I’m trying to decide on my next muzzleloader, I’m currently working on building a rifle, but the arthritis in my hands limit to how much( or should I say how little) I can work on it. With that said I’m thought about getting a Kibler colonial rifle but then I think how long will it take me to finish it with the arthritis limiting me, so I’m considering a military musket, a civilian fowler, or even having a rifle built for me.
I don’t reenact but I may consider getting into to it, I have a soft spot for military muskets, but I would prefer a reproduction (as long as it’s an accurate clone of an original), so I don’t feel bad about shooting it and dragging it through the woods
The following are my personal opinions and observations:
Well first, as to muskets, the Pedersoli
Bess is a good, not great, copy of a Short Land Pattern King's Musket. It has the advantage of normally good wood to metal fit. The ramrod is metal so you're never going to break it although sometimes the tip gets loose (reenactors encounter this loosening, most recreational users do not). It has a large lock so it's easy for a person with troubled hands to prime the lock. Same is true for other tools used on the lock...everything is big so no worries about applying leverage. The Pedersoli Bess also comes with sling swivels installed, so you can use a sling and carry it over your shoulder.
Drawbacks are Pedersoli is offering the Bess now with an odd stock finish... almost like a plastic coating. The barrel is rather long with a 42" barrel, but you can get a shorter version if you wish (it's a fantasy musket, not based on any actual model so avoid if reenacting). It does have a good main spring, but the Pedersoli Bess isn't that hard to cock. The trigger pull isn't great, but a lot of people use the Bess out to 50 yards on deer, and a one ounce ball will HAMMER a deer. They do, however cost around $1200, and I think that overpriced for what you get. This will work for reenacting if you get into that.
The
Charleville is out-of-the-question. They have a notoriously hard main spring to cock. I've seen 30 year old men struggle with it. Further the front sight is on the forward barrel band and not the barrel; not good for accuracy.
As for the India origin muskets, the wood is about 3 lbs. heavier, the springs are heavy, and the barrel is 46" long. They are OK copies of the guns they represent, but the weight and your challenges puts then out of the picture.
So now rifles...,
Nothing wrong with a Pedersoli
Jaeger. It is short, which is handy in the woods. It comes ready for a sling so it can also go over your shoulder. It's a .54 AND it comes in caplock if you opt for that instead of flint. The flint lock is large enough for easy priming. It does have a 1:24 twist rate, which is actually fine for round ball with a good load, but it is also reported to be very good with conical bullets. While the shortness is liked by some in the woods, some don't like it when standing to load, and so load it by taking a knee. If getting up and down is a concern, this could be a problem. Pedersoli wooden rammers
suck, and need to be replace with better wood, and the front sight post is waaaay too thick, and needs to be replaced with at thin blade to get the full potential out of the barrel.
The Pedersoli
Frontier is a quasi-correct longrifle. You don't be turned away from a reenactment and it has a large lock, and double triggers. Like above, you will need an after-market rammer, and a better front sight post. They are usually quite affordable, and the .54 version has a 1:65 twist rate. They also come in caplock.
There's nothing wrong with a Kibler rifle, and you can get them as a kit or finished in-the-white, with very little woodworking needed. Excellent components and excellent value retained. I do believe that Kibler offers finished rifles too. No idea how long one needs to wait...
There is also
Cabin Creek Muzzleloading, which offers a very simple,
Pennsylvania Mountain Rifle in .54 with a 38" swamped barrel and a single trigger. Mine is great, and you would have a good time with such a rifle.
LD
