Using powder in a .58 Huntsman converted for 209 primers

[vulbus]

I am a long-time shooter but new to Black Powder. 

I recently purchased an H&R Huntsman .58 cal.  The previous owner made a bronze bushing that allows for the use of 209 primers.  It looks like a solid setup but, with the large hole for the 209 primer, how can I use powder granules without them pouring into the primer hole, plugging it, and possibly jamming the firing pin?  I'd prefer to use loose powder but if pyrodex or triple 777 pellets are my best choice, do I need pellets specifically for .58 cal or can I use .54 or .50 cal pellets as long as I use the correct charge for the ball?

(Sorry for the crappy cell phone photos)

Bronze 209 adapter


Adapter inserted into breech plug


P.S.: I've read all of the safety concerns with the o-ring breech plug and I understand the risks involved. 

[trotterlg]

The usual setup even for the 209 conversions is to have a small flash hold from the primer to the powder charge.  Without the small hole I think you have an accident waiting to happen.  Larry

[vulbus]

Thanks Larry!  Sounds like my best bet is to use the original setup which, from my research, appears to be a 1/4-28 nipple for #11 caps. 

Will these work or is there a better option? My goals are safety, reliable ignition, and ease of use - in that order.


http://www.oneclickshooting.com/proddetail.asp?prod=35625

[topper88]

I second the small nipple flash hole being safer.  I use small rifle primers in a special set up on my side locks & I leave the fired primer in until the gun is loaded then pop out the fired primer with the point of a pen knife and slip in the new one to prepare to fire.  But that set up has a fairly small flash hole and a screw cap holding everything down.

If it were me I would contact Mr. Hubbard listed in the FAQ stickies above and purchase one of his breech plugs with the 209 adapter to go with it. If your original breech plug is usable with good threads, all you need is the 209 adapter.

It's worth the effort, they shoot great with 70 gr. of triple seven and a PRB. Good luck with it.

[PHATINJUN]

I don't recall ever seeing any .58 pellets. But 209 conversion plugs all have small flash holes even the ones that are nipple adapted. Is your plug a screw in or a slip fit??Kurt

[wreckhog]

It is an O ring plug. No threads, small or large. Are there conversions for this?

[trotterlg]

I have the threaded breach plug in mine, I use the #11 Caps and have had very good luck with them in mine.  Here in WA state 209 primers are not legal anyway.  Larry

[vulbus]

I think I'll go the route of Mr. Hubbard's Mag-Spark since I have a bunch of 209 primers.

Thanks to everyone for your help! 

[PHATINJUN]

Although I have converted a couple of my other Huntsmans I have left both .58's for the caps just incase I endup some where that doesn't allow 209's. I have had no problems with ignition that was not operator error. Your gun should be no safety concern as long as you follow all the safe practices the biggest one with the push in plugs is, if you should have a misfire ,Fail to fire or some other issue like that simply place the gun in a safe position and set it down for several minutes and wait before you open it up to take a peek and then open it up away from your face. Kurt

[Whelen Man]

I recently made a friend of mine an adapter for a 209 Shotshell primer in his 58 caliber Huntsman.  I made it so it threaded into the breech plug just like a nipple with a small diameter flash hole.  He recently tried it out and said it worked well and primers could be removed with the fingers.  It's made out of stainless.  If the flash hole erodes too much over time I'll go back and put a threaded insert in in it's place similar to what's used in the Savage smokeless muzzleloader.  Looking back it would probably have been better to have just made a whole breech plug but this way it can be used with the original percussion cap nipple.