I'm new here... thinking of buying a Handi

[gila_dog]

I am thinking of buying a SB2 Handi Rifle and having a 50 cal muzzle loader barrel fitted to it. What's important to me in a muzzle loader is reliability and accuracy. Under the category of reliability is how the rifle handles wet weather. My current rifle, a TC Black Diamond shoots fine, but keeping the primer dry in wet weather is impossible. The primer holder is open to the weather, probably like a lot of other in-lines. How does the Huntsman keep it's 209 primer dry? What kind of accuracy should I expect from sabot/bullet ammo? For accuracy, which is better, Pyrodex, 777, or American Pioneer? I hunt elk primarily, and like to use a 300 gr+ bulllet.
How hard is it to put a scope on the muzzle loader barrel? Is it drilled and tapped for a scope mount?

[Keith Lewis]

The barrels are tapped for scope however you should buy the mount from NEF as some of the aftermarket bases that claim to fit are too short and lack enough to mount the scope properly. The plastic carriers for the 209 primers are fairly waterproof and the .25acp conversion is also decent for weather protection. Personally I converted mine to the .25acp as the plastic carriers are not to my likeing.  I think if I were planning on one rifle just for muzzleloading I would opt for the new Knight KRB7 in stainless. I just bought one of those and the rifle is really nice and quite reasonable. Around $300 delivered to the door.  If you want to keep using the NEF then you will have to make sure the stock is set for scope mount. I had to change mine as the original stock did not have enough rise. The ramrod from NEF is a joke also. You will have to purchase the replacement from Hubbards Outdoors for $35 which is a real improvement much stronger and two inches longer when extended. By the time I got mine set up it cost as much as the Knight KRB7 and it is not a stainless one like the Knight is.

[Jal5]

depending on what bullet/load you work up it will be very accurate-competitive with all the more expensive brands! plus with a SB2 its easy to add CF or shotgun barrels.

[Spanky]

Don't hunt in wet weather!!
Problem solved.


Spanky

[Jal5]

i  have not fired the sidekick in a downpour, but have had no problems on damp drizzly days.

[deernhog]

Last day of the muzzle loading season 2006 a thunder storm blew in just before dark. Down pour all the way to the 4wheeler(about 10 minutes), then a slide off the rack into standing water in the grass for only about 1.5 seconds. Fired the gun to unload it and went off like nothing wrong. These guns will rust super quick though so don't let it set without wiping it down and cleaning it .immediately,

[quickdtoo]

These guns will rust super quick though so don't let it set without wiping it down and cleaning it .immediately,

You need to use a better gun oil if that's happening.

Tim

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

[Jal5]

Found out this afternoon after 2hrs in steady downpour my Sidekick worked fine. No deer-they are smarter than me and bed down in the rain! But I did 'kill'a 5 gal. bucket @ 50yds.

[Davemuzz]

I use Breakfree CLP on all my guns...old ones (100 years old) and new ones, and black powder ones. Whatever I coat with this product doesn't rust. Now, I do take care of my stuff....but not "obsessively" nor do I clean and ignore it for years. 

But if it's good I use it, if it's not good, I don't.

MHO

Dave

[PHATINJUN]

The barrels are tapped for scope however you should buy the mount from NEF as some of the aftermarket bases that claim to fit are too short and lack enough to mount the scope properly. The plastic carriers for the 209 primers are fairly waterproof and the .25acp conversion is also decent for weather protection. Personally I converted mine to the .25acp as the plastic carriers are not to my likeing.  I think if I were planning on one rifle just for muzzleloading I would opt for the new Knight KRB7 in stainless. I just bought one of those and the rifle is really nice and quite reasonable. Around $300 delivered to the door.  If you want to keep using the NEF then you will have to make sure the stock is set for scope mount. I had to change mine as the original stock did not have enough rise. The ramrod from NEF is a joke also. You will have to purchase the replacement from Hubbards Outdoors for $35 which is a real improvement much stronger and two inches longer when extended. By the time I got mine set up it cost as much as the Knight KRB7 and it is not a stainless one like the Knight is.

Although I think Kieth is being a little harsh here he is right about 1 thing it ain't a Knight it ain't stainless...but it ain't  Handi neither. The primer carriers take a little getting used to but the work very well at keeping primer dry and I have never had a problem with mine, the ramrod may not be indestructable like the hubbard's but it is fully functional for hunting use and it is way simpler to use a range rod when practicing anyway if ya use the rod that comes with the gun the way it's recommended you should have no problems I've got one on my 50 and on the .58 you may be able to call the factory and see if by chance they don't have a SS huntman barrel after the 1st when they get done with the inventory it's happened before.Also if you buy a centerfire that has a straight comb stock you can get the high comb for a scope mount when you send in for your bbl so it's not that big a deal plus when it's all said and done you got 2 guns not one and that's HANDI. 

[O44]

I have a stainless 50 cal . 243 combo in the nef classifieds..

[millwright]

I have a huntsman 50 cal with an extra 243 barrel.  The 50 cal is very accurate and the  243 is so-so.  I use a 2x7 nikon monarch on both barrels.  The wet weather does not seem to bother, I live and hunt in Maine, it does see a lot of rain and snow.  I think I will buy a front stock for the 243 barrel to see if the accuracy improves.  I think the hole for the ramrod in the front stock is a drawback.  Over-all, for the price, I am very happy with it.

[gila_dog]

Thanks for all the feedback, folks. When I get right down to it, tho, all I really NEED is a better muzzleloader. I don't really need another center fire rifle. Want one, yes, but not need. I have an old Rem 700 ADL 30-06 that kills elk just fine. There's chance I could draw an oryx hunt, and if I get drawn I think the -06 will do it's job on it too.  I don't need another shotgun either. I have a 12 ga Rem 870 for dirty work (ducks and predators), and a lovely 20ga OU (Charles Daly/BC Miroku) that I bought at the Navy Exchange in Yokusuka, Japan about 35 years ago (yep, I'm an old fart). It's a sweety to shoot doves, quail, rabbits, and clays with.

But the idea of having a solid, reliable, accurate, and cheap rifle/ml/shotgun combo is hard to resist.

Maybe 50 cal, 357, 243, and 20 ga.