What you're looking for is a conical shooter. The trouble some are finding is, the 1:28 twist favors sabots over conicals many times, in many models. Not that the 1:28 twist will not shoot conicals as they will. I have a Black Diamond XR that is a real conical thrower. I think a lot of the Apex shooters are having good results with conicals. I am sure a Sidekick owner will answer you though.
Just a thought. While the New Englander Sidekick might shoot conicals real well, have you considered something like a Lyman Great Plains Hunter, say .54caliber in 1:32 twist? Granted it is a traditional rifle, but they are great conical shooters. Also the bigger caliber means bigger lead. And once you learn the tricks of a traditional rifle, they are as water proof as the inline. Also I can clean a traditional rifle a lot faster then an inline rifle.
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My Huntsman consistently puts 400 grain PRBullet QT1 sp hps into about 1.5 to 1.75" at 100 yards. Been using 75 grains of T7 ffg under that bullet. When I run out of those, I'll try some of the Bull Shop's stuff in the gun - the PR stuff is awfully expensive nowadays.
Your Sidekick might like something a bit different but it should shoot conicals quite well.
A buddy of mine, last season, shot a 385 gr. Great Plains conical out of his handi rifle mz. He was getting around 2" groups at 100 yards using 80 gr. of fffg triple seven. It made a real nice hole in a buck he shot.
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Since I'm totally new to the whole ML scene I feel more comfortable going with an inline at this point. I like the NEF since it's a break-action and gets good reviews for the most part. I actually do like the Traditions Pursuit XLT because it has a nice soft-touch thumbhole stock option that the NEF does not, but everyone rags on the spanish stuff and it's impossible to find posts on its accuracy w/ conicals. Especially heavy conicals that I'd be using for elk.
Underclocked, do you have a link to Bull Shop? I have seen the PR, No Excuses and Parker Productions websites / bullets and was probably going to try a batch from them once I buy the rifle.
As a follow-up question on the NEF... that primer holder thing they require... that turns me off a bit to the NEF, but I can put up with it if the rifle is accurate. How many shots do you guys get out of a holder? And can you clean them and reuse beyond that?
Dan is a stand up guy. I have always received my orders in a very timely manner. I think he wrote the "special note" on the front page of his siteto try to minimize emails as to status of orders. He can't be making bullets if he is constantly answering status emails.
Sorry if this is too late to help you... when this thread started, I hadn't shot my new Sidekick enough to comment.
385 grain Great Plains conicals over 75 grains Pyrodex RS is the 2nd best combination I've come up with for my Sidekick so far, accuracy-wise (right behind 100 grains RS under, of all things, T/C Cheap Shots). I have not tried higher powder charges under the GP yet (ran out of powder last time), but I have a fresh pound of Pyrodex & another pack of GP, and plan to try them at the range in the next couple days. May also try some cornmeal between the powder & bullet as I've read about on this site. Seems to improve conical groups for some folks.
Overall, I really like the rifle so far. Very solid construction, other than the ramrod. Not sure it's that bad, since I have used it exclusively with no problems so far, but it doesn't feel all that sturdy. Bought a range rod that I'll use for targets from now on, saving the ramrod for reloading during a hunt only. It's also a happy occurence that the GP & Cheap Shots have proven to shoot well from it, as they're the two cheapest options in stores around here (other than round balls, which I haven't tried yet).
Almost forgot, as to the primer carriers... Wasn't too keen on them myself at first, but now I don't mind them. They're easy to handle, which should be a plus in the field when wearing gloves. And though it should not be at all necessary for an experienced shooter (and every gun should be treated as primed & charged), the little tab sticking out serves as a nice reminder that the rifle is primed. They can be cleaned & reused. Have found it best to leave them in a small cup of alcohol while I clean the gun, then wipe them off. They get "stained" by the primer residue, so don't expect them to look as new. Shot the same one over & over just to see how long it'd last. After 40+ shots, I could not get the spent primer out. Ruined it in the process of trying to remove with pliers. Not sure if the carrier failed or the primer had a little extra juice, since it showed no sign of increased resistance up until that shot. That previous primer pulled just fine, and that last one went in fine- just wouldn't come back out!
NEF Sidekick and conicals?
