Muzzleloader kits for a project?

[JasonG]

I've been thinking about possibly building a muzzleloader from a kit over this winter and maybe hunting with it. Has anyone built one any suggestions . I would be looking to hunt elk with it. Thanks Jason

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I am in the process of building a Thompson Center Hawken .50 cal.
Almost finished with it, looking forward to shooting it, and possibly hunting deer with it next season.
My father got it back in the '70's, I finally decided to do something with it.
It is kind of a cool project. 

[MountainDevil54]

lyman offers kits as well as Traditions. I'd like to try the traditions woodsman and their Crockett kit some time.

[lokidog]

If the barrel is in the white, look at the plum brown "bluing" by Birchwood Casey

https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Refinishing/Metal-Finishing/Plum-Brown%E2%84%A2-Barrel-Finish.aspx

It gives a really nice finish and is much more durable than cold bluing.

[MountainDevil54]

the BC stuff works good but man its really picky and hard to get a nice smooth consistent color on the barrel. Ive done a lot of rifles with it but you really have to work hard at it.

Theres another slow rust browning called Laurel mountain forge and while its slower and needs humidity/heat ( bathroom) it works very well and leaves a nice browned barrel. I like to take my barrels to a dark chocolate brown.

[nwwanderer]

Been around two from kits, both killed elk

[lokidog]

the BC stuff works good but man its really picky and hard to get a nice smooth consistent color on the barrel. Ive done a lot of rifles with it but you really have to work hard at it.

Theres another slow rust browning called Laurel mountain forge and while its slower and needs humidity/heat ( bathroom) it works very well and leaves a nice browned barrel. I like to take my barrels to a dark chocolate brown.

Interesting, I really liked it on the two guns I did as it seemed to go on fairly evenly, and it was easy to keep darkening it.  If I had the money now, I would actually look at having it cerakoted in a similar color.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I used the Laurel Mountain stuff, pretty happy with the outcome, working on finishing the stock and final assembly.

[BigGoonTuna]

i'd like to maybe build an underhammer someday, on something like an allen action.  reminds me of a ruger #1 a bit...all the other ones are ugly as sin to me, they look like one of those browning auto .22s...

[jaymark6655]

This is a Traditions Hawkens with BC plum brown and the brass is blacked.  I trimmed off the spur on the trigger guard and put the thumb notch in the stock.  The plastic rod that came in the kit broke first season, so I am going to replace it with a wooden one.  I also want to replace the brass and the plastic sights with iron pieces.  When applying the plum brown I heated the barrel (forget what temp) before applying the bluing, which I think helped.  I love hunting with the rifle and can't wait to build a few with the kids.

[JasonG]

I'm going to order a traditions hawken kit for a winter project. Hopefully to hunt next season.