Huntsman, Hubbard 209 Breech Plug, Blackhorn 209 Range Report

[Busta]

Got out this afternoon to shoot the Huntsman with the Hubbard 209 Breech plug and Blackhorn 209 powder. It worked flawlessly, perfect ignition everytime. I shot saboted bullets, White Power Punch Conicals, and the NEW Hornady FPB. I have been waiting for a plug like this for over 5 years, and I really like the results. All shots were with the Hubbard 209 breech plug today.

Group 1 (center bull, Pic #1) for the day was T/C 240 gr Cheapshots, 80 gr BH209, Win W209 Primers. The group was a vertical string and measured 1.255".

Pic #1


Group 2 (lower right bull, Pic #1) was Hornady 300 gr .452 XTP/MAG, 80 gr BH209, Red Harvester Crush Rib Sabots (for smokeless muzzleloaders), 80 gr BH209, Win W209 Primers. This group measured 1.901"

Group 3 (lower left bull, Pic #1 and Pic #2) was the NEW Hornady 350 gr FPB. To my surprise, this bullet loaded flawlessly, ignition was perfect, and accuracy was exceptional. This group measured .580", what a great shooting bullet. Look out PowerBelt, this bullet is for real.

Pic #2


Group 4 (upper left bull, Pic #1) was the Knight/Barnes 250 gr PBT with the NEW Blue EZ Load Sabots, 80 gr BH209, and Win W209 Primers. The group measured at 1.373". These sabots load WAY to easy in the .502 NEF Bore, but surprisingly I had instant ignition every time.

Group 5 (upper right bull, Pic #1) was the Hornady 300 gr SST, 80 gr BH209, CCI 209 Primers. The first two were touching, but pulled the third to the right making for a 1.340" horizontal group.


Since the Hornady FPB's worked so well I deceided to try out some all lead conicals. I pulled out some White 440 grain Power Punch Bullets, two .060" x .518" fiber gasket wads, 70 grains BH209, CCI Primers. All loads fired perfectly, absolutely no hang/delayed fires today and the best group of the day at .552". I truely was shocked at the results, the conicals outshot the saboted bullets, and I deceided to quit while I was ahead. Still grinnin'.

[burntmuch]

Busta . Great range report. Any idea when the new breech plugs gunna be availible to the rest of us . Oh yeah A little off topic but whats the difference between the red & black crush rib sabots. Im using the black ones for my Omega & BH 209. Getting real good groups. Just wondering Thanks again for the range report.  Jay

[Busta]

Busta . Great range report. Any idea when the new breech plugs gunna be availible to the rest of us . Oh yeah A little off topic but whats the difference between the red & black crush rib sabots. Im using the black ones for my Omega & BH 209. Getting real good groups. Just wondering Thanks again for the range report.  Jay

Jay,

The Black Harvester Crush Rib sabots measure .503" with .452" bullet, the Red Harvester Crush Rib sabots measure .508" with a .452" bullet. The RED sabot was made for the Savage Smokeless muzzleloaders larger bore diameter to ensure better ignition with smokeless powder. You will never get it down your T/C bore, well at least not without a fight anyways.

[Underclocked]

So it WILL work with conicals!!  Great shooting!

[ELMO]

  A real nice report.. .. Seems that your setup really likes the heavier bullets and the new plug and powder are  working out just fine. Is blow back much of an issue? I suppose I'm going to get in line for the new breech plug, if they become available.....

[Busta]

  A real nice report.. .. Seems that your setup really likes the heavier bullets and the new plug and powder are  working out just fine. Is blow back much of an issue? I suppose I'm going to get in line for the new breech plug, if they become available.....

I did have some blowback (soot), nothing like using the primer carriers though, but more than the .25 ACP Plug. I used a dry Q-Tip to wipe the small amount I did have off the standing breech after around a dozen shots. I will see if Ben will cut a couple primer holders to my specs, headspaced at the front of the primer instead of at the rim. The problem with that is all primers are not the same length and diameter. The Winchesters seem to be the longest, around .300" long, while the CCI's I have are around .295" long IIRC. Five thousandths might not sound like much, but when you are dealing with blowback, every thousandth is an issue. For reference, most pop cans are .005" too .006" thick. The difference in the thickness of the rims is only .001" to .002", .024" to .026" thick on my Winchester and CCI primers.

The plug itself is a perfect fit in my rifle and should last forever, the replacable 209 primer holder could be tightend up just a touch and headspaced off the front of the primer IMO. Overall, I am very pleased with what I have. I can put up with a little soot, if it will shoot Blackhorn 209 and conicals the way it did yesterday. The small amount of blowback (soot) I did get would never be an issue in a hunting situation, just a minor annoyance during an extended range session that can be addressed with a Q-Tip in under 5 seconds.

As far as bullets, that Huntsman has always liked pretty much everything, just need to match the powder charge (velocity) for the accuracy. Those saboted bullets will probably like something around 100 grains of powder, but I was just experimenting with a new plug yesterday so used 80 grains for everything except the heavier conical, which I used 70 grains. Remember Blackhorn 209 has no published data or recommendations for any bullets over 350 grains, until then I will proceed with caution. Next range session might find me shooting all thos same exact bullets with 90 grains of powder, then 100 grains until I find what each one likes best.

I really thought this powder was limited to tight fitting saboted bullets, I am just tickled that it shot the conicals so well. The secret to getting the accuracy is to tightly pack the powder charge. It is not like running your saboted bullet down to pellets and stop once you make contact. I run the bullet down until it bottoms out on the charge, then rap on the range rod a few times (3-5). It will settle your charge just a bit more, and I just can't argue with the results.

[Buckhammer74]

Busta,

That is GREAT news!

I cant wait to get my barrel back with the 5/8 plug.

[Dooger]

I still need help with finding out which plug I need.  I have a newer model Sidekick...just bought it this year so i figure it was probably an 06 or 07 model.

Any help?

........actually, I just saw your reply on the other thread Busta.  I may need to take some pics tommorow and post them for you though.  I want to make sure I order the right one the first time.

[Busta]

Sorry guys, but I just got off the phone with Ben, he will not be making any more Huntsman/Sidekick plugs. They are just to cost prohibitve to make by hand, and the tollerances from one NEF breech to the next are just too great. The way he makes these plugs, they come all the way back to the breech end of the barrel and fit flush.

A lot of work goes into making up one of these plugs. I just couldn't understand how he could do it without having to charge an arm and a leg. I'm sorry I got everybody excited, I really thought we were on to something here.

Back to the drawing board!

We need to find someone with a CNC that could make one just like the T/C plug.

[Dooger]

FU.......DGE!

[TheSuper]

Hi,Busta ... nice to hear you got your BP from Ben ! Is it a one piece deal or two like those he made before ?

[Busta]

Hi,Busta ... nice to hear you got your BP from Ben ! Is it a one piece deal or two like those he made before ?

Two piece. See this, it will save me some typing.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,147018.0.html