The factory inletting is usually a bit tight, requiring small amounts of wood removal for the sidelock to fit flush and snug. The heart of the assembly is the sidelock mechanism, which must fit flush in the stock inlet. The assembly process starts by fitting all components together. Have doubts? Read on… All Traditions Performance Firearms muzzleloader kits include detailed assembly instructions that even the first-timer can follow to successful completion. If you are comfortable using sandpaper, wood and metal files, wood chisel, screwdrivers, and maybe a Dremel, you’ve got this. The mechanics of a muzzleloader sidelock and trigger assembly are straightforward and easy to understand, and the minor woodworking and metal finishing involved is on the level of the beginner.

The best part of a Traditions muzzleloader kit is that you don’t have to be an experienced gunsmith, machinist, or wood craftsman to build a rifle you’d be proud to hang above the fireplace or to take to the range. Variations are also possible with your choice of stain color, protective wood coating (gloss, matte, or throwback rubbed oil), as well as the addition of custom brass work, carving, inlays…the choices are endless. For example, the barrel and raw metal components can be either blued (black oxide) for a more conventional finish or browned for that old-school look. One of the many appealing aspects of building your own muzzleloader is the opportunity to customize. The hardwood stock is shaped and inletted at the factory, but that, too, requires plenty of work on the builder’s part in the form of parts fitment, finish-sanding, staining, and final finish. The 32-inch octagonal barrel and all metal components are unfinished (except for the lock assembly, which comes case-hardened), requiring final polish and finish (bluing or browning). Based on the ubiquitous Hawken design, the Traditions do-it-yourself Mountain Rifle Kit includes all the components to assemble a working flintlock. 50-caliber Mountain Rifle Flintlock Kit (PN KR59208). Although assembling a kit takes time and patience, it is easily accomplished with a few basic hand tools.Īfter perusing the numerous rifle kits offered by Traditions Performance Firearms, we settled on the. Like all their muzzleloader kit rifles, Traditions Performance Firearms’ Mountain Rifle Flintlock Kit comes with all wood and metal components in-the-raw. Having been truly bitten by the muzzleloader bug, we decided to take our blackpowder endeavors one step farther by building a flintlock-style rifle. Then, of course, came the hours spent in the field, pursuing whitetail deer with a rifle we had put together and finished with a parts kit. The build itself was a blast, but the real fun came after we hit the range and spent time developing the ideal load, adjusting the sights, and making tight holes with 19th century firearm technology. It was a big learning experience and one of the most satisfying projects we’d ever tackled. One challenge that delivers big dividends is building your own rifle-specifically, a muzzleloader.Ī couple years ago, we decided to build our first blackpowder rifle using the Traditions Performance Firearms percussion Kentucky Rifle kit.

Being outdoors in the pursuit of game or the perfect shot group rank at the top, but in all this, there is the element of the challenge. There are many reasons why we enjoy hunting and shooting.

Nef barrel made fromscratch