Author Topic: huntsman or sidekick? (Read 1767 times)

ottawa rogue · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 02:14:27 PM »

I've been planning on sending in my sb-1 for a huntsman barrel this week, but i was in wally world last night and found out i can order a brand new sidekick for $147. it's the blue and wood version that i've been wanting

the pricing is only about $20 more than what it would cost to send in my reciever for the barrel by the time you add in shipping both ways and the 4 to 6 week wait.
having a dedicated blackpowder rig would be ok so what would you guys do?
send in the reciever, or buy a new one?

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 03:56:24 PM »

for only $20 more it's clear to me, buy the sidekick....<><....

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...........

ottawa rogue · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 04:12:28 PM »

that's kinda what i'm thinking, it'd be worth the extra $20 or so just to avoid the hassles

i was at Cabelas yesterday and looked at all of the muzzleloaders they had, the sidekick really stood out from the rest....the trigger guards on the T/Cs were too small, the knights just didn't feel "right", and i was not impressed by the cva guns.

funny thing is that ALL of the stainless guns were stained, probably by skin oils.
i still think i want the blued gun

Jal5 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2007, 06:06:29 PM »

buy the sidekick- you will like it!
Try Cabelas new visa card- I got $45 off the price of the new handi I bought there two weeks ago- cannot beat that.

Joe

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2007, 02:56:53 AM »

There's your answer, even if you only use that Cabela's card once and then cut it up and throw it away your ahead of the game. However you could keep it for any specials they may have in the future if purchased on thier card...I say go for it....<><....

ottawa rogue · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2007, 06:36:00 AM »

that's the last thing i need...another credit card

besides,i was just up there saturday and they didn't have any in stock, just the display models in stainless.

ottawa rogue · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2007, 08:16:12 AM »

just for the helluvit, i called H&Rs customer service today. they have the blued 26" barrel in stock for $82 plus the shipping and fitment. comes with a new forearm even

Jal5 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:40:50 AM »

I bought the Sidekick last year, and our local Cabelas store didn't have any in stock. the catalogue store had it in stock and shipped it direct to my house. the funny thing was the store and catalogue warehouse are located on the same exact property- go figure.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:55:08 AM »

you might be able to get the display model for $10 off if they are in a good mood, plus the $45 off with a new credit card (be sure you cut it up after you use it to buy the gun. If we find any more they will be giving you cash to take the gun out the door!!! I say do it and paint it camo if you don't like the stainless!!!....<><....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2007, 10:00:16 AM »

The Cabela's card isn't a bad thing if you pay the balance off every month, there's no interest, and the Cabela's points really build up if you buy a lot and they have triple point offers regularly which make it even better, I've had one for a long time, really like it, specially for their close out stuff!! The secret to making it work is to pay the account off every month, which isn't always easy to do, but their 9.9% interest is about as good as it gets for a CC if you do carry a balance.

Tim

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2007, 11:00:27 AM »

Thats what I do and just about how I live now that I'm retired Tim. I hated credit cards when they first came out and never wanted one. Now I try to buy everything that I can on my credit card and when my monthly retirement check gets in I pay off the credit card in full, no interest. I usually have no cash but have great credit. It works great in the summer but in the winter when the heating and electric bills go way, WAY up it's tight....<><....

ottawa rogue · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:00:57 PM »

for me a cabelas card would be like giving a meth head access to an ephedra warehouse

i can't walk out of there without something..... this weekend it was a new set of 7.62x54 dies

i liked the way the display models handled and balanced..... just like my shotguns.
the only thing i didn't like was all the stainless and synthetic stocks.
for me it's GOTTA be wood and blued!!!
by the way, why do they call that stuff stainless? every one of those were stained with black stuff that wouldn't rub off, kinda looked like fingerprint marks.
that was on the t/c and knight rifles too.
i thoughtn that was the point of a stainless rifle....NO STAINS

carbineman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2007, 01:19:44 PM »

It is probably more a plated steel than stainless as a magnet "sticks" anywhere on the frame or barrel of mine. I'm hoping the bore doesn't rust up as bad as on my buddys Knight rifle did. Their is no way he can clean it anymore. He left it loaded for better than a month for the shotgun, muzzleloader, and extended doe season and it rusted up beyond belief and sqeaked more than Al
Gore on election night.

If the "stainless" helps just a little bit I'll be happy.

ottawa rogue · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2007, 06:33:47 PM »

thanks for all the advice guys, i've got the sidekick on order....it should be here by tuesday.
there was a small amount of drama though, the wally world here is getting out of the gun business april 1st, so they didn't want to do any more special orders

so i went to the local gun shop and they were able to order it for around $10 more than wally world.
i don't mind spending the extra $ to support the little guy, and he's gonna start stocking some blackpowder stuff too.

jlbeebe · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2007, 05:06:07 PM »

I sent my boy's handi in for a huntsman barrel in mid November. I'm still waiting. I called customer service, they said I am just going to have to be patient. I will remember this next time I go to buy another rifle.

jlbeebe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2007, 05:21:57 PM »

Just got my boy's handi/huntsman back. I ordered him a 24 inch barrel, they sent me a 26 inch. His rifle has a nice laminated stock and they put a walnut forearm on it. I hope they enjoy the money they got from me because it is the last they will ever get.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2007, 05:40:46 PM »

They don't have 24" barrels anymore, have not had them for a while. Almost all here know that. Also if you simply call them and IF they make laminated forearms for ML's I am sure they will send you the correct one. Did you speak with them or check availibility, or even specify what you wanted when you sent it in or did you just hope it all work out OK? Don't blame them completely if you did not do your part.They are great people at customer service, if you call them after you calm down and are POLITE I am sure they will do all they can to help you, even in your obviously unhappy mood. If you calmly try to work it out they will work with you. Best of luck, let us know what happens....<><....

jlbeebe · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2007, 01:21:06 PM »

Quote from: MSP Ret on February 14, 2007, 05:40:46 PM

They don't have 24" barrels anymore, have not had them for a while. Almost all here know that. Also if you simply call them and IF they make laminated forearms for ML's I am sure they will send you the correct one. Did you speak with them or check availibility, or even specify what you wanted when you sent it in or did you just hope it all work out OK? Don't blame them completely if you did not do your part.They are great people at customer service, if you call them after you calm down and are POLITE I am sure they will do all they can to help you, even in your obviously unhappy mood. If you calmly try to work it out they will work with you. Best of luck, let us know what happens....<><....

MSP, you don't know what you are talking about. I called them and complained about all the issues I had with them. They said they STILL HAVE 24" barrels. I could send mine back and they would fit it with a 24". After waiting 9 weeks for the first one I am not in the mood to go through that again. And yes they do make laminated forearms. I don't know why you think they wouldn't. They said they would send me one as soon as they make some. I still have not seen it yet. My next ML will be a Savage.

Swampman · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2007, 12:49:10 AM »

For about 3 times the price you can get a Savage and it won't be anymore accurate. How would they know you wanted a laminated foreend? They aren't standard on the muzzleloader?

jlbeebe · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2007, 05:12:46 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on February 24, 2007, 12:49:10 AM

For about 3 times the price you can get a Savage and it won't be anymore accurate. How would they know you wanted a laminated foreend? They aren't standard on the muzzleloader?

Does it make sense to you to put a walnut fore arm on a rifle that has a laminated stock? I know several people who have savage rifles and they get 1"-1.5" groups very consistantly. Without all the cleaning.

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2007, 01:16:01 AM »

It's not walnut, it's birch. NEF doesn't make a laminated forend for their muzzleloaders so they couldn't send you one. Liike I said the Savage isn't anymore accurate than the NEF. I can't argue the cleaning point, but for that kind of money you should be able to sit by a tree and the gun should bring you a field dressed deer.

Busta · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2007, 05:25:38 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on February 25, 2007, 01:16:01 AM

It's not walnut, it's birch. NEF doesn't make a laminated forend for their muzzleloaders so they couldn't send you one. Liike I said the Savage isn't anymore accurate than the NEF. I can't argue the cleaning point, but for that kind of money you should be able to sit by a tree and the gun should bring you a field dressed deer.

Swampman,

How do you know it is birch, some seem to think they are beech with a walnut stain? NEF does/did make laminate forends (with ramrod channel) for the Huntsman, they do not list them, but you can/could get one by requesting it and paying a few bucks more. Coop has a camo laminate one on his Huntsman, and I remember a couple others that said they had them.

Swampman · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2007, 09:08:31 AM »

Ok it's beech if you like. NEF no longer offers them for their muzzleloaders apparently.

jlbeebe · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2007, 10:06:59 AM »

They do offer laminate forearms for the huntsman. They told me it was a mistake and they are going to send me one. I still have not seen it. As to the walnut/birch/beech thing, the point is they put a forearm on my rifle that clearly did not match when they make one that does.