Jim Kibler Rifle, RANGE REPORT

TarponStalker said:

I have a .54 Kibler Colonial. I love the gun but I’ve shot about 50 .490 prb thru it with red/wht pillow ticking patches and 80 grns ffg and can rarely find the patch. When I do it’s shredded. I ran a few scotchbrite pads thru the bore hoping to knock off sharp rifling edges. I haven't been able to shoot it since then so not sure if that helped. I use Mr Flintlock lube.

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I've tried the red/white pillow ticking and it doesn't hold up. I've heard that some ticking is a looser weave than it used to be. I've gone to muslin and get better results with less patch blow up

Jim makes a great product. I'm (slowly) completing my SMR kit that I got from him a year or so ago. Looking forward to getting her out to the range.

Never had a Rice barrel that needed break in. They shoot great right out of the box.
.005" undersized ball, .020 patch, liquid lube.
First 7 shots out of a new barrel, no load development.

Just about every barrel I've seen could use a good smoothing of the muzzle crown. The problem is with the lands abruptly stopping at the muzzle creating a rather sharp entry for a prb. Coned barrels shouldn't have this problem but even the fine Rice barrels load better with the crown smoothed a bit. I only use ticking in a couple of barrels; the rest prefer cotton canvas, cotton duck or other thicker and tighter weave material.

Flintandsteel said:

View attachment 24269 Never had a Rice barrel that needed break in. They shoot great right out of the box.
.005" undersized ball, .020 patch, liquid lube.
First 7 shots out of a new barrel, no load development.

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Nice group. Your load nearly duplicates mine. I ended up with a 0.440 ball, same patch thickness and 53 grains of fffg old enysford.

The Crisco Kid said:

I've tried the red/white pillow ticking and it doesn't hold up. I've heard that some ticking is a looser weave than it used to be. I've gone to muslin and get better results with less patch blow up

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Thanks for the advice on patch material. I’ve used pocket drill and muslin before but not with this gun. I’ll pick some up to try.
By the way I hope I haven’t hijacked this thread from the OP. I’m sorry if I did.

Started using an 0.020 patch from a different manufacturer. Weave and fit is noticeably tighter with 495 RB. Problems went away. Patches look like they can be reused and a 100 yard accuracy is much better. With any other patch; Rare to find patches after shot and when I do they are a carbon spec. I have colonial 50 cal with rice barrel.

Hi All, I finished a Kibler So Mountain rifle this summer. Just a great kit. I am not an artisan gun maker at all, but this thing makes me look good.
With moving etc. it was just in the last few weeks I got to take it out.

This is the first 5 shots. All my shooting so far is with .395 Horniday RB, 35gr FFF and a 7 thousandths patch measured with a micrometer. At a rest 20 yards.

Next 5 shots at a rest at 30 yards.

The following week I got to out club shoot (Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade) and this is 35yards off hand. Either one shot is exactly in another hole (wishful thinking) or I pulled one badly (most likely). I really really need more practice.

On the .007 patch, almost a thumb push, but not quite. Next time out I will try .009.

Net is this was really fun to shoot. I recommend saving for a Kibler rifle. I saved for a couple of years and it was worth it.

Well done sir!
Walk

Go up to about a .020" patch, and it'll make one ragged hole.

I tried 0.020 patches made by oxyoke. These have a much tighter weave than the other 0.020 patches I was using. These new patches with the .495 RB improved 100 yard accuracy. I also find patches in good shape.

That is a great group. Yes I will be trying different combinations. There is a lot of topic in patch thickness and lube. I use a ballistol mix "moose milk" wet lube. My intention is to do a study with a chronograph and check grouping and velocity over a variety of powder patch materials and thickness. Dutch even controls the amount of lube! I am all in on that, just that I need wet patches for fire prevention in summer. We often do trail walk shoots in the woods. My problem now (other than saving for a chronograph) is that even at a rest with my eyes the site picture is not as crisp as I like. I shoot open iron only, but have been looking at those stick on peep devices for my glasses. All a work in progress. Thanks for the suggestion!

TerryK said:

Curious if your rifle has the new CNC Kibler lock?

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Terry it does indeed ahve the CNC lock. It was actually supposed to ahve the chambers lock....for whatever reason Jim decided to incude the CNC lock. This did require some inletting but the end result is FLAWLESS. The lock, required no stoning or polishing ...all of the parts were immaculate