If you want to buy a factory gun I suggest biting the bullet to make a road trip to the closest shop that has what you want. Then you can see it, handle it, and maybe have a few to choose from. I know there’s time and trip cost involved, but it can be a fun time.
If they’re that close I’d just hold off until your schedule allows. That’s an easy one day trip if you leave early. And I’d let them know you were coming and what you wanted to see. They should treat you right.
To be honest, you might be fine with a kit, on mine they installed the lock to far forward and the barrel/nipple drum area wouldn’t quite fit in the notch on the lock, that and it wasn’t milled all the way in the lock area and the trigger wouldn’t set the sear on the hammer.
I like mine too and have killed two bulls with the percussion one. A wedge pin would not go in on one and I don’t think minor filing would have helped. On the other, after the breech was hooked into the tang, the barrel would not fit into the channel due to misalignment, e.g., hitting one side. Removing wood was not my first choice. Both were likely due to general misalignment of installed/fixed parts.
Older Lyman gpr for me. Same maker
I don’t know if I got lucky with a Pre-covid gun, but my Pedersoli Frontier shipped in from IFG last week, and it’s a beauty. None of the poor craftsmanship I’ve seen posted about on here.
