Traditions Kentucky Rifle Range Trip.

deerslayer303 · September 4, 2016, 05:34 PM

I was going to build the Traditions Kentucky Rifle from a kit. Instead I took the easy way out and ordered the factory finished rifle. I figured I have alot of tools to gather first, so I'll just put off a kit till later. Anyway, the rifle looks great, the fit and finish is pretty good. After wiping it down and cleaning the bore I took it to the range today to see what a budget Kentucky style rifle can do. I popped about a dozen caps to get used to the single trigger. It's heavy but not too bad. I fired 3 shot groups at 50 yards with 70-90 grains of FFg KIK Black and a .490 ball and .015" ticking patches. The rifle seems to like 90 grains. It shot all groups to the right. I had forgot my brass punch to drift the sight. All in all I'm happy with it. Not too bad for the money. I am not crazy about the 2 piece stock but it's sturdy and does the job.

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Model12Win · September 4, 2016, 10:26 PM

Looks like a great hunting rifle! Good job on it!

Hawg · September 4, 2016, 10:46 PM

Cool Beans! You can swap the brass spacer out for something less noticeable.

deerslayer303 · September 4, 2016, 10:57 PM

Yeah Hawg I plan to do just that. I remembered you saying that on another thread. So I'm gonna fashion another spacer. At first I thought about doing it with wood and try to stain it to match. But I've been thinking of doing one out of steel and blacken it. Also, what can I do to knock the shine off the brass on this thing, short of painting or waiting for it to tarnish? This rifle is alot lighter than it looks so it's gonna be nice to tote it in the woods. But I don't want all the shiny.

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Hawg · September 4, 2016, 11:20 PM

It's probably got a coat of lacquer on it you'll have to remove first. Once that's gone it should mellow pretty quick.

deerslayer303 · September 4, 2016, 11:25 PM

Oh ok. Maybe I'll drop it in some mineral spirits or thinner. I'm one that thinks brass looks better tarnished, weathered and dull anyway.

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Hawg · September 5, 2016, 01:10 AM

Quote:

I'm one that thinks brass looks better tarnished, weathered and dull anyway.

Me too, I hate shiny brass.

FrontierGander · September 5, 2016, 02:11 AM

leave it! Every wood spacer ive seen done has looked like crap. Looks dont make it shoot any better. Enjoy it and have fun. It will put meat in the freezer, 2 piece stock and all.

**4V50 Gary** · September 5, 2016, 09:56 AM

Those inexpensive Spanish guns can shoot well.

Pahoo · September 5, 2016, 10:09 AM

Slayer,
Another option on that brassy look is to burnish the edges with scotch-bright and apply some Brass-black. Spot bluing will also give you that tarnish look. I often do this when restoring or making new Hickory rods, for older SideLocks. ..

However, knowing how you like to tinker sounds like more fun to make your own. Counter top laminate samples also work and are cheap. .....

Very nice work and
Be Safe !!!

September 4, 2016, 05:34 PM	#1
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Traditions Kentucky Rifle Range Trip. I was going to build the Traditions Kentucky Rifle from a kit. Instead I took the easy way out and ordered the factory finished rifle. I figured I have alot of tools to gather first, so I'll just put off a kit till later. Anyway, the rifle looks great, the fit and finish is pretty good. After wiping it down and cleaning the bore I took it to the range today to see what a budget Kentucky style rifle can do. I popped about a dozen caps to get used to the single trigger. It's heavy but not too bad. I fired 3 shot groups at 50 yards with 70-90 grains of FFg KIK Black and a .490 ball and .015" ticking patches. The rifle seems to like 90 grains. It shot all groups to the right. I had forgot my brass punch to drift the sight. All in all I'm happy with it. Not too bad for the money. I am not crazy about the 2 piece stock but it's sturdy and does the job. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

September 5, 2016, 02:11 AM	#8
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	leave it! Every wood spacer ive seen done has looked like crap. Looks dont make it shoot any better. Enjoy it and have fun. It will put meat in the freezer, 2 piece stock and all. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

September 5, 2016, 09:56 AM	#9
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	Those inexpensive Spanish guns can shoot well. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

September 5, 2016, 10:09 AM	#10
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	More than one way to skin this cat !!! Slayer, Another option on that brassy look is to burnish the edges with scotch-bright and apply some Brass-black. Spot bluing will also give you that tarnish look. I often do this when restoring or making new Hickory rods, for older SideLocks. .. However, knowing how you like to tinker sounds like more fun to make your own. Counter top laminate samples also work and are cheap. ..... Very nice work and Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

September 4, 2016, 10:26 PM	#2
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Looks like a great hunting rifle! Good job on it!

September 4, 2016, 10:46 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Cool Beans! You can swap the brass spacer out for something less noticeable.

September 4, 2016, 10:57 PM	#4
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Yeah Hawg I plan to do just that. I remembered you saying that on another thread. So I'm gonna fashion another spacer. At first I thought about doing it with wood and try to stain it to match. But I've been thinking of doing one out of steel and blacken it. Also, what can I do to knock the shine off the brass on this thing, short of painting or waiting for it to tarnish? This rifle is alot lighter than it looks so it's gonna be nice to tote it in the woods. But I don't want all the shiny. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

September 4, 2016, 11:20 PM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	It's probably got a coat of lacquer on it you'll have to remove first. Once that's gone it should mellow pretty quick.

September 4, 2016, 11:25 PM	#6
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Oh ok. Maybe I'll drop it in some mineral spirits or thinner. I'm one that thinks brass looks better tarnished, weathered and dull anyway. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk