Powder for Sidekick

[ford4wd08]

Hello all,

I have searched and looked around on this site. Good info and great knowledge. I have a question about powder though.... Do you have to have a carrierless plug with a 209 primer to shoot the blackhorn 209 powder? I know the sidekick uses a 209 ignition system. I will probably play with the carries at first and upgrade a little but down the road. If I can't use blackhorn without the upgrade, what powder do you all recommend? I will probably go with lose powder, I am thinking of starting with the TC cheap shot bullets.

Thanks for any info in advance

[OldSchoolRanger]

Hello all,

I have searched and looked around on this site. Good info and great knowledge. I have a question about powder though.... Do you have to have a carrierless plug with a 209 primer to shoot the blackhorn 209 powder? I know the sidekick uses a 209 ignition system. I will probably play with the carries at first and upgrade a little but down the road. If I can't use blackhorn without the upgrade, what powder do you all recommend? I will probably go with lose powder, I am thinking of starting with the TC cheap shot bullets.

Thanks for any info in advance

According to all those that have used BH209, the answer is yes. 

You can use any blackpowder substitute, or real blackpowder (FFG) if you can get it.  If you want to use loose powder go to link below and look at reply #11 for some loads.  That's a page from the   Huntsman manual, you might want to download it (see reply #1 or 7 to download).  The only difference between the Sidekick and the Huntsman is that the Huntsman barrel can be used on any regular H&R frame, while the Sidekick barrel only fits on the Sidekick BP frame.  The Sidekick can handle up to 150grains of BP substitute.

(Added) Sorry, I forgot to put link: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,227151.0.html

I use Triple 7 pellets for ease of loading, also it saves me the trouble of measuring out charges.  My target and hunting load is two (50grain/50Cal size) pellets of Triple 7, and the TC Cheap shots (240grain bullets with black sabot).  If you want a little more pain  use 3 pellets. I don't find that the additional pellet improves my accuracy.

If you want to experiment with loose powder, you can probably get good groups using about 85grains of Pyrodex or any other BP substitute.

[PHATINJUN]

Read thru prior posts mostly by Busta he has done extensive testing with the BH209 powder in both Huntsmans and Sidekick models as well as others. Lots of load info also. kurt

[J-Train]

I love the granular Triple 7, 90 grains works fine for me.  Cleans up real easy, good accuracy.  Using pre-measured speed loaders, I don't see all that much advantage in pellets.

[tacklebury]

There's one advantage only in pellets in my opinion and that is the air space issue isn't a problem due to the way they burn.  With loose powder, if you leave an airspace, you are asking to be wearing your barrel instead of looking down it.  I personally use only real black powder FFFg now and have less issues with cleanup and follow up shots and more consistency.  T7 is about the best of the subs I've tried, albeit Black MZ is one I haven't tried from Alliant.  Blackhorn 209 is just too expensive in my opinion and sensitive to ignition.
 
I too like speed loaders though and have them for both my pistols and rifles, except my ROA.    I figure if I use 6 shots and miss, I deserve not to hit it.  hehe

[ford4wd08]

I ended up going with 777 granular. I have speed loaders as well. Shot the mz for the first time yesterday. Seemed to shoot well, I had a couple of holes touching. I have to finish sighting it in, but so far I am pleased. I was using 90 grains with a saboted hornady 240 grain XTP and Winchester 777 primers.