Johnson Ultimate Muzzleloader ?

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HawgHunter

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About 1 in 4 primer holders are starting to soot up. These primer holders are made by Winchester.

The rifle is about 10 years old, I’m not the original owner. Is it time to have Ken install a new breech plug, if so how much is the going price?

Another option is sending it to Arrowhead Rifles.

Any other advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance.
 
About 1 in 4 primer holders are starting to soot up. These primer holders are made by Winchester.

The rifle is about 10 years old, I’m not the original owner. Is it time to have Ken install a new breech plug, if so how much is the going price?

Another option is sending it to Arrowhead Rifles.

Any other advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance.

WITHOUT QUESTION, NO IF'S OR AND'S ABOUT IT...………….. contact Luke.

Luke has completely fixed all issues with the breech plug on both the UF and RUM. With Luke's plug, you'll be able to shoot BH209 and NEVER have to worry about gas cutting a nipple again.

I like Ken and know him very well, but, Luke's breech plug is far better than the OEM. Ken and Remington would be doing themselves a HUGE favor, if they contracted with Luke and used his Gen2 breech plug.

Believe me...…. its a no brainer!
 
Encore 50

Didn’t you have a breech plug replaced by Ken? If so how much did it cost?

Did you get the Arrowhead conversion done?

Luke’s site is down for whatever reason. I can’t look it up. What did it cost, round trip?

I probably won’t put 200 rounds down range with this rifle the remainder of my life.

Thanks in advance.
 
Encore 50

Didn’t you have a breech plug replaced by Ken? If so how much did it cost?

Did you get the Arrowhead conversion done?

Luke’s site is down for whatever reason. I can’t look it up. What did it cost, round trip?

I probably won’t put 200 rounds down range with this rifle the remainder of my life.

Thanks in advance.

It will cost you much more to have Ken replace the breech plug by far, and you'll need to send the entire rifle. Last I knew, Ken has someone else doing most of the work now after a few health issues. He's also up there in age and the last we talked, he was telling me he may not build many more rifles. If he doesn't have a replacement setting on the bench, it could be weeks or more before the rifle was returned to you. I hate to say this because I like Ken, but, you'll have a replacement breech plug that still isn't right if you go OEM.

I've been through the entire gauntlet. Not a single UF owner has went to the extent of what I went through. I can tell you this, you'll be much happier and with LESS cost, most likely much less if you go with Luke. Last I knew, Ken was charging $150 just for the breech plug.
Luke will send you a go no-go breech plug and you won't have to send the rifle or barrel. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you talk with Luke.

I got right on to his web site...… https://www.arrowheadrifles.com/contact-us/
 
I just received an email from Luke. His site was down for repairs.

$350 for the Ultimate conversion. Sounds like a fair price for what you receive.
 
I just received an email from Luke. His site was down for repairs.

$350 for the Ultimate conversion. Sounds like a fair price for what you receive.

Absolute best thing that has came along for either of the Ultimate rifles. I shot thousands of rounds through my rifle and heavily reworked 2,000 pieces of Starline brass, I still replaced 3 OEM breech plugs. I put more work into making things right with the OEM system than any sane person would even consider.
I sent 5# of BH through Luke's Gen2 plug without issue, using HEAVY charges. No blow back, no problems with modules, nothing. I only wish that system was in the rifle when I first bought it.
 
Yeah, website was down for a few hours due to some maintenance. If you can get your UF plug out, you probably don't need to send your gun in. But very few come out without being put in lathe and drilled out. Also, I've been running into some with a goofy intermediate semi-threaded portion in the front 1/2" or so. Doesn't do anything for sealing and really binds when putting new plug in, so I've just been reaming that out when I do the install.

https://www.arrowheadrifles.com/product/uml_replacement_plug/
 
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Yeah, website was down for a few hours due to some maintenance. If you can get your UF plug out, you probably don't need to send your gun in. But very few come out without being put in lathe and drilled out. Also, I've been running into some with a goofy intermediate semi-threaded portion in the front 1/2" or so. Doesn't do anything for sealing and really binds when putting new plug in, so I've just been reaming that out when I do the install.

https://www.arrowheadrifles.com/product/uml_replacement_plug/

What are the shipping requirements? FFL?

What is the approximate turn around time.

Thanks Luke.
 
You can ship it to me by yourself since I'm an FFL. And then I can ship directly back to you since it's your gun just being returned from repairs. Just strip it down completely (no trigger, base etc) and send barreled action with bolt. Less stuff to break in transit that way.

1-2 weeks from receipt.
 
Take it from another disapointed UF owner. The standard bp is nothing but a propriatary system to try to force you to buy your supplies from UF. I had issues right from the start. Improperly head spaced bp causing primers to back out of the primer pocket. Inconsistant brass(although knowhere near as bad as RUM brass) that had to be measured, trimed, sorted, to keep from getting blow back. When I brought it to the attetion of UF/ Ken, he accused me of using BH209, and gave me a hard time about fixing my rifle. After all the fine tuning I still was shooting pellets, which while being accurate, were expensive.
Along comes Luke, Levi, and Jeff and I can't forget Dennis at Fury Custom Bullets. Luke developed a great bp/ignition, Levi makes a brake that works really well, Jeff puts it all together, and Dennis makes some nice .50 cal bullets thst are sizable. Now I have a rifle that shoots whatever I want to put down the barrel for a lot less per shot.
I will never admit how much money I have in this rifle, but if I knew then what I know now......
UF and RUM guys get rid of the stock bp's and brass primers. You'll be much happier.
 
Thanks for the info guys. That’s why I come to this site. It’s much easier to learn from this mistakes of others than to the time to make them myself.

I’ll have to send some more rounds down range to burn up the pellets and primer holders then get the barreled action off to Luke.
 
A few more questions.

What size shell holder is required for Luke’s primer holder?

What anti seize lube is recommended for Luke’s breech plug?

What size socket to remove plus recommended torque.

Anything else I should gather up in the mean time?

I live in a small community so shopping online is about my only option.
 
There are no more shell holders. There are modules that you use a LRMP.

I used Permatex Nickle, but it was a mess to clean. Discuss it with Luke.

You'll need to purchase LRMP's. Get MAGNUM primers. I prefer Federal 215M Match primers.
 
To reprime the modules you need a .473 shell holder. 243, 308 ect ect plate for your priming tool.
 
Thanks for the info.

I reload .243 and .308 so the shell holder is not an issue.

I know I have at least 500 Federal 215 match primers too.

I’ll check to barn to see if the jug of anti seize is Permatex nickel. It gets everywhere when I use it.
 
HawgHunter………. if you ever get near a Harbor Freight they sell a really nice brush outfit and handle with extension. Use the NYLON brushes to clean out the threads in the action.
Very inexpensive, yet works like a charm.


IMG_1395.JPG
 
Blackhorn is the only powder burned in my rifles. After shooting, breech plugs are easy to remove, when the plug is only dampened with a thin coat of oil. Why do rifles in this thread require anti-seize?

It should be known; my preferred way to install breech plug, is to first wrap it with a layer of white plumber' tape. The tape is not required for removal, but it does easily make for a perfect seal, and does make for a better 'feel', when turning the plug into the rifle.
 
Blackhorn is the only powder burned in my rifles. After shooting, breech plugs are easy to remove, when the plug is only dampened with a thin coat of oil. Why do rifles in this thread require anti-seize?

It should be known; my preferred way to install breech plug, is to first wrap it with a layer of white plumber' tape. The tape is not required for removal, but it does easily make for a perfect seal, and does make for a better 'feel', when turning the plug into the rifle.

Honestly Ron, the Teflon tape likely could be least tried, but only with Luke's Gen2 breech plug. With the OEM plug, it doesn't matter what you use, its going to wedge itself in the threads and be nearly impossible to remove without drilling.
After so many years and a couple thousand rounds and not being able to remove a breech plug, makes a guy "gun shy" about not doing everything to make sure the new plug is removable.
I never tried Teflon tape after Luke replaced mine. I shot 5# of BH through it before it was sent off to Jeff. Modules were perfect and the plug came out with the exact force I torqued it to using Permatex Nickle, which was 80ip.
 
Photo shows Luke' plug appears to be a 'rear' sealing plug. The front sealing plugs used by my rifles don't actually 'seal' without help. However, they actually work without tape or grease, when burning Blackhorn. Also, they are easy to remove.

Would it be reasonable to burn Blackhorn with Luke' plug, using a thin film of oil only? Expect it to seal? Expect it to be readily removable?
 
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