For my retirement gift to myself, I ordered a Jim Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle Kit. This was my first attempt at putting a muzzleloader together. Jim Kibler's kits are pretty much all inlet, you may have to remove very little wood if any. Some file work and and sanding of the stock and using emery cloth on the barrel. You have to install the ramrod pipes - those need filed or ground down the tabs. Also you have to install the barrel lugs on the bottom of the barrel to attach to the wood stock. Some filing of the trigger guard and the buttplate. I will say if I can put this together anyone can.















I didn't know after putting it together if it would shoot because I had to install both front and rear sights. Surprisingly it does shoot. The 6 bull target is 25 yards and the one large bull is 50 yard target. Our blackpowder league shoots two shots each bull on the 25 yd target and three shots on the 50 yd target. The top left bull on the 6 bull target is the practice shots (2) That is where my surprise came in. It was on paper and very close. I hadn't even developed a load for it yet. The top three bulls were 60 grains of 3F and .018 patch and .0445 round ball. The bottom left was 65 grain, bottom middle back to 60 grain and bottom right 50 grain. On the 50 yd target first shot with 50 grains, I couldn't tell where I hit, so I went back up to 60 grains and saw the second shot had gone high, so I went back down to 50 grains. Two in the black which for 50 yds for me shooting offhand and my poor vision, is good. So I think this rifle likes 50 grains. I may play with the patch thickness, maybe try .015 thickness same ball diameter.

I also had to dull the finish on the rifle as it was a bit shiny for me. I used tru-oil and wet sanded between coats. The metal was finished with Jim Kibler's Patina finish which put a dull gray on it.


50 yard target

I have heard lots of good things about the Kibler kits. Yours turned out fantastic.

Nice!!

Sweet! Been on the fence for a couple years to buy one. What caliber?

Very cool!

Great job!! Congrats on your retirement!! Looks like it would be fun to shoot!

Saw Jim at the CLA show in Lexington last year- and drooled all over his table. He has some nice stuff for sure. He is looking for an employee to help in his shop. Be nice to see some young feller apprentice under him.

You did good. That's a nice looking gun.

.45 caliber with the walnut stock.

Thanks all for the replies. I rubbed the stock down some more and it's not as shiney. I was going for a more matt finish. I hope Jim does find a young man willing to learn a good trade. His new lock is really fast!