Range day with the 25ACP in a Sidekick....

[cwlongshot]

First a bit of history...
I bought this gun, three or so years back. Took it to the range and found the site regulation way off. Replaced the front site with a metal one with a green insert and the rear with a take off T/C Contender rear site. Gun sat for a year. I finally go to the range this time last year to site it in. Did so with Shockwave bullets and 777powder. Shot OK as I don't remember anything spectacular. but remember, it was still open sites. I hunted with it that season, I took a doe.

 This year rolls around, I really wanna shoot the Handi more so start looking for a scope and change the stock to one with a Monte Carlo and a recoil pad. I swap scopes and end up with a Burris 1.5X5X22. Nice little scope, but a bit over weight. Not an issue for the handi. I mount the scope with a cut down weaver base, Leupold PRW rings that I like so much. Finishing with a bore site. Couple months back I pick up a 25ACP breech plug and get related supplies to use it. I make a couple posts and ask the questions. I wanna use the full bore lead 50cal slugs this time, so I get three boxes of the 350gr T/C Maxi Hunters.

 No we are up to today...

 I get to the range with the Knight, the H&R and a couple 50cal boxes filed with Powder, primers, cleaning patches and #13 solvent, in tow.
 Five shots from the Knight and I have a clover leaf, 3/4" high @ 50 yards. That's even with the scope off twice. Once for a PRE and again for a post cleaning. I charge with powder and bullet and put it in its case ready for Wednesdays opener. (This is legal here, as long as its not primed, its not considered loaded. I do this and store in the cold garage till the end of the season. Its a yearly ritual)

On to the H&R...
 Sorry.. I but I saved the best for last!!    I clean its barrel and replace the new breech plug. I primed about 25 cases at home last night. I throw two 50gr 777 pellets down the bore, followed by a 350 MH bullet. Aim @ 25 yard 18" square target and squeeze the trigger.... Smoke clears.... NO HOLE!! Now it just snowed last night and I am first one on the range today, so I can see the shot struck low and a tad to the left. SO NUCH for the bore site!!  LONG story short... 16 shots later NOTHING ON THE PAPER. I decide to bench bore site it. I clean the barrel and set up in sand bags. Looking thru the flash hole and centering the bore on the distant target. I adjust the scope reticule to be centered on the paper. Load and shoot one more shot. SMAK.. I hear it hit!!! Now I finally have ONE hole in the paper. I load and shoot two more Miss's!!!  FRUSTRATION has officially set in... I have now extinguished my supply of 777 pellets and have to switch to RS pellets and I only have 6 primed cases left and I have no idea where this gun is shooting.... On a whim, I load with the sabots the Knight shoots so well. Traditions 300gr T-Shok muzzle loader bullets. Bang, SMAK. The smoke clears and there is a hole in the center of the target, 1" low and 1" to the right. I load another and repeat, Boom, SMAK. this hole cuts first and leaves a single fig8 hole. WOOHO!!! I guess it just doesn't like the T/C MH bullets....  I clean the barrel, load up again, move the scope over and up and fire again, 3/4 - 1" high centered. Load and repeat, another figure 8 centered above the bull......  I AM HAPPY!!!

I REALLY like the 25ACP breech plug. EXTREEMLY clean in the breech!!!! Only difference I see, the patched I like to use for cleaning do not touch the fouling left from the SR Primer. Good news is #13 solvent, eats it fast!! One patch down and turn over and down again. Followed by a dry patch and load again. No problem at the range, but could prove a problem in the field. I need to clean every other shot or I cannot fully seat the third shot. Not a huge deal, but could prove a problem in the off chance I NEED that third shot... (Not likely)

 Just wanted to pass on that MY Sidekick will not shoot T/C 350gr Maxi Hunters. But LOVES the Traditions T-Shok sabot bullets. I also like these bullets, they are expressly designed with the saboted muzzle loader shooter in mind. Generous pure lead tip, expand nicely and retain nearly all weight. I have only shot a couple with it, but a good friend swears by them. He's shot dozens of whitetails with them.

CW
 

[Slufoot]

Thanks for the report Longshot, Sounds like the H&R is ready!
What SR primer are you using to set off the pellets?

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[cwlongshot]

Rem 7 1/2 BR's.. It used to be all I used for SR primers.

 The fouling was hard and didn't come off easily with the T/C "Bore Butter" pre-soalked patches I like to use. but a very small amount of #13 on a clean dry patch made VERY short work of it. Funny because i don't generally like to use #13 @ the range because the stuff flows into the priming area and requires numerous primer pops to dry It out. But now, I only need a very small amount to break up the residue and remove it. Its hard and flaky..... Maybe the CCI's would change that?

 I spent SO much time once I got the bullets where I wanted them and they where touching, I left. But very happy with what seems like exceptional accuracy!!!

CW
 

[Busta]

CW,

Pellets and full bore conicals were not made for each other. I think Hodgdon puts a warning on their boxes, at least they used to. The maxi's are not the best shooting bullets out there. If you want to shoot an outstanding conical out of your Sidekick, get some 460 grain No Excuses, 460 grain Bullshop, or if you can find them a 440 grain White Power Punch. You will want 70-80 grains 777 loose powder in either FFG or FFFG (my preference), and some Vegetable Fiber Wads for better performance.

I guarantee it will shoot those very accurately, but you need the components I listed.

[PHATINJUN]

CW I agree with Busta .I was using pellets with mine when I first got the full bore bullets and it did just about what you described. I now shoot the No ex bullets and use FFG Shockeys Gold 80gr and it puts all bullets into same hole at 50 yrds plus I can shoot 4-5 before swabing. I don't use the fiber wad but I see no differance at 50yrds. Where I ML hunt I'll not have a shot farther than 50. But the wad will make the groups stay tite if your working to 100yrds. Kurt

[Busta]

One more important thing I forgot, the .25 ACP system was not designed for shooting pellets, especially 777 pellets. There are some 209 primers that won't reliably light off 777 pellets. 777 Pellets do not have the black powder bonded to one end like Pyrodex Pellets do to aid ignition. 777 loose powder is very easy to ignite, even with #11 caps, not so wth 777 Pellets.

[Slufoot]

One more important thing I forgot, the .25 ACP system was not designed for shooting pellets, especially 777 pellets. There are some 209 primers that won't reliably light off 777 pellets. 777 Pellets do not have the black powder bonded to one end like Pyrodex Pellets do to aid ignition. 777 loose powder is very easy to ignite, even with #11 caps, not so wth 777 Pellets.

Thanks Busta, I was thinking the 777 pellets were harder to ignite. Thats why I was asking CW which primers he was using.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[carbineman]

Rem 7 1/2 BR's.. It used to be all I used for SR primers.

 The fouling was hard and didn't come off easily with the T/C "Bore Butter" pre-soalked patches I like to use. but a very small amount of #13 on a clean dry patch made VERY short work of it. Funny because i don't generally like to use #13 @ the range because the stuff flows into the priming area and requires numerous primer pops to dry It out. But now, I only need a very small amount to break up the residue and remove it. Its hard and flaky..... Maybe the CCI's would change that?

 I spent SO much time once I got the bullets where I wanted them and they where touching, I left. But very happy with what seems like exceptional accuracy!!!

CW
 

My Sidekick will not always reliably light off 90 grains of Triple Seven with CCI 450 primers in the 25ACP brass, but has never failed with the 7 1/2's from Remington. These are the only two primers I have tried and the only two I have kept. The CCI's are now gone and I just use the Rem 7 1/2s

[cwlongshot]

Thanks Carbineman, Thats good to hear.

 I like them for my accuracy 223 loads, so I have allot on hand.

CW