Sidekick and muzzleloading, need guidence.

[duckaroni]

Hello, I have been reading these forums for a while, but never posted. There is a very good knowldge base here, and it has helped me very much, thank you. I have some questions, if someone could help me out, I would appreciate it.

I have hunted deer with a rifle, but never even shot a muzzleloader. I have been researching it, so I have some idea, but would like to narrow it down a bit...

I have an H&R Sidekick, and I would like to put a scope on it. It seems the scope would be a little high to clear the hammer. Is there a Monte Carlo stock availabe? (walnut). Or maybe one of those after market comb raising kits? (I still have to order the scope base)

I also would like to start with trying the FPB by Hornady, or a Maxi Ball.

What would be the best powder to start with?

And what primer with what powder?

Oh, and how hard should I seat the bullet?

I wish I had a friend that could show me these things, but they all rifle or bow hunt.

Thanks!

[LHitchcox]

The Sidekick uses the standard NEF buttstock, so it would be simple to find one with a Monte Carlo cheekpiece. You can get them from the classifieds here or straight from NEF. I am also interested in trying the new Hornady bullet. They will be easy to seat, as they are really a jacketed minie ball. I haven't tried any lead bullets in my sidekick, so I can't comment there.

Currently, I am using loose 777 with a standard shotgun primer. The 777 pellets are overpriced and you are stuck using a 100 or 150 grain load with special primers to avoid the crud ring. I use Harvester sabots with Hornady  300 grain XTPs and 110 equivalent 777. I get really good accuracy with this load.

As for the scope base, I recommend getting the factory base, since it has more cuts for the rings. The Weaver base works well if you have a long scope. NEF sells a kit that includes the base and a hammer extension for @ $18. You will have to use tall rings unless you have the hammer bobbed. A friend of mine does that, so he can use standard height rings.

Hope this helps.
Leon

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard Duck!  Spend some time in the FAQs and Help, you'll find the answers on stocks, scope rails and mounts, hammer modification and a whole lot more. H&R didn't have any retail parts available as of earlier this week, the move to Ilion has slowed things down, but H&R scope rails are available elsewhere as you'll see in the FAQs. The Leupold rail is a good, inexpensive alternative, but doesn't come with a hammer extension.

Tim

[duckaroni]

Thanks alot for the replies. Very helpful.

I do need some specific advice, as I could not find it anywhere.

I have to measure this powder somehow, I see they sell the brass powder measures at cabelas. Should I get one of those? How does that work? Can I pre measure the powder and put it in some kind of plastic loader?

I appreciate any help for these silly questions.

[PHATINJUN]

Duckaroni Probly the best advice I can give you as your situation sounds much like mine when I started. Your side kick should of come with a owners guide it has starting loads and tips in it .What you need to do to remove some of the doubts you have is to shoot it.So you can learn some of the carictaristics of the ML. It should tell you things like how to load and what kind of pressure to use to make sure the powder and bullet are seated and as you do that you can feel what they are talking about. You do need a powder measure and a range rod that is usually a solid one piece rod about 3 feet long it helps tremendously with making sure you load each shot alike. Just start playing around with 25 or 50yrd targets and shoot it, a lot of things will become evident to you as you shoot and swab. Try and do this by yourself so that you are not distracted by anyone as it is real easy when you start to loose track of what step you are at when loading have your stuff set out and in order and try to keep it uncluttered. There are several companies that make load tubes but for me I just use them for hunting . I have a brass measure but I also have a brass and clear plastic one that I prefer as you see the whole powder load. It is a little intimidating at first but with a few shots lots of things start to come togeather. Good luck and let us know how you are coming but get to shootin that thing it's a blast. Kurt remember you can shoot it just as it is to get familiar with it and add these other things as you go.

[petemi]

Excellent advice for anyone, Kurt.     Pete