I've been thinking about getting into muzzleloading for a few years now and thought I would try next year so I want to start getting ready this year. I've looked at some good basic guns in the store.

But the other day I saw this feature piece on assembling your own muzzleloader in Field and Stream. You basically buy a kit (Hawken percussion gun)that give you all the pieces, which you have to finish and assemble - i.e., blueing the barrel and "white" metal parts, polishing the brass, sanding, finishing, and sealing the stock, and even filing some of the metal parts to smooth custom fit.

Looks like a lot of fun, actually, and would probably produce a beautiful gun. But anyone have any experience with this or have any pros/cons of "traditional" muzzleloaders they'd like to share.

I'm completely new to muzzleloading but if I were to order one of these kits, I'd get percussion one instead of a flintlock. And I'd probably do everything myself except for the blueing. I might take that to the gunsmith in town to avoid all the swearing and frustration on my end. LOL.