Hello. I'm new to this website and all the postings. I've searched for the following and have not been able to find the subject so here it goes.....

I'm new in the muzzleloading world. I've purchased the NEF Sidekick. It's the synthetic stock with the stainless barrel. I'm am curious to know if it's proper and especially safe to unscrew the breech on a loaded muzzleloader. I have not heard of this and I've asked some coworkers and they say they have never heard of it. It seems to me that it should be safe but I'm asking for some input. I know it is NOT in the manual of the weapon so I assume it's not recommended. I love shooting this gun but there are times that I'd rather not.

Also, I'd like some input on sighting in. I've got it sighted in right on @ 100 yards but on a "dirty" barrel. I'm getting ready to sight the gun in on a "clean" barrel and completely reclean this gun between each shot. Good idea or not? I'm getting several different "theories" but have not really decided what's best. I shot a buck a few days back and lost the buck when the blood trail ended. I still feel good on my shot placement and am blaming the result on my decision to sight in on a "dirty" barrel and making my shot at the buck on a completely clean barrel.

Hope all this makes sense and I'd appreicate some input.

Happy Holidays

Michigan Outdoorsman

you can take the breech plug out with a powder charge and bullet in the gun,just make sure you an't smoke'n cigs when you pour the powder out.When i set my scope it is with a clean barrel,then after i get it set with the clean barrel (this wll take many shots from a clean barrel to get it perfect) i shoot it three or four times without doing any cleaning to see how the second ,third and fourth bullet fly.Then you clean it throughly and do it again till you know your gun .Untill you do this you are only guessing your shots with a dirty barrel.

I assume this gun uses 209 priming? If it does, just remove the primer and you can safely remove the breech plug. I've done it many times to unload rather than shoot out a load.

Some people have stated their guns shoot differently with the first shot of a clean barrel. I spit patch between every shot. They recomend a fouling shot (powder only, no bullet) prior to hunting. Whatever routine you decide to adopt, just stick with it.

When you take the breech plug out, there is no problem. When you put it back in, make sure not to tighten it down real solid. Just snug it back in.

As for sighting in, shoot it on a clean barrel and make note of where you hit. Then I use a swab solution made up of 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and car windshield washer fluid. Get a patch wet and swab the fowling out of the bore. Then run two or three dry patches and load and shoot again.

Some rifles, there is a big difference in where they hit dirty/clean. Some are so close it really does not matter. All you can do is try the rifle out and see what it does.

Better luck next time shooting at a deer.

Thanks for all the input. This website is just awesome. I surely regret not doing more research prior to making my shot at the buck. I thought I had it figured out but.......

Thanks again.