I did a warm linseed oil finish on my .54 caliber T/C Renegade and it turned out real nice. It too was a kit gun some 20+ years ago, and the barrel needs to be re-browned but it shoots so nice I hate to mess with it. All you do is warm the linseed oil and rub it in with your hand. It takes a lot of time and a lot of coats. After you rub it in, put the rifle in a nice warm room and let the stuff soak into the wood. After a while the rifle will take on a real nice shine. Then when ever it gets a little dull or weathered, just rub another coat of linseed oil back into it and let it dry......