Good news is that a good friend of mine has the muzzleloading bug. He started by getting a cap and ball pistol and now wants a Hawken. Since we're in St. Louis, makes sense. He immediately identified the Track of the Wolf Bridger Hawken kit as something he wants to tackle. I'm trying to get him to consider assembling a Lyman GPR as his first effort, but he wants to go whole hog, though he has no tools or experience, no books, has done no research, really knows nothing of Hawken rifles or any other ML rifles, and has minimal experience with hand tools. Has never been to a museum, etc. Folks nowadays seem to think they can go online and learn how to do stuff really well, really fast. That has not been my experience though.
My plan is to lend him my restocked Sharon Trade Rifle from 1977, let him use that for the summer, and see if he still has the bug in the fall. Plus lend him my books etc. I've always felt a simple kit is the best first step and helps people figure out if they have aptitude and desire.
Any advice? I don't want to dampen his enthusiasm but also don't want to get stuck building a Track Bridger Hawken for him especially if he cobs it up.