> What is the best way to learn about the different products?

Wow, what a question! I believe Idaho is restricting you to side
locks, so you can still use percussion. Depending on your finances,
you can go from the Cabela's Hawken through the Lyman Great Plains
Rifle (often just called the GPR) on to the real high-end hand built
firearms. Whether you decide on a flintlock or a percussion lock is
a personal decision. Both will get the job done. Just like in
archery, there are the proponents of the long bow versus the recurve,
and then there are the compound bows (training wheels?) which equate
to the modern inlines.

But the learning part? Head to the library and check out some of the
books on muzzle loading. Sam Fadala has written some excellent books
for the beginner. There are those who don't like him because of the
perception that he is in it just to build himself up, but I have
found his work factual and readable. It will give you a good base of
knowledge, and he has many good tips. I have played this game since
1968 and still read his material.

Then you might want to get a Dixie Gunworks catalog, also the catalog
for Track Of The Wolf. Both are good references. The Track catalog
has full sized photos of parts so you can see what you are reading
about. Both have websites which a search should turn up.

-Kees-