Author Topic: F.I.E Kentucky-Rifle clone? (Read 629 times)

Skillet · « **on:** January 03, 2006, 01:38:37 PM »

I picked this one up at a hock-shop for $100. It's stamped FIE and was made in Italy, I would guess, in the '70s.

It looks to be unfired and in good shape, do y'all reckon it will shoot or is it junk? Anyone shot one of these? Know the twist?

It'll be next week before I can start working-up a load... I'm hoping that it'll shoot the 250 TC maxi's that I cast for my other sidelocks. This has been a good bullet for deer and hogs for me...

I'm planning to shorten it up and work out a good mid-powered load for hogs in the brush and maybe let my young son deer hunt with it when he gets a little more size on him.

If it's junk, at least it'll look good on the wall!

Skillet

lostid · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2006, 02:35:06 PM »

your post is kinda confusing skillet

you say, "my other sidelocks", which kinda means you have been around bp guns.
then you say, "maxis that I cast" which infers that you have practiced cast bullets and know about lead and casting.
then you say, "good bullet for deer and hogs for me" which means you are a succsessfull hunter.
and then you say, you plan too "shortin it up",,meaning you have gunsmithing skills.
K..Are we on the same page here? :twisted:

Then you ask,,"what's the twist?" :? :shock: :?

Skillet · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2006, 04:08:40 AM »

Yes, I've hunted with BP guns before. Yes, I cast some of my own bullets.
Yes, I have some basic machine-shop skills.

And no, I don't know anything about this gun as it is a new aquisition. Posted here to see if anyone had any knowledge about it. Once I get it to the range I'll be able to find my own answers about whether or not it has a round ball twist or not.

Skillet

sharps4590 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2006, 09:52:11 AM »

hey skillet...

Does the rifle have the two piece stock with a brass spacer between the two pieces? If so it's probably just like my very first muzzleloading rifle from the early '70's. I remember mine shooting accurately enough and I believe it also had some ignition problems. As I was just starting out it may well have been me as well as the rifle. I don't know if I would call them junk but they're definitely lower end. I don't remember the twist. Back then I probably thought "twist" was an old dance from the early 60's.

Vic

Skillet · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2006, 10:16:02 AM »

Quote from: sharps4590

hey skillet...

Does the rifle have the two piece stock with a brass spacer between the two pieces?

Yup, that's the one. Were you shooting patched-balls in yours? It looks like a solid gun, the hammer is much more massive than the one on my CVA Kentucky rifle... almost like a musket hammer.

Put in for a day of vacation Friday, I'll be taking three BP rifles to the range and will try it out with RB, maxi's and maybe some saboted ammo then. Can't wait to go get dirty!

Skillet

lostid · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2006, 01:51:36 PM »

Sorry, I wasn't meanin to be rude, it just comes out that way. There is a better, easier way to find the twist rate of an unknown gun than too;;;

Quote from: Skillet

,try it out with RB, maxi's and maybe some saboted ammo,Skillet

I enjoy accuracy. And I do use a "shot-gun" approach with my smooth bores and shot guns,,but seldom with a rifle

Good Luck :-)

sharps4590 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2006, 08:42:57 AM »

Hey skillet....

No way for you to know but all I've ever shot is patched round ball in my ML'ers. I have no idea how it would work with anything else as I didn't keep the rifle very long. Just long enough to learn I like muzzleloaders and how to keep one shooting. Then I upgraded pretty quick.

Vic