Up grades to the Huntsman/Sidekick ignition system

[OldSchoolRanger]

I've been reading a lot of the old posts to learn as much as I can regarding NEF/HR BP guns, and I can assure you I haven't finished reading them yet.
During my reading I came across using the  plug, that allows use of the 209 primer without using the orange primer carrier, then I came across the Variflame system, which allows the use of small rifle/pistol primers, in a small brass primer adapter & finally the .25 acp breech plug that also allows use of small rifle/pistol primers, using a .25 acp shell, as a primer carrier.
Which do you feel gives better performance & the reason for your belief. (cleaner, tighter groups, etc.). Please state if you've had experience with both systems. Thanks all.

[carbineman]

I presently use the unnammed aftermarket breechplug to ignite Blackhorn 209. I used the precision rifle 25acp ignition system with Triple Seven and it worked well also. But you need a closed system with 209 primer to ignite Blackhorn 209. I really like this system.

[bubba]

As a person who has used all three, the unnamed aftermarket breech plug aka alternative ingition system is the way to go.

[Busta]

I have in the neighborhood of 20 (probably more if I counted them) different breech plugs for my Huntsman/Sidekick rifles. I have used everything from a #11, .25 ACP (with several different primer types), vari-flame, and a dozen + different 209 primers. Many of these plugs have slight differences, and you can not buy the best breech plug (IMO) for shooting BH209 in the Huntsman/Sidekick, because it is a custom plug and I have 6 of them. I have 2 for each rifle, and they are custom fitted right down to the primer type. Not all 209 primers are created equally, and can range from around 0.289" to 0.305" in length. The plugs fitted for the Winchester W209 (longest 209 primers) will shoot any 209 primer, and I also have a plug for each rifle that is fitted to shoot Federal 209A and CCI 209M primers that will not allow the longer Winchester W209 to close in the rifles, but will shoot any other primer as well. These headspaced plugs give me perfect ignition in any weather condition and absolutely NO blowback.

You can however buy the next best thing, which I also have tested extensively and is 100% with BH209 and other powders. I concur with the above posters on the best available breech plug for the Huntsman/Sidekicks. I will say that this plug will have the hottest ignition of any plug that I know of short of a sealed LRMP. It will light BH209 with any 209 primer (including the 209-4 and all the reduced charge muzzleloader primers) that I have tested, and that is something that no other breech plug I have tested to date can do 100% reliably. This plug is the best alternative of all that you mentioned IMO, and has adopted a couple of my suggestions in the final design. And NO, I am not affiliated in any way, financially or otherwise with this company. I tested these plugs extensively, gave my suggestions, spent my money/time/primers/powder/bullets, even took my rifles to their location for testing, all for the benefit of the members here and other Huntsman/Sidekick owners.

If you intend to shoot Blackhorn 209 100% reliably in your rifle, you only have one option. It just so happens that that option is also the best option for any of the other powders as well IMO. You won't want to see another orange primer carrier again, guaranteed.

Keep digging, the good stuff is 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years back, and beyond when we could actually mention the name of what we were talking about. But then again, this is not my sandbox, I just play in it occasionally, until I run into a burried cat turd. They can really take the fun out of it.

[hunterwinco]

Please read this it is in the stickies. Thanks Kurt "***attention all please read***"