Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Well after many years of wanting a ML I decided on the stainless NEF Sidekick after reading about it here and the reviews at the big box stores websites.

I made a trip to Gander Mountain and picked up what I thought I needed. I’m now reading I might have made a few bad choices. Returning the items is not out of the question, but not very feasible either (45 minute drive one way).
So here is what I got for starters.
295 gr powerbelt HP’s.
777 pellets
Rem clean bore primers
Bore butter
Cleaning stuff

My ?? are:

1. Do I need to use bore butter with the power belts?
2. Where do I get a decent ramrod, will this one do for the short term?
3. How many shots can I expect from a primer carrier?
4. Should I return the Rem 209’s for the 777’s?

Thanks for your time, DaveC

BTW, I purchased my father a Traditions .50 4 fathers days ago and have hunted with it so I'm not all the way in the dark.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

1. Do not use bore butter with powerbelts

2. My Walmart has some aluminum rods on clearance for $3.50. Will make an OK range rod, but you won't be able to pull with it without pinning the ends.

3. anywhere from 10 to40 depending on the charge and bullet you use

4. The kleanbores i think would be just fine. I've been using Pyro RS, Pyro P, and 3f Goex BP with my sidekick and I can't tell any difference between primers.

I would do this though, get a box of buffalo ballets and shoot them off for grins and giggles first. 60 grains powder is plenty for this step(i wouldn't waste the 777 pellets popping ballets) This will do alot to smooth your new bore. I found powerbelts difficult to load before I shot the ballets. I broke my ramrod loading one on a perfectly clean barrel. So be sure to get a range rod.

Oh I almost forgot. Congratulations on your new muzzleloader. I've had my SS Sidekick for a little less than a year. Its a real shooter and its been great fun both hunting and at the range. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

1. Do I need to use bore butter with the power belts?

While the powerbelts do not require any lube, it does not hurt to pull the plastic base of the bottom of the powerbelt. You will see a small spike on the bottom of the conical. Take a small dab of the bore butter and put that on the spike. Then put the plastic button back on. The bore butter will help the conical leave the plastic faster and might increase the accuracy.



2. Where do I get a decent ramrod, will this one do for the short term?

Cains makes a Super Rod that I would highly recommend. They are strong, and will not break. Also they are reasonable in price. http://www.cainsoutdoor.com/cart/asp/catalog_index.asp

3. How many shots can I expect from a primer carrier?

No idea, but I would suspect quite a few by the price of them things...


4. Should I return the Rem 209’s for the 777’s?

I like the Remington Kleenbore Primers. I think they are a real good primer.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Thanks you for the help so far.

I like the looks of the super rod.

I realizebuffalo ballets are bullets, but are they a name brand or just round balls?
I did a search on google, bass-pro & cableasbut didn't come up with much.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Buffalo is the brand and it is a small 245 grain conical with a ball-like ogive. PA conicals are an alternative made by Hornady. Both are inexpensive and both would work for the purpose. I have to order mine by mail. I have found the best place to order most bullets is archeryexperts.com (tom richmond or something like that). They have good prices but more important, they don't slap you with high shipping and handling. So even while the price per boxmay be higher than cheaperthandirt.com or some other discounters, the final priceon many orders ischeaper. You'll have to test to know for sure though. Good luck with your sidekick!

http://archery-experts.stores.yahoo.net/bubububa.html

http://cheaperthandirt.com/24555-17335-481.html

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Thanks again for the help, those ballets sure look intersting- looks good enough to hunt whitetails with too.

I'll be getting some soon, thx!

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

for inline rifles I like the 270 grain ball-et a lot better. Out of my Knight, they are deadly...

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Back to the ramrod-
Since the NEF comes with a telescoping ram rod that has to be extended before it reaches a usable length, am I going to be able to replace the ramrod with something better and not have it stick out past my barrel?

Sounds funny I know, butI have to ask.

What I'm thinking off hand is I am to use the new Mo-betta range rod while target practicing and leave the stock one on the gun for hunting purposes only.

Thoughts?

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

I agree. I like the 270 alot better. Some places have them some don't and Hornady doesn't make a 270 alternative so I didn't mention them. But for the price, the 270 ballet is my favoriteconicaland a good hunting projectile. I didn't thinkit wouldmatter for DaveC unless he hunted with them. But no doubt, the 270 is superior (thoughprobably not much if anybetter for smoothing the bore)and they shoot well in my 1:48 twist Hawkenalso.

Where they both are supplied by the same retailer, there is usuallyno difference in price, so I recommend getting the 270's if you can get them as cheap as the 245's. If not, 245's will workfor barrel smoothing. If you think you might hunt with them, GET THE 270's,just like cayugad suggested, even if they cost a little more. 80grains Pyro Ppropels them to about 1650 fps. Below are the ballistics for that load.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Now you've just asked a question that I would also like to know the answer too.

When I hunted. I carried by range rod with me. The rod is probably my biggest objection to the sidekick, but , , , they're shooters.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

OK guys here is the fix for the wimpy factory rod. Go to Hubbard Outdoors and buy his replacement rod. It is just like the stock rod with the following exceptions. It is made out of solidNaval brass and has the correct threads not the ones that come with the stock rod that fit nothing. It collapses just like the original but when extended is two inches longer than the stock rod. It has a knurled aluminum end to hold on to when final seating the bullet (it is good to start the bullet without extending the rod when it is really strong and then extend it to finish seating it). It has a jag on the end that is relieved to allow seating of the new pointed bullets. The quality has to be seen to be apreciated. It costs $35 and is worth every penny (especially if you do not want to carry a range rod when you are hunting or trust that the factory rod will not break). I have one and love it (plus it is pretty). www.hubbardsoutdoorsproducts.com or phone (205) 665-0444.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Thanks, I'll be gettin one of those :).

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

By the way; if you are going to scope the rifle buy the scope base from H&R not from other sources. Some of the ones that claim to fit do but the cuts in the base are not far enough to the rear to allow correct scope mounting. I know as I am just removing the first one and installing the one I ordered from H&R. Maybe save you the cost of buying two like I did.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Thanks Keith,

Right now I do not plan on scoping it but I intend to get the scope base at the manufactures website. I want to install a ghost ring on it (modified T/C click rear sight) to use in conjuction with a globe front sight with crosshair reticle. The sidekick, for now, is my Colorado ML season rifle for shooting full bore conicals with open sights. I am hoping to click in more range withthe T/C click rear sight, as if I don't have enough projects going.

Phil

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Man I'm so gladI started this thread. I have a cabelas Base on backorder that I can now cancel and order the correct base from H&R which includes the hammer spur.
Thanks for the save, I've fought improper bases before (factory savage bases no doubt) and it's something I'd just assume skip.

I'm going bu Gander mountain again on Friday and will be looking for the buffolo ballets in 270. Who knows, I just may end up hunting with them- it would benice to at least have the option.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

remember... push a ball-et like you would a roundball. 80 grains is plenty of juice and the down range energy is actually impressive.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

It sure is. The .50 ballets do something which I think is worth remarking on. The245 ballet pushed by 80 grains, in terms of energy, is remarkably similar to a .54 cal RB pushed by 100 grains between the ranges of 30 and 70 yards. The 270 ballet pushed by 80 grains, in terms of energy, is remarkably similar to a .58 RB pushed by 100 grains between 30 and 70 yards. Less than 30 yards, the RB's are hands down superior in energy but loseground until they are pretty close to the same.

I've come to think that the 270 ballet is sufficient for elk just cause I think the .58 RB is also sufficient. In fact,it was what I would have loaded for a second shot had I shot an elk thisyear.They load very easily over BP fouling. Next year I'll probably be shooting Bull shops though.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Well I swapped out the order for the bases.

I called Gander mountain and the clerk (after placing me on hold for ~5 minutes) said they didn't carry the Ballets. So I'm hoping they at least carry the hornady version. I wasn't going to ask another question since the response took so long.

I might have to order them, I'll know come Friday.
There are two bass-pro shops along the way to my lease if I could convince my hunting partner to make a stop. BUT time is always a concern when your driving 7 hours away to hunt.

BB's & loose powder for an 80 grain charge- got it.
Is that 80 grains of 777 or 80 grains of anything?

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

The ballistics I provided were for 80 grains pyro P. 80 grains 777 2F should give just a little extra velocity. You don't need any more than that. 3f GOEX BP will bein the neighborhood50 fps less than the Pyro P (from finding in my notes, a 50 fps difference for80 grains when using CVA 300 BS) 50 fps won't dramatically affect the flight of the bullet. So 80 grains of any of the above powder should work. I like BP the best in my Sidekick (but I haven't tried 777).BTW thesidekick HATES APP powder, so would notrecommend you attempt to use it this season unless you have plenty of time torange test itto a precision andaccuracy you can live with.

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

Pglasgow & others,
I really appreciate the help so far.
Before I head off to Gander mountain I was wondering if they only have the 385gr hornady what amount of powder should I load with it?

And if they had neither but had a box of the T/C maxi-ball or maxi hunter, would they do the same thing as far as smoothing the rough edges from the bore? ( they look somewhat similar)

RE: Newbie with a Sidekick and a few ??
 

385 hornady GP's shoot GREAT in my sidkick. I have found them to produce the most precise groups so far. As little as 70 grains 3f Goex will propel them to 1320 fps and deliver close to 1000 ft.lbs at 100 yard. They expand to almost 1" in diameter. Very good bullet which shoots well in my sidekick. If you use Pyrodex, use RS with the 385 and increase the charge to 75 grains to get the same velocity.