High quality muzzleloader kits?

Id get her a Traditions brand St. Louis kit or similar from Traditions. Its a "hawken" type muzzleloader. By what u said about your wife I think she may like it.

Lyman makes a good kit. Kits take some woodworking knowledge as the stocks come in roughed in form, woodworking tools, blueing or browning skills and above all, patience.

I would personally start her off with something pre built to see if she enjoys muzzloaders in the first place. They're a very rewarding but they are a whole different creature.

Kibler, best I've seen.

Oooooh and get it in percussion cap ignition and not flintlock. I think it would be better for someone not familiar with muzzleloaders

The best factory kits are probably made by Pedersoli and it could be important to get a model with a length of pull that fits her.
For instance the Pedersoli Scout Carbine kit comes in .45 and .50, has a 13.5" length of pull and only weighs 6 lbs.
Be sure to read the reviews. --->>> https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...soli+Scout+Carbine+Kit+.50+Caliber+Percussion

The Pedersoli Kentucky .50 Rifle kit also has a 13.5" length of pull and weighs 6.25 lbs. --->>> https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...oli+Kentucky+Rifle+Kit+.50+caliber+Percussion

Dixie Gun Works also sells revolver kits. --->>> https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/category/category_id/312/name/Guns+&+Gun+Kits

A lot is gonna depend on her skill level, I would recommend the parts sets from Track of the Wolf. They may cost a bit more but in the long run she will have a very nice one of a kind quality gun she can make her own rather than an unfinished production gun.

Fwiw
My friend and rifle builder...(he built my rifle) built a rifle from a kibler kit. He said it was so easy, that he could scarcely say that he built it. He says he assembled it.
It sounds like stain and finish the wood. Maybe some sanding. Brown or blue the metal.
All the inlay work is done.
I'm not going to go too far in my description because he might think it was super easy, and the next guy might not.
...but he thought it was super easy.

Do a search for Jim Chambers. Very high quality stuff. Nice website. He has been doing it a long time.

I would go with a Traditions Hawken kit it is less money but not the cheapest kit. They are good muzzleloaders. There is a lot to learn shooting black powder how to load, what lube, and how clean it and after everything is said and done she might like muzzleloading.

If you do a search for forum member "frontiergander" he has a lot of helpful info that could help you on your build and picking out a kit. He assembles kits very well. Maybe contact him for advice?

You didn`t say so, do a search on Muzzle loader kits. Plenty of links for exactly what your looking for. Plus, you`ll learn as you go.

I can't stress enough about the weight of the gun and the length of pull accommodating the size of the lady.
Women can have shorter arms than men, and may not like a gun with a heavy barrel.
Many popular muzzle loaders have a 14" length of pull or more which is too long for many women.
That's why popular shotguns are made in ladies and youth models.
In some respects a revolver kit is a safer choice.
What's nice about the Dixie Gun Works website is that their product pages for finished guns list their weight and length of pull.

troy fairweather said:

Kibler, best I've seen.

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Yep, Kibler's kits are probably the highest quality out there, but they do need some woodworking and metal polishing skills.

Easier kits that will give you a "good quality" traditional muzzleloader when you're done, Lyman plains rifle style kit, GPR, or Trade Rifle.

LD

My father liked Dunlap Woodcrafts' kits.

The problem is the definition “quality”.
At the top is Kibler and Chambers. Kibler requires a lot less work and tools. You can get just as good quality from Chambers with a wider variety to choose from but it will require a lot more work and skill. Both will allow you to build a rifle with a swamped barrel and top shelf parts. Both, as far as I know, offer only flintlock ignition.
Next down are parts sets like those offered by Track of the Wolf, Jedidiah Star, and Pecatonica. These are going to require more work and skill along with, for best results, more than a little knowledge of how everything relates to each other. Some will have swamped barrels some won’t.
At the bottom are kits from Pedersoli and Traditions. These are basically in the white completely assembled rifles that need only final sanding and finishing. There is nothing wrong with them as far as function is concerned. There are shooters who do well with them and never move up to a hand-built one of a kind rifle. But the comparison is similar to kitchen cabinets bought at Home Depot and kitchen cabinets that are custom built without so much as a splinter of manufactured wood.

Jim Kibler’s kits are flintlock only.

You can do percussion from Chambers. But it may be hard to call his stuff a "kit" with the implication that you can just stick it together with a little finishing. More like a advanced builders parts set.

I have built 5 Pedersoli kits from Dixie Gun Works and have been pleased with all of them. My recommendation is that if you buy a kit take your time, be sure that you have the proper tools, and don't hurry when you are almost finished and cut quality on the finish.

When you say " High quality kit "..... How HIGH is your budget and wood/metal working skills?

Mr.frontiergander...i was wondering when you would chime in. I had mentioned you in an earlier post... not sure if the OP got ahold of you or not.

arcticap said:

I can't stress enough about the weight of the gun and the length of pull accommodating the size of the lady.

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True. Might make a look at a fusil, light fowler, trade gun worthwhile. A 7 lb 28 bore is just delightful. Not as accurate as a big crowbar of a rifle, but for offhand shooting at moderate range, it could be a lot of fun.

Lyman Great Plains rifle kits have been very good for me. I've done a few old CVA (back in the 80s) and they were okay but required skills I didn't have to do them proper justice. My "finished" guns are pretty rough LOL.

There is nothing quite like a properly made flintlock longrifle with a swamped barrel and all the excess wood removed- they have a grace and balance that typical repros do not. Go with the Kibler kit.