Finding the Right Load for my Kibler Southern Mountain Flintlock Rifle | Flintlock Load Development

Join me on a brisk January morning as we break out my long rifle for a short sight-in session.

Today we're at a safe and remote location in Indiana, sighting in my Kibler Southern Mountain Rifle. I tried a couple different loads in November 2021 that I just wasn't happy with, but I've found the right powder charge for this flintlock today.

In my previous flintlock outing, I tried 40 and 50 grains of 3F blackpowder, but the groups weren’t like I wanted, especially at 50 yards. At 25 they were just okay, I needed more if I hope to take a mess of squirrels with this flintlock.

On the left, 40 grains shot, on the right, 50 grains. Both shot at 50 yards from a rest.

To continue my 10 grain increment powder changes, I jumped to 60 grains of 3F. Many commenters chimed in saying this would be too much and boy they were right, the load was as spread out as the 40 grain target I shot last month. This would NOT be the right charge.

Looking back at my targets (always keep your targets when developing a load), 50 grains was tighter than the 40, and 60 was spread out again, so it was time for a 5 grain change. I swabbed the bore and adjusted my measure to 55 grains.

It was almost noon, I had about 30 minutes before the sleet would set in. I took three more shots and checked the target.

My last three shots were no more than the diameter of a .395 roundball apart, I found my load. If I translated these shots up to the bullseye, they’d all be inside the 10 ring - plenty good for me. On a clear day, this rifle would be able to shoot out the X ring (probably with someone else at the trigger). For what I have planned with this rifle, it’ll do quite nice.

With my load pretty well sorted it’s time to file the front sight to bring these holes to the X ring. That will have to wait for more flintlock friendly weather though. Winter has come to Indiana.