At The Range
Two different barrels were procured for testing: a .50-caliber muzzleloader barrel and a .223 Rem. centerfire barrel. Talley one-piece bases were used to secure a new Swarovski Z6 2-12X 50mm riflescope to the muzzleloader barrel and an AV 4-12X 50mm scope to the centerfire barrel.

The muzzleloader shot quite well, no surprise to readers who own Knight muzzleloaders. This particular sample showed a profound fondness for heavier bullets. At 100 yards with a 100-grain charge of Hodgdon Triple Seven, three-shot groups of 338-grain PowerBelt Platinum bullets averaged 0.810 inch. The new 290-grain Barnes Ultimate Slam Series polymer-tipped bullet with its new easy-loading sabot averaged 1.073 inches with a 150-grain charge of Triple Seven. It was the bullet I used on my antelope hunt with excellent results--good accuracy with excellent penetration and expansion. Precision Rifle's Dead Center 200-grain bullets averaged 1.389 inches with a 150-grain charge of Triple Seven pellets.

The standard breechplug is, well, standard, but a magnetized breechplug is included in the accessory kit so 209 primers can be used. Swap out the breechplug first thing. An adapter for the plastic primer jackets is available for that extra measure of waterproofing.

The .223 barrel has a pretty standard profile, measuring .645 inch at the muzzle and 1.143 inches just ahead of the barrel flats. The barrel has a 1:9 twist, which allows the rifle to digest a wide range of bullet weights. Remington's Premier 50-grain Accu-Tip load turned in the best five-shot groups at 100 yards off the bench, averaging 1.078 inches. Black Hill's 60-grain V-Max load was a close second with a 1.105-inch average. The plain-Jane 55-grain, pointed softpoint Core-Lokt from Remington had a 1.361-inch average.

The KP1 will initially be offered in .17 HMR, .22 LR, .223, .243, .270, .30-06, .300 Win. Mag., .45-70, and .50-caliber muzzleloader with options of blued or stainless metal finishes and synthetic black or camo stocks, or laminate stocks. Combination packages are a no-brainer, and Knight currently has two: a varmint package with .17 HMR and .223 barrels and a whitetail package with .50-caliber muzzleloader and the choice of three different whitetail centerfire barrels. Simms said the company hopes to expand the available chamberings and has started testing in that direction.

Current suggested retail prices for the KP1 start at $509 and run up to $690 for the stainless-steel/laminate model. Combo sets range from $509 to $829. Extra barrels run from $209 to $269 each. There are guns that cost less and guns that cost more, but few offer the unique features of the KP1.

Switch-barrel guns are popular for a variety of reasons. Most of us cannot cough up the cash for a new rifle every time a new caliber catches our eye, so the option of purchasing just a barrel works pretty well. Combo hunts like my recent New Mexico adventure are simplified when it is just a matter of slipping an extra barrel into the hard case instead of another rifle. The biggest advantage is consistency--the trigger, trigger pull, cheek weld, and firing grip never change.

Knight took a long, hard look at the switch-barrel concept and carefully thought about how to make it better. The KP1 is an accurate, simple rifle that brings a lot to the table at a price that is hard not to like.