Sidekick, Knight range rod, Cabela's, Breech plug cleaning, many questions.

[duckaroni]

Hello all.

I shot my Muzzleloader for the first time. It is the NEF sidekick. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work!

I was using 75 grains of 777(2f), Shockwaves, and Remington Kleanbore primers. This excursion was to test it out, and to get on the paper. It is topped with a Burris FullfieldII 3x9. The Shockwaves were a little difficult to load, but I have no referance point, as this was my first time with a Muzzleloader.

Anyway, at 50 yards and a couple of shots, I was on the paper, but low. I managed a 3 shot 1 inch group. No problem with that. Everything went pretty smoothly, besides loading those sabots. I have some Maxi-Hunters, and FPB's, for my next trip. I was wondering how hard the FPB's would load in the Sidekick? If it is any harder than the Shockwave sabots, I don't think I would bother.

I was shooting with a friend of mine, who is a newbie as well, and he had the Knight range rod, that worked awsome.
I also ordered a Knight range rod from Cabela's, but it came without the brass jag on the end for some reason. I emailed them and they are going to send me another one free of charge, without sending the other one back. Absolutely great service. I would like to get a jag for the first ramrod as well, but I can't find one anywhere. I contacted Knight, but no response on email, (unlike Cabela's.)

That leads me to my last question, on cleaning breech plugs. My buddy, who has a Remington Genesis, was able to get his plug clean in five minutes. I am still soaking and scrubbing with a tooth brush. The plug is totally clean, exept where the carrier contacts the plug. There is some black crud that refuses to come off. I have used Gun Scrubber, Breakfree, WD-40, and soap and water. With all this scrubbing, and soaking, I have just a little crud left. But I would like to get it all off, so it does not build up. My friends breech plug was perfectly clean. Oh, and I am using a tooth brush. Is there some trick to this?

Anyhow, I would appreciate any responses. I am looking foward to hunting with and shooting this here Muzzleloader. Thanks.

[Reese]

I have an NEF Huntsman that is very similar to the Sidekick.  My favorite load is 85 gr FFg T7, 250 gr .452 XTP and Harvester black sabot.  Accuracy is great and easy to load.  Did you swab the bore between shots?

I was never able to completely clean the factory breech plug to its original shine.  The flat area seems to have some texture to it from machining and that seems to hold a stain.  I am very particular when it comes to cleaning but I am stumped on this part.

I don't use the factory breech plug much now because I installed the 25 ACP breech plug conversion.  Not a necessity but I like it.

[Swampman]

Sometimes I use a large bronze bore brush on the end of a cleaning rod.  Windex or windshield washer fluid clean better than anything you can buy.

[duckaroni]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I swabbed between shots. I will have to try the load you suggested, although time is ticking real fast before deer season! I am trying to get it together real fast, as the job (work) is very time consuming..

You are right about the texture of the part of the breech plug that contacts the primer, it holds the gunk. My friends breech plug (Genesis) cleaned up with no problem. I do like the NEF better though. Even with the breech plug gunk.

I will also have to try the Windex, thanks Swampman, I will give it a try with the bore brush.

[john keyes]

on my sidekick after cleaning I have to "quarantine" the breech plug, ie store it separately from everything else.

I have yet to understand what grows on it but it will attack everything else it can get to if allowed.  It ate up a nice brass powder measure that it was in a ziplock bag with. I later cleaned it up okay but it still has heavy tarnish spots on it.

I don't know if its from the primers or what but if I don't stay on top of it it will grow out of the breech area onto the mounts and rings.   

Its a weird gray corrosion.

[duckaroni]

Interesting.

I have mine pretty clean now, but with much more work than I will most likely ever do again.

So strange, like I said earlier, my friends plug was clean almost instantly!

[Lawful Larry]

I also have the NEF Sidekick and love it.  Although, you are right about the breech plug.  It is harder then hell to clean. 

I have been using mine for quite some time now and harvested many fine protein rich backstrap deer.  My biggest bitch with the gun is the plug, but not with a cleaning problem.  Mine problem is with the lousey plug removal tool.  You would think they could come up with a better system!  I use plug grease, but the thing still is a bear to remove after a day at the range.  I normally have to use a vise to hold the barrel to remove the plug. 

Oh well, after having a bunch of problems with my Encore (that I got rid of!!!) I still will stay with my Sidekick.

[Keith Lewis]

Lots of people have converted to the .25ACP plug (me included) and it really improves the performance, minimizes blowback and makes removal a lot easier as it uses standard sockets. You can get a slot type of socket from Sears that fits the standard breechplug. Cannot remember the specific name but they have one (Help anyone???).

I also have the NEF Sidekick and love it.  Although, you are right about the breech plug.  It is harder then hell to clean. 

I have been using mine for quite some time now and harvested many fine protein rich backstrap deer.  My biggest bitch with the gun is the plug, but not with a cleaning problem.  Mine problem is with the lousey plug removal tool.  You would think they could come up with a better system!  I use plug grease, but the thing still is a bear to remove after a day at the range.  I normally have to use a vise to hold the barrel to remove the plug. 

Oh well, after having a bunch of problems with my Encore (that I got rid of!!!) I still will stay with my Sidekick.

[bubba]

it is a drag link socket.

[Lawful Larry]

Where can I find the conversion kit for the Sidekick???  I am getting interested in this idea and it sounds good.

[Swampman]

http://www.prbullet.com/nef.htm

Check out the entire site, it's excellent.

[Jal5]

that drag link socket really works fine on the plug. Plus there are several other sized in the set and I have found other specific tasks on my boat to use them