Is sidekick still a good buy...1st time poster, 20 page reader...

[RealEstateBiker]

Well, I am green to MLing.  I have always wanted one though.  Avid rifle and pistol shooter and reload for all my pistols.  Learned a lot reading about 20 pages since I found the site.

Ok, ran across a VERY nice H and R Sidekick today.  I mean looks brand new.  Never having seen one I became quite curious.  When I opened the action, I was a bit perplexed as I saw no nipple for a primer....but have since learned why through this site.  I noticed you can get the primer holders from CTD pretty cheap and I figure a large order would be good in case they disappear to keep the gun from being unusable.

That's my worry.  What do you see as the longevity of the Sidekick?  Parts, pieces, usuability...etc.  I would hate to buy this and then it become a expensive club later down the road.

HELP!!!   

[Busta]

Welcome aboard RealEstateBiker!

Another better option IMO would to be to get 1 or 2 of the Metrics Unlimited Carrierless Breech Plugs. These use a bare 209 primer and are much cleaner than the messy primer carriers. I brought a review post that I made a while back, it has pics and even a contact #, if you would like to order one.

See the post below this one for information.

[Keith Lewis]

I agree on the carrierless plug. My Huntsman has been upgraded with the plug and a Hubbard ram rod which is a big improvement over the stock rod. I posted before but for some reason did not get it to post. I suggested the Sidekick is a great gun and if you can justify spend about an additional $50 to upgrade to the breechplug and ramrod depending on how good the deal is I would jump on it. The Sidekick/Huntsman barrels are super quality barrels.

[RealEstateBiker]

I am going to go back and see what kind of deal I can work on Monday.  The dealer had it marked at $139.99...and like I said, when I opened the action I didn't understand how you added a primer...now after reading here, I do....so obviously he doesn't have any primer holders to go with it.  I am going to use that as a bargining point....can't even shoot it without ordering parts....to see if I can get it for a little less.

The plug looks like the way to go and looks familiar after looking into the CVA Optima line....that is basically the system they use.  Wonder why H and R didn't just make that type system in the first place?

Thanks again....this will be my first ML so I am still learning.

[john keyes]

I think maybe what you were looking at was the gun w/o the breechplug installed, yes there are orange primer carriers but the breechplug must be installed as well.

from the factory:  screw in breechplug and orange primer carriers

modified and vastly improved: metrics unlimited breechplug, no primer carrier

[RealEstateBiker]

No, the breech plug was installed....silver, two notches for unscrewing it, small hole in center....it was there, no primer holders though..I have learned that much.

I think if I bought it, I would buy one of the conversions anyway...

[Keith Lewis]

Good plan; as the stock breechplug also uses a screwdriver like tool to remove the plug and it is not user friendly. If the plug is slightly stuck due to not enough antiseize it makes removal very difficult. The aftermarket plugs use a standard six sided socket which is a much better plan. That rifle new for less than $150 is a good deal. Even if you include a new breechplug and the Hubbard ram rod (which is not absolutely necessary but a vast improvement) you will be less than $200. By the way if you decide to add a scope make sure you order the scope base from H&R as there are some other manufacturers bases that claim to fit that have the notches in the wrong place for good scope placement. The base from H&R also comes with a hammer extension included. I changed the wood stock for a synthetic one as the rise for scope is better than what the base wood stock is.

[RealEstateBiker]

It is scoped already, don't remember the brand.  Set up looks correct and eye relief seems to be right.  I was going to ask....

The hammer spur offset thing...it does not have one, anybody know where to get one?

[quickdtoo]

H&R, Brownell's, several online retailers sell the hammer extension, Uncle Mike's make them for H&R, it's the same as for the Ruger Blackhawk, #2456.

Tim

http://www.opticsplanet.net/uncle-mike-s-hammer-extensions-for-a-better-grip.html

[john keyes]

I can honestly say  that having a sidekick as my first and only ML has kept me from buying alot of other ML's that I wanted to because the value of the competition just did not stack up.  No way. 
I paid like $160 for my sidekick.  The Metrics Unlimited plug is twenty sumpin dollars.

the sidekick/huntsman is a serious chunk of wood and steel.  very simple design.  Now, why NEF couldn't make the right breechplug in the first place.....   

I've wanted to buy so many other ML's but when considering how many sidekicks/huntsmans I could buy for the same price.....forget about it.

its not only a good deal, its a steal.  Its a rifle that somebody could find in a couple hundred years and would still be functional.
You could make a felony entrance thru a door with it too. Its that solid..   

[Doug B.]

I realized that my Huntsman is the most inexpensive firearm in my case. I also realized that it has the best trigger right out of the box than any of my firearms.
Why would I want or need any other ML?  It's great!

[Wvladimire]

Hello all new here.  I have had a NEF Side Kick for a couple of years now.  I have used 97-100 Gr of 777 with a Hornady 300 Gr sabot.  This combination gives me the best accuracy for my rifle. And am interested in the Hubbard ram rod.  But a google search pulls up nothing.  Would someone please e-mail me as to where I can purchase one?  wvladimire@yahoo.com

Also, the other day I zeroed my Nikon Omega scope on the NEF.  Today, I am going out to try BH209.  I was told by the company that it could be fired in an unmodified NEF with 209M primers.  I will keep you posted as to what happened.  I was hesitant on getting the BH209 because of the cost and not to have it work.  Thanks

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! See the H&R FAQs and Help sticky for the Hubbard rod....and a lot more.

Tim

[rsellers1]

I have found the BH209 powder to be great, no fouling, no swabbing after each shot and by the way I tested 20 shots thru at one range session and never had a problem getting the bullet to go down the barrel.  It also seems to be a lot hotter, I only use 85 to 90 grains and the rounds are in the bullseye.

[carbineman]

Hello all new here.  I have had a NEF Side Kick for a couple of years now.  I have used 97-100 Gr of 777 with a Hornady 300 Gr sabot.  This combination gives me the best accuracy for my rifle. And am interested in the Hubbard ram rod.  But a google search pulls up nothing.  Would someone please e-mail me as to where I can purchase one?  wvladimire@yahoo.com

Also, the other day I zeroed my Nikon Omega scope on the NEF.  Today, I am going out to try BH209.  I was told by the company that it could be fired in an unmodified NEF with 209M primers.  I will keep you posted as to what happened.  I was hesitant on getting the BH209 because of the cost and not to have it work.  Thanks

I would not fire your muzzleloader using Blackhorn 209 with the factory supplied breechplug and primer carrier supplied with the rifle. I see Kurt edited your post so maybe you know what breechplug to use with Blackhorn 209 and he deleted the name of it. Otherwise send a priivate message to Kurt and he will explain it. I wouldn't want you to get hurt if you don't understand this. If you do understand then just ignore this reply.

[PHATINJUN]

I believe the problem with the BH 209 has more to do with it ignigting than it does with the pressures and higher velocities.Although the biggest problem with the primer carriers is the blowback that they allow . I know Busta did quite a lot of testing with the BH... as far as I am concerned he would be the guru of the BH209 for us.But then there is always the worst case senario and that's if in doubt call the manufacture thier help me # is on the can of powder. Just tell them what you are using it for and what the ignition system is I would think they did a whole lot of testing before it was released.Kurt

After posting this I reread your post about already contacting manufacture sorry. If the blowback you experiance bothers you send me a pm and we will work on that. kurt

[wreckhog]

Most Sidekicks are used. Used muzzleloaders are often a PITA. Assuming that you find one. add $65 to the price for a real ramrod and a breechplug to shoot BH209. Puts you around $200. For a used gun with new parts. Is it still a deal? I see used Omegas for well under that all the time. Then again, it a lot cheaper than an MDM Buckwacka, if you like the look.