Lyman Great Plains 54 cal kit.

[Dom]

Looks like I may be applying my browning finish to the metal parts by the end of the week. I love it when , not even a plan comes together. First kit for me. A true learning experience. I'm finding the trigger guard the most difficult , time consuming part to finish. It has two sides to finish, inside & outside. Plus all those curves.

[LAGS]

That is what is nice about a kit.
You can finish it to your likings .
And if you don't want to spend the time doing all the Detail work , it doesn't matter , it is Your Rifle.
But the kits help you tune up your skill level.
And mostly drive you to do more things even if they take more time.
Like I said,
It is your rifle , set your own standards of finishing.

[Dom]

All metal polishing done. Hand polished, no power equipment used, which I didn't have anyway. Now ready to apply my browning. The stock needs some final sanding & a couple more coats of finish. So cold & wet out side , the finial stock work will have to wait till warmer weather. Don't believe my wife would appreciate smelling that drying stock finish in the house.Attachment 295633Attachment 295634

[LAGS]

Your polishing looks good.
Take your time finishing the metal since the stock is waiting for finish too.
I just got the steel patch box that I am going to inlet on my GPR.
So I should be starting on my Lyman build soon.

[Dom]

Now I understand why a finished rifle is so much more than a kit. UGGG!! My fingers are wore out. For sure a labor of love.

[LAGS]

It is a lot of work putting Love into something.
But a factory finished rifle , doesn't come with love.
So now you see what I always say,
" Why Buy , when you can Build "

[Dom]

My final brown coating of the metal parts. barrel is the same. All that is left is a little finish sanding on the stock , & a couple finis coats of sealer. Done deal.Attachment 295741

[LAGS]

Looks like Love to me.
Good work

[hawkenhunter50]

My final brown coating of the metal parts. barrel is the same. All that is left is a little finish sanding on the stock , & a couple finis coats of sealer. Done deal.Attachment 295741

Looks good, nicely done. Curious if you cured them in oil? My last browning I did, I cured them in oil and I think they turned out to be my best looking I've done so far. Previous to that I just browned and never used the oil.

[Dom]

Final cure was oil. Those who have seen it seem to think it is a very appealing finish . As I stated before, this is a hunting rile, not a mantel piece. Feel sure it will take on some additional character as years in the field pass.

[Dom]

Finally completed my Lyman Great Plains kit today. Wow, a lot of work. Can for sure see why a completed factory rifle is so much more than the kit. Would I do it again ? I don't know. Would have to give it a lot of thought. There were several building challenges I had not anticipated. Be aware , be very aware . if you plan on building a kit & have not done so before. Not something the average person can't do, but is a challenge.Attachment 295836Attachment 295837

[Edward]

I have some Laurel Mountain browning liquid coming . Sounds like a decent product . I did watch a video on browning & learned a couple tricks. A little polishing should make for a good finish. There are always tricks to the trade for doing anything. Trying to pick up from advice from experienced builders.

Little polishing is the trick ,no more than 200-250 grit /Ed

[LAGS]

If you like working on these rifles.
But you don't want to start on another Kit right now , look around for a used rifle that is Cheap and maybe not Perfect.
Then Rebuild it to your style and liking.
I do that often , along with doing some kits.
Rebuilding used rifles puts them back in service.
Plus it lets you refine your skill level.
I pick up Used , Serviceable rifles for less than Half the cost of most kits.

[Texas by God]

You did a great job. Looking forward to a range report!

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[LAGS]

Range Report , heck.
I would like to see how it does hunting.

[Dom]

Could be a month or better before the snow melts enough for me to use my range. Several months before the deer/elk season opens.

[Flogger]

Been a lot of years but they can come out amazing. i used to draw file the barrel and rust browned them in some crazy ways but they always came out great. Fiebings medium brown leather stain topped with hand rubbed oil will give you a stock second to none.

[Bowhunter73]

I have a question for you does your barrel have the Lyman Great Plains on it or any other writing I just bought a kit built GPR and the barrel doesn't have anything on it? also not sure what the finish is it's a matte gray almost looks like cerakote to me the guy I bought it from didn't know he's friend built it.

[LAGS]

I just looked at the barrel for my Lyman GPR kit that I am going to build.
It has a lot of stuff on the barrel , and does say Great Plains Rifle and caliber on the top right side of the barrel.
The Spare Barrel that I bought also says,
Great Plains Hunter .50
That barrel has the faster twist for Conicals.

[Dom]

I have a question for you does your barrel have the Lyman Great Plains on it or any other writing I just bought a kit built GPR and the barrel doesn't have anything on it? also not sure what the finish is it's a matte gray almost looks like cerakote to me the guy I bought it from didn't know he's friend built it.

My barrel is plainly stamped, "Lyman Great Plains" 54. Very prominent. The builder of your kit could have draw filed the inscription off. Also may have applied a non tradition finish??