Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: tuscarora on January 02, 2017, 05:46:28 PM

Title: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: tuscarora on January 02, 2017, 05:46:28 PM: I've got a hankering to build a flintlock squirrel rifle. I have reasonable skill level, I am a carpenter, bricklayer, home builder by trade, and I have built a few production kit guns, which seemed to take little skill.

I have also built numerous longbows and recurve bows. Which is my passion. I would like to build a fine flintlock though.

Not looking to do a full inlet, would prefer if most of that were done reasonably close prior. Any recommendation?
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: rollingb on January 02, 2017, 05:55:06 PM: How about something like Track of the Wolf's "Jacob Dickert" kit?
I've built 3 of'em and they make a dandy little rifle.
Build Track's Jacob Dickert, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania longrifle parts set, with 13/16", or 7/8" straight octagon barrel - Track of the Wolf (https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/595/1/DICKERT-LONGRIFLE-FLINT-PARTS-LIST-STRAIGHT)
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: Mike Brooks on January 03, 2017, 07:39:56 AM: I'd recommend one of Jim Kibler's kits.
Kit Gun - Kibler's Longrifles (http://www.jimkibler.net/kit-gun.html)
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: RobD on January 03, 2017, 08:51:07 AM: i agree with mike - i think jim's kits are the cream of the crop, and even the barrel dovetailing is done for under lugs and sights. great value right there.
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: Eric Krewson on January 03, 2017, 10:13:36 AM: My latest build was Tenn squirrel rifle from a precarve. Unfortunately the precarve was pretty sloppy, cut off center and it took a lot more work to make it right that I would have spent on on shaping a blank. No more precarves for me.

It all depends on how much hands on stuff you want to do. I have only made three flintlocks but prefer to build from a blank that has had the barrel channel and ramrod hole drilled for me. I like the hands on approach and want to feel like I build the majority of gun, not the stock duplicator. I wanted to learn the process so the more I had to do the more I learned.

I am a bow builder as well.
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: tuscarora on January 03, 2017, 12:50:49 PM: I looked online at the Jim Kibler kits...nice looking stuff right there. I'm kind of partial to the plain look, so I probably will not go the fancy route.
Title: Re: squirrel gun recommendation
Post by: Hanshi on January 03, 2017, 04:25:48 PM: I like what I see in the Jim Kibler kits. There are others, to be sure, including Pecatonica, TVM and maybe Tip Curtis.