New breechplug for sidekick ?

[kerndog]

I just recently bought a new breechplug from Metrics Unlimited, and is this plug ever sweet !!! No blowback at all ! My question is, How many shots is the o-ring they provide, good for ? I fired about 10 shots through it and the o-ring still looked good, so i put it back in the rifle, should i do this, or replace it ?...thanks

 

[Reese]

I have about 50 shots taken on the one I am using now, maybe more. I plan to keep using the same o-ring until it stops doing its job. I bought a pack of replacement o-rings from Lowes.

 

[sbuff]

I have 30 or so on mine,I was going to change it out when I hit 50 shots.I think its o-ring from Lowes number 60.I can confirm that when I get home,I bought two packages of them..The MU plug from Nick is a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet product.

I had a issue with Winchester 209 primers sticking,but after talking to Busta I am going to try the CCI primers.

Steve

 

[Busta]

I just recently bought a new breechplug from Metrics Unlimited, and is this plug ever sweet !!! No blowback at all ! My question is, How many shots is the o-ring they provide, good for ? I fired about 10 shots through it and the o-ring still looked good, so i put it back in the rifle, should i do this, or replace it ?...thanks

Did someone say "o-rings"?

Like Steve mentioned, the #60 o-ring at Lowes or Home Depot are all you would really need. They come in a 10 pack for $1.97.

However, if you really are an o-ring connisuer, there are several options.

All of the o-rings on the perimeter are suitable for use in the Metrics Unlimited breech plugs. They are made from several different materials, such as Buna, Silicone, and Viton to name a few. The one in the center is for my Knights. The round cross-sectioned ones seem to be better suited for the MU breech plugs. And to be honest, in this application, the cheap ones will serve you well.

You can use any o-ring that has the dimensions of 1/4" O.D. x 1/8" I.D. x 1/16" thick. You can get 100 pieces of the basic black Buna-N from McMaster-Carr for $1.94. You could easily get 50+ shots on most of them, but for 2 cents a piece, I discard them after a range session (usually 40-50 shots.

This is the cheapest o-ring you are likely to find.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9452k14/=5n7fk4

You can check out several more here at this link. There are near metric equivalents that will work as well.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=5n7dvr

Here is a pic of the cheep o-ring and fired primers after a 38 shot range session with Blackhorn 209 powder. They do wash-out in the center as expected, but lose very little in thickness. IIRC, this one only lost .002" or .003" in thickness. As cheap as they are, they get tossed after a range session. For Hunting I always have a fresh one in the plug, and a couple in the possibles bag just in case.

The best thing about this o-ring is that it makes your ignition system waterproof with a primer installed. The fact that it harnesses the blowback is just icing on the cake.

I did some early testing for Nick, before these plugs were released. The 5/8" were made to shoot 777 and other powders initially. I introduced the o-ring, as I have used this idea in other custom plugs. I shoot Blackhorn 209 in my 209 inlines. There was just enough room in the primer pocket to utilize the o-ring, so I brought the idea to him, the rest is history. The 7/8" breech plugs were a later project, and utilize the o-ring as well.

Here is a prototype 5/8" breech plug with my o-ring modification.

Here is a production 5/8" breech plug.

Breech area after a range session.

It sure beats that plastic primer carrier all to heck, IMO.

 

[sabotloader]

Busta

Thanks a ton for the 'o' ring information....

 

[Busta]

Your welcome.

I posted some other information in my original post.

There are a couple other tricks I use to make this ignition system fool-proof. One is a the teflon tape, and the other is the addition of an o-ring on the inside of the flange. Not needed, but makes this system completely water proof! :wink: I have pictured these seperate, but the o-ring would go over the teflon tape in the same position as on the bare plug. You may need white tape instead of the pink, the pink is very tight, but I have been doing this for several years.

 

[NWA]

Great posts guys. Busta, great photos, as usual. How did you do this past season? Did you get one with one of your front stuffers?

Thanks for all the nice words here guys. I appreciate it.
Nick

 

[john keyes]

Great posts guys. Busta, great photos, as usual. How did you do this past season? Did you get one with one of your front stuffers?

Thanks for all the nice words here guys. I appreciate it.
Nick

Nick,

great to hear from ya buddy, all the best.

8)

 

[sbuff]

Great to hear from you Nick,your MU plug is the best thing to happen to the NEF ML.

Busta,how did /do you like using the teflon tape as to just using the O ring.??

Thanks,
Steve

 

[edmehlig]

Can you post the link where you got that breech plug?

 

[Busta]

Great to hear from you Nick,your MU plug is the best thing to happen to the NEF ML.

Busta,how did /do you like using the teflon tape as to just using the O ring.??

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

You can use one or the other, or both, or none. That is the beauty of Blackhorn 209, it will never stick your plug.

I use the teflon tape, mostly out of habit, and it helps keep crud out of your threads. The added o-ring also helps to keep gases from trying to seep back into your threads by sealing any escape routes.

I like to use both, just because. :wink:

And you're right, the MU Breech Plugs are the best thing that ever happened to the H&R/NEF Huntsmans and Sidekicks.

 

[Busta]

Great posts guys. Busta, great photos, as usual. How did you do this past season? Did you get one with one of your front stuffers?

Thanks for all the nice words here guys. I appreciate it.
Nick

Nick,

Thanks Nick. Been a long time since I have seen you around. I hope everyone is doing well?

I took a small 8 point out of the gene pool with the Huntsman. This was the first year in 37 seasons that I didn't bow hunt. Caught that damned flu in late September and never really got over it for 5 weeks. I had practiced up to the time I got sick, but not while I was sick. Then I just didn't feel entitled those few days before the gun opener. My brother ended up shooting the big one with his bow. So this was my buck from the evening of November 15th. I let several others walk, and never took a doe this year. Seen too many fawns running around with no does, figured I would give thm a break this time.

Not a good pic, but it was dark by the time I got a camera.

 

[Busta]

Can you post the link where you got that breech plug?

Ed,

Nick only makes these for the H&R/NEF Huntsman and Sidekick. He does offer both the 5/8" and 7/8" plugs for these rifles. He is NWA here at MM, and posted earlier. He is also one heck of a knife maker as well.

Nick can be reached at Metrics Unlimited. Call 1-800-638-7986, ask for Nick, or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]

 

[edmehlig]

Thanks Busta, can someone post a picture of what the new breechplug looks like?

Ed

 

[Urban_Redneck]

Great posts guys. Busta, great photos, as usual. How did you do this past season? Did you get one with one of your front stuffers?

Thanks for all the nice words here guys. I appreciate it.
Nick

Caught that damned flu in late September and never really got over it for 5 weeks.

Have you ever been tested for Lyme Disease? 5 weeks of flu/fatigue symptoms could have been more than the flu. Lyme disease is serious stuff left untreated.

 

[Busta]

Great posts guys. Busta, great photos, as usual. How did you do this past season? Did you get one with one of your front stuffers?

Thanks for all the nice words here guys. I appreciate it.
Nick

Caught that damned flu in late September and never really got over it for 5 weeks.

Have you ever been tested for Lyme Disease? 5 weeks of flu/fatigue symptoms could have been more than the flu. Lyme disease is serious stuff left untreated.

UR,

Yep, been tested for Lyme several times. Especially when I get back from hunting in MO. Them ticks is a little on the thick side down there.

They ran several tests on me about a month after I got over that crud. They (Doctors) tell me I'm normal, but others have told me different. :lol:

Several guys I work with had it that long too. Nasty stuff! Doctor said it started out viral, broke down my immunity, then caught some bacterial crud. All I know is, I sure don't want to go through that series again!

 

[Busta]

Thanks Busta, can someone post a picture of what the new breechplug looks like?

Ed

Ed,

The 5/8" plug is in my earlier posts up above, here is the 7/8" MU Plug.

Another one of the 5/8" MU Plug.

 

[edmehlig]

Busta, thanks for the pictures, they look great!! What to they go for?

 

[Busta]

Busta, thanks for the pictures, they look great!! What to they go for?

They were $28.50 shipped to your door. Give Nick a call on the toll free and he can tell you for sure.

Do you have a NEF? I thought you got a Encore/Pro-Hunter/Endeavor?

 

[edmehlig]

Busta, right now I shoot White Ml's. My son shoots the Endeavor. I was looking for my sons friend who has a sidekick and was talking about getting another breechplug for it. So I want to pass this info along to him.

He loves the sidekick, it is accurate as can be, has killed quite a few deer with it, but hates taking it apart. In fact he bought it from Chuck Hill.