Author Topic: Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsman!  (Read 1501 times)

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Offline Ridge Runner

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsman!
« on: August 21, 2004, 02:07:29 PM »
This month's issue.......

Compared it to two other muzzleloaders. Said it was not the best but a great deal for the money. Also stated how accurate it was!

Major knock on it was the telescoping ramrod.

Can I assume the the Sidekick and Huntsman are the same in quality and performance?

Offline tscott

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Ramrod again!!!
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2004, 04:03:19 PM »
Use powerbelt bullets!! The ramrod becomes a non issue!!!

Offline Busta

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Re: Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsman!
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2004, 04:31:01 PM »
Quote from: Ridge Runner
This month's issue.......

Compared it to two other muzzleloaders. Said it was not the best but a great deal for the money. Also stated how accurate it was!

Major knock on it was the telescoping ramrod.

Can I assume the the Sidekick and Huntsman are the same in quality and performance?


Ridge Runner,

What were the other two muzzleloaders they were comparing it to, and what was their top pick? I'll have to see if the review is on their web page.

My Huntsman is an outstanding rifle, very accurate and from what I have been hearing the Sidekick is just as good.
U.S.A.F. Veteran
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Offline Ridge Runner

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Huntsman Magazine Review....
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2004, 03:58:19 PM »
It was the CVA Kodiak 209 Magnum at $260 (Editors Top Choice) and the Ultimate Firearms 40 BPXpress at $1700 (Third choice).

The Huntsman held its own at $190.

I want to get a sidekick now!!!!!

Offline scruffy

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsma
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2004, 05:36:43 AM »
I'm a little confused, in the review they tested three or four different powders with both 100 grain and 150 grain loadings.  I didn't think you could run 150grains safely through a hunstman.  :eek:

Am I wrong on this???

later,
scruffy
Hunting is 99% brain, 1% gun

Offline Primer

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsma
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2004, 10:00:26 AM »
scruffy, :D

I have not read the article,but I can say this about the 100 gr charge in the Huntsman muzzleloader.

In my Huntsman manual, (pp# 13.."Loads For Your Muzzleloading Rifle") it states that the "load chart is recommended for optimum accuracy. Exceeding them is not likely to increase performance and can result in higher pressures and unsafe conditions. Do not exceed propellant manufacturers' recommendations"

My understanding is that Hodgdon ( Pyrodex,Tripple Seven) load charts do not recommend using more than 100 gr charge in a .50 cal,probably due to liability issues.
NEF's load chart (pp# 13), likewise, does not show any loads exceeding 100 gr. and seems therefore to certainly embrace the powder manufacturers position.

Do not know what GOEX's position on max load is. Could not find any max charge recommendations on thir powder can,...nor on a can of APP synthetic powder.(??)

My personal take on this is that the load chart is a Recommendation, as stated in the NEF Owner's Manual. I have read where some are using 100 gr of loose 777, ( equivalent to 115 gr black/pyro,etc) with gun/owner undamaged.  :grin:

I just don't see a NEF muzzleloader barrel performing for years of good service at 100 gr of powder charge and on the other hand, blowing the heck up if you put 125 gr of powder in it.  I would better understand a product failure ( ML gun barrel) failing when grossly abused ...with say a double (+) charge stuffed down the barrel with a heavy projectile. I would certainly expect to have a bad hair day with such dufus act.

Mind you,....this is just my take on this subject, and I am not recommending anyone exceed the product manufacturers recommendations. :roll:

Offline tscott

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsma
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2004, 10:41:31 AM »
I use 777 90 gr... and 295 powerbelt...
Hunting accuracy is so good that I frequently use the huntsman during
rifle season for deer. Perhaps I'll take a shot a year at a target.
Accuracy remains very good throughout.
I settled on 90 gr. my first try at loads, but I'm confident that 80 gr would
work equally as well.
Recoil is no problem, but now I'm curious. What's the lowest amount of powder you folks use on deer?

Offline lik2hunt

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsma
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2004, 12:19:30 AM »
Which one were they actually testing? Was it the Sidekick, the Sidekick Magnum, or the standard Huntsman? This would explain the load differential. Sidekick Magnums are designed for 150 gr. loads.
lik2hunt------>in OK





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Offline Ridge Runner

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Huntsman
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2004, 03:51:09 AM »
They stated they were testing the Huntsman.

Offline bjgolfnut

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Huntsman!!
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2004, 11:45:31 PM »
HEY,
To Scruffy, article stated" This .50 cal muzzleloader didn't have the barrel length to fully utilize the 150 grain charge, but with the 100 grain charge the Huntsman turned in some of the tightest groups of the test."

To TScott, 70 grains 777 under a 460 gr. conical puts them down and easy on the shoulder.
Live Long and Prosper,  BRUCE
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Offline tscott

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Outdoor Life magazine review of the Huntsma
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2004, 10:53:35 AM »
Warwick Huh!  I shot roughly 90 deer in Orange County over the years...
I have tried other bullets in the Huntsman I have a unused pack of Hornady SSt... Just too hard to "ram" down for me. So I continue to use the very easy Powerbelt. I love the accuracy. I know they cost, Bought a pack for $12.77 at Wallmart this am. I hunt much more than shoot, so they should last a couple of years... I agree with you 70 gr works.
I have used this amount. It's just me , but I would not exceed 90 gr 777
granular Thanks, Scotty