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Got a $1,500 budget! What should I look at?

L & R
the hawken shop
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Whatever rifle you decide on a swamped barrel should be a priority. Losing a hit deer is not pleasant, that's for sure. Most of my deer kills were made with a couple of .45 rifles firing round ball, and I've never lost one so far. They either dropped DRT or left a good blood trail. I've taken deer with .45, .50, .54 and .62 and "bigger" was not always "better".
 
"Bigger is not always better." You obviously never had a conversation with my wife, but I digress.

Bigger may not always be better on deer, but I may have an elk hunt or two left in me. In that case, bigger is DEFINETLY better!
 
Just got off the phone with Melonie at TVM. Very pleasant lady, I must say.

She pretty much tried to talk me out of a Tennessee or Southern Mountain rifle in .54 caliber, since both these guns feature their sleek profile and emphasize their svelteness.

She suggested the unless I want to upgrade to a Lancaster or Pennsylvania Rifle, the new Natchez Poor Boy looks good in .54, and with its Colrain barrel, shoots as good as the rest of them.

At a base price for a finished gun of $999, this might be an attractive option for me.
 
The deed is done!

Some on here will say I made a good choice. More will say I made a terrible choice. And still others will say "whatever floats your boat!"

Hey, it's the internet!

Frankly, I won't know if my choice is good or bad until I've had a few range sessions and lugged her around the woods for a while. Time will tell.
 
GAHUNTER60 said:
The deed is done!

Some on here will say I made a good choice. More will say I made a terrible choice. And still others will say "whatever floats your boat!"

Hey, it's the internet!

Frankly, I won't know if my choice is good or bad until I've had a few range sessions and lugged her around the woods for a while. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
Ok,so what was your choice?
 
Hatman/2nd line said:
Welcome from Easton, PA.
Click to expand...
GAHUNTER60 said:
Just got off the phone with Melonie at TVM. Very pleasant lady, I must say.

She pretty much tried to talk me out of a Tennessee or Southern Mountain rifle in .54 caliber, since both these guns feature their sleek profile and emphasize their svelteness.

She suggested the unless I want to upgrade to a Lancaster or Pennsylvania Rifle, the new Natchez Poor Boy looks good in .54, and with its Colrain barrel, shoots as good as the rest of them.

At a base price for a finished gun of $999, this might be an attractive option for me.
Click to expand...
Cannot go wrong with TVM. My next will be a 54 PA iron rifle from them.
 
I ordered a Barn Gun.

It's a TVM Natchez Poor Boy; .54 caliber, swamped Colerain barrel; Siler lock; upgraded wood; and double-set trigger.

I ordered it with a 42" barrel, but have time to change it to 38" if I want to. Seeking input on that, along with finish (browned or antique?)

Though I could have bought a used rifle for maybe a little cheaper, this way any problems are between me and the builder.
 
Well, sorry to say, I have the unpleasant duty of calling TVM tomorrow to let them know that I am canceling my order. The good news is I have not sent in the deposit yet, so the order is not really an order yet. They were supposed to let me know this week how much to send them to secure my place in line.

Now for the good news: I've just made an online payment to Jim Kibler for an In-the-white, .54 caliber Colonial Rifle. After looking at what I was paying for a Poor Boy with all the upgrades (swamped, double-set trigger, upgraded lock, etc.), The Kibler Colonial Rifle just made more sense with all those things included, plus the pretty hardware and sleek lines of the Kibler gun for the same price. I've finished rifle stocks before, and browning the metal looks pretty simple, albeit time consuming.

All-in-all, I think I'll be happier with the Kibler.
 
Hi,
The Kibler is a far better designed and executed rifle than anything TVM makes. You made the better choice by far. Moreover, you will now get a Green Mountain barrel profiled by Jim and one of his CNC machined locks, which are some of the best made today. Jim and Katherine Kibler's products are head and shoulders above every body else except truly skilled custom makers.

dave
 
Looking forward to seeing your rifle. From only everything I've seen, if Kibler has the gun you want, it's the best option by far. Their only downside is having only a couple of offerings, but when you focus on that level of quality and precision, you that's the price. Do one thing and do it well....
 
Excellent choice, I have a Kibler SMR and although I am overstocked with B/P guns and don't think I want anymore a Kibler in .58 may be next on my list.

I have built from planks and precarves and don't think I want a full blown build project anymore, a Kibler would fit the bill.
 
GAHUNTER60 said:
Here's what I'm looking for: I'm primarily a hunter and recreational shooter, so accuracy and functionality are paramount. I'm stuck on .54 caliber because I plan on shooting patched round balls only, and .54 caliber round balls provide adequate terminal ballistic on game.

Since I'm getting too old to lug a 4x4 around the woods, something kinda light and carry-friendly would be nice. I'd also like a reasonable facsimile of a rifle that my ancestors who fought (and died) at the Battle of Kings Mountain might have used. And though I prize functionality over style, I do appreciate pretty things, so a nice piece of wood would be a plus.

So far, I've looked hard at the Tennessee and Southern Mountain rifles built by TVM, as well as their Natchez Poor Boy. These are in my ballpark budget and get get good reviews on functionality and accuracy. I would love to have visited Tip Curtis' Frontier Shop while he was alive, as I have been made to understand that he built rifles right up my ally.

Anybody else I should consider? (BTW, I have all the manual dexterity of Hippo, so a kit gun is out -- unless, of course, somebody else does the assemblage for me.)

Thanks guys. I look forward to you suggestions.
Click to expand...
 
GAHUNTER60 said:
Here's what I'm looking for: I'm primarily a hunter and recreational shooter, so accuracy and functionality are paramount. I'm stuck on .54 caliber because I plan on shooting patched round balls only, and .54 caliber round balls provide adequate terminal ballistic on game.

Since I'm getting too old to lug a 4x4 around the woods, something kinda light and carry-friendly would be nice. I'd also like a reasonable facsimile of a rifle that my ancestors who fought (and died) at the Battle of Kings Mountain might have used. And though I prize functionality over style, I do appreciate pretty things, so a nice piece of wood would be a plus.

So far, I've looked hard at the Tennessee and Southern Mountain rifles built by TVM, as well as their Natchez Poor Boy. These are in my ballpark budget and get get good reviews on functionality and accuracy. I would love to have visited Tip Curtis' Frontier Shop while he was alive, as I have been made to understand that he built rifles right up my ally.

Anybody else I should consider? (BTW, I have all the manual dexterity of Hippo, so a kit gun is out -- unless, of course, somebody else does the assemblage for me.)

Thanks guys. I look forward to you suggestions.
Click to expand...
I hunt with a couple of custom built 50 cal. One is a percussion hawken and the other a flint Virginia rifle. I hunt in Georgia and both are capable of taking game cleanly and humanly! Thought I would add this in case you find a good 50 cal within your budget.
 
Still waiting on my Kibler Colonial. Katherine originally said it would be shipped before Christmas, but they got behind. I'm kinda anxious to get it and get it finished.

Looks like I'll be using a percussion Hawken rifle in our monthly tournament ..... again!
 

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