong time. :applaud :shake  :toast
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 02, 2018, 09:58:46 AM
Here is a Kibler with a little added bling, I just finished it.

(https://i.imgur.com/3mAIyAF.jpg)

 
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: rollingb on April 02, 2018, 10:56:30 AM
That's a fine lookin' rifle Eric, I've heard of those kits but haven't taken the plunge yet.  :hairy :applaud
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Winter Hawk on April 02, 2018, 10:37:32 PM
That's a lovely piece there.  Good job on the build!  :toast

-Kees-
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Ohio Joe on April 03, 2018, 08:57:33 AM
Nice!  :hairy
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Hanshi on April 03, 2018, 02:07:05 PM
 :applaud  Any day with sooty fingers and dirty clothes is a good day.

If I ever can come up with the $$, I want a SMR kit from Kibler in .45.  :toast
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on April 05, 2018, 01:02:06 PM
Here is a Kibler with a little added bling, I just finished it.

(https://i.imgur.com/3mAIyAF.jpg)

 Great looking gun, Eric. What process did you use for the metal finish?
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Iktomi on April 05, 2018, 01:07:58 PM
 I'd like to have a bigger bore than .54 for elk. A .58 or .62 would really be great. Kibler's SMR tops out at .45, which is enough gun for the local coastal blacktails. I see that Kibler is soon to come out with a Colonial in .58, but I am really drawn to the simplicity and Spartan elegance of the SMR type guns. Perhaps after I build a Kibler SMR I'll have a little better insight to give me the confidence to scratch build a longrifle in a big bore.
Title: Re: Back to making soot and smoke again
Post by: Uncle Russ on April 05, 2018, 01:50:55 PM
I'd like to have a bigger bore than .54 for elk. A .58 or .62 would really be great. Kibler's SMR tops out at .45, which is enough gun for the local coastal blacktails. I see that Kibler is soon to come out with a Colonial in .58, but I am really drawn to the simplicity and Spartan elegance of the SMR type guns. Perhaps after I build a Kibler SMR I'll have a little better insight to give me the confidence to scratch build a longrifle in a big bore.

That's good thinking, at least in my mind.   :bl th up

FWIW: I totally agree with you that there is certain elegance found in the simplicity of the Southern Mountain Rifles that is somehow missing in other designs.

Uncle Russ...