Build difficulty?

[Roy]

I would suggest a dremal tool.

ACCKKK! Under no circumstances would I suggest a 1st time builder use a dremel tool for inletting.

Depends on how competent that person was using the tool. Any power tool can mess something up in a hurry... or make everything a whole lot quicker. Either that and use hand tools and take a long time messing it up. :haha: A good sharp rasp has created a lot of unwanted holes in gunstocks... sort of a one swipe to many or not paying attention.
My suggestion is buy an inexpensive piece of wood. You can get darn nice gunstocks for $50, mind that there might not be any figure... So if you mess up beyond repair all ya have is $50 lost, but a bunch more knowledge.

When I started building I had a good working knowledge of power tools and used a bandsaw, drillpress, router, dremal, and regular 3/8 drill for the ramrod ... I would put my first gun up against anyones first build. There are no fillers or accraglass on it... I am not embarrassed to show anyone it when they come here. Now there are things that I could have done differently but thats where the learning comes in. :v

 

[Hanz]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be ordering a couple of books.

I've decided to change course just a bit. I spoke with the folks at Jim Chambers and they don't offer steel or iron trim on the rifle I liked. After scrounging around on the Internet I've come up with the Early Virginia Rifle from Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading. I don't know why but I want steel trim so I'll go with the EVR from TVM. I don't know if they are PC but I want both a patchbox and a toe-plate.

I do want a flintlock to shoot (now) but after looking at the available choices that are affordable to me I'll just have to make it myself.

I've found an old bench top drill press at my job that I'm almost certain my boss will lend me.

I'm pretty sure that most kits are messed up more by impatience and inexperience than lack of skill. I'll be fighting the urge to rush the entire time for sure. I do want the rifle ready for this hunting season. I'll just have shoot my TC Hawken caplock to get my BP fix while the flintlock is on the bench.