Have questions about Sidekick, need answers kinda quick (please)!

[JimG]

I've located a few new Sidekicks! I'll have to order them via the mail (I hate to do that as I like to inspect this sort of thing first before I buy but........).

Question one- I have the option of black synthetic, camo synthetic, and wood. Is the butt AND fore-end actually synthetic or painted/dipped wood? I know that on the Handy rifles and shotguns the stock sets that are synthetic are actually Choate products but these look a little different.

Question two- These primer carriers, how many shots can I get from one carrier? If these rifles are discontinued the carriers are likely to disappear too.

Question three- Are the current sights on the Sidekicks metal or plastic? If plastic can one fit metal sights from Williams or the like easily to the barrel or is it some proprietary setup?

Question four-  Is the ramrod thimble under the barrel plastic or metal?

Question five- Has anyone ever gotten a real bad Sidekick? You know sights all askew (misaligned from improper drilling/tapping, just won't shoot worth a hoot, etc.

Question six- Is the stainless really stainless or is it nickle?

Question seven - The Sidekick is a ML only frame correct? I CAN NOT have fitted or fit myself any other barrels besides a muzzleloader barrel, correct?

I appreciate any and all replies to these questions, I just need them fast as I guess there is a 'run' on these last remaining rifles and then they are gone forever.

[Keith Lewis]

I don't have a sidekick but I do have a Huntsman. I can set aside a couple of the questions. Stainless is stainless, quality of the NEF/H&R has always been topnotch. Never heard a complaint about bad triggers.  Rifles will shoot well with sabots and conicals. You cannot fit any other barrel to the sidekick the barrel mounting lug is shorter to the breechface than the Huntsman and Handirifles. I converted mine to the .25ACP breechplug which eliminates the carriers and improves the blowback and also some accuracy improvement.  The carriers will last through several times before becoming really bad. The sidekick ramrod is very flimsy and I replaced mine with the Hubbardoutdoors replacement rod which is stronger, has two inches more length when  extended, has the correct threads and has a relieved end for pointed bullets. Not sure why NEF never stepped up to these improvements.  Most of the synthetic stocks are synthetic across the board at least on my Huntsman although I bought mine online as the stock wood did not have enough rise for a scope.

[quickdtoo]

The stainless model has a matte nickel plated frame, barrels are stainless tho.

Tim

[skifastchad]

I assume since you have the option of a stainless/camo, you are looking to order the cabelas version.  The brown santa (ups) should be delivering mine today, so Ill post here tonight to let you know if it has metal or plastic sights.

[JimG]

Thanks for the replies. Yes it would be from Cabelas. Since I live in IL, I'm going to have to jump through about a 100 hoops to actually buy one but I'll give it try. It seems like the carriers would get expensive after a while. I can't use the .25ACP conversion as it's not legal to hunt with here to the best of my knowledge. The carriers cost $11 for 10 and if they last for 5 shots each then that's .22 each shot. Kinda pricey. Anyone have a clue if H-R/NEF will continue to sell them even though the rifle is discontinued?

[Busta]

I've located a few new Sidekicks! I'll have to order them via the mail (I hate to do that as I like to inspect this sort of thing first before I buy but........).

Question one- I have the option of black synthetic, camo synthetic, and wood. Is the butt AND fore-end actually synthetic or painted/dipped wood? I know that on the Handy rifles and shotguns the stock sets that are synthetic are actually Choate products but these look a little different.

The Stainless guns have the Choate made synthetic stocks and forends, Black on the Sidekick, Dipped Camo on the Heritage (Cabelas Exclusive), the Blued has standard pallet wood.

Question two- These primer carriers, how many shots can I get from one carrier? If these rifles are discontinued the carriers are likely to disappear too.

I have over 60 shots on one just to see how long they would last, NEF says about 20 shots per carrier, of course being plastic the blowback starts to wash them out after a few shots and progressively gets worse. I also have three that only lasted one shot, shooting Black Mag '3 with 460 grrain conicals, it blew the Winchester primers open and locked them up in the carriers. No problems with other BP subs.

Question three- Are the current sights on the Sidekicks metal or plastic? If plastic can one fit metal sights from Williams or the like easily to the barrel or is it some proprietary setup?

The Sidekicks have always had the metallic alloy Williams Fire-Sights on them, the 2002 and 2003 Huntsmans had the plastic, but were all changed to the Williams in 2004 when the Sidekick ccame out.

Question four-  Is the ramrod thimble under the barrel plastic or metal?

They are metal and are actually dovetailed into the barrel, very solid.

Question five- Has anyone ever gotten a real bad Sidekick? You know sights all askew (misaligned from improper drilling/tapping, just won't shoot worth a hoot, etc.

Never heard of it here, but I'm sure it could have happened.

Question six- Is the stainless really stainless or is it nickle?

The barrels are matte stainless, the receiver is matte nickle. There is a little difference in appearance, but acceptable IMO.

Question seven - The Sidekick is a ML only frame correct? I CAN NOT have fitted or fit myself any other barrels besides a muzzleloader barrel, correct?

Correct, it is only a muzzleloader. I don't know if you can even legally fit another muzzleloader barrel other than the one that came on the gun, or a replacement at NEF. If you are talking about having a custom barrel made, such as a muzzleloading shotgun barrel or something, you would need to check with the authorities on that one.

I appreciate any and all replies to these questions, I just need them fast as I guess there is a 'run' on these last remaining rifles and then they are gone forever.

Hope that helps.

[Jal5]

I ordered one from Cabelas several years ago now, and love the rifle. You cannot go wrong with it. I got the standard pallet wood on mine, blued barrel, and use the plastic primer carriers. I seem to get a lot of shots per carrier never counted how many but have not had a failure of any kind yet. I mounted a 2x7x32 Nikon scope on it and it is very accurate using PB 295 bullets over 2 pellets of Hogden's.

[JimG]

Thanks a bunch guys! Now I just wonder if H-R/NEF will continue to offer these for a discontinued rifle? I will call them tomorrow and ask.

[Meatball]

As for the plastic primer carriers I have a Sidekick that came with 5 when I bought it. I have been using them since I bought the gun. I couldn't tell you exactly how many primers have been in each one but I can say that I have already gone through one box of 100 and am currently working on my second box. That averages out to at least 20 shots per carrier and each one shows no signs of wear other than the usual discoloration and each one seats and holds a primer just as tight as when they were new. I shoot a somewhat mild charge out of my gun and that may have something to do with it but I'm not really sure. Also watch the gun shops and shows in your area. Last spring at my local show I picked up 3 packs of 10 carriers for $4 a pack. And yes they were actual NEF carriers and not an aftermarket. Didn't really need them at the time but how can you pass up a deal like that?

[d_hiker]

I can't use the .25ACP conversion as it's not legal to hunt with here to the best of my knowledge.

What makes you think that you can't use the .25ACP conversion in Illinois?  It is just replacing the 209 primer with a rifle primer, it is still an inline muzzle loader.

[skifastchad]

Update.  I got my stainless sidekick from cabelas in the mail yesterday.  It has the metal sights.  They are black aluminum with 2 green fiber optic dots on the rear and one orange f.o. dot on the front.

I spent most of last evening cleaning it.  It was packed in more cosmoline than a Chinese SKS.  I took apart the entire frame and cleaned each small part with solvent.
It was a chore, but I guess better to clean it up than get a new gun with rusty parts.  After a good cleanup it functions just as smooth as all my broken-in handi rifles.

My only complaint about this gun is the stock.  The plastic is nice, but the buttstock has too low a comb to use a scope.  I will be looking for a ultra hunter laminate buttstock for it and I will mill out my own forend from some laminate blanks I acquired recently.

[JimG]

A CO told me that he gives tickets for .25ACP conversions because in his opinion they are not legal. The Hunting Digest does not mention that the conversion is legal, although it also does not SPECIFICALLY mention that it's not legal.

[PHATINJUN]

Sounds like ya got a tough guy knowit all for a CO down there ask him to show you where it is illegal in the big book tell him its under ignition source in the big book. He'll not find it the law states nothing on the ignition just that it has to be incapable of being loaded from the breech. Also states that it is considered unloaded if the ignition source is removed.Kurt