Knight BigHorn 209 conversion

Modern Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Modern Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Henry Miles

Well-Known Member
*
Joined
Jul 17, 2019
Messages
185
Reaction score
298
I'm new around here and need help. I have 2 Knight BH 50cal rifles, 1 SS and 1 blued. I've converted the blued one to 209 primers for BH209 powder with the original conversion, which is no longer available. Is there another breech plug that will work without plastic jackets in the BH? I can modify my bolt to strike the 209 primer, I just need a breech plug like the original conversion kit had, no plastic jacket needed. Any ideas?
 
If your referring to knight bighorn rifles, then you should not use Blackhorn 209 powder in those because they are plunger rifles. It’s a big no no.
 
I could be wrong but I don't believe they have made the bare 209 primer conversion for many years and that was pre-bighorn, back in the Lk/MK period.
As mentioned BH is not recommended in the Plunger type actions as if you shoot too much, the pressure can cause the plunger to push back and let the primer blow out. Not good for the eyes.
 
I could be wrong but I don't believe they have made the bare 209 primer conversion for many years and that was pre-bighorn, back in the Lk/MK period.
As mentioned BH is not recommended in the Plunger type actions as if you shoot too much, the pressure can cause the plunger to push back and let the primer blow out. Not good for the eyes.
Okay I see this explanation. Wow, I didn't know
 
I bought the 209 conversion kit for the BigHorn but BH209 was not developed yet. I've had it for a number of years.
 
They made those 209 kits when moving to the hotter 209 was all the rage. Plunger rifles really did not gain much if anything. I personally never had a problem with the #11 mag caps. Some have done/Tried it, Bh that is. A couple of us here that did and I for one had a primer come out. I did not like seeing that (luckily it did not hit me) and never shot it again in that rifle. If you look at some discussions about Sealing up actions (Bolt or even Break actions aka Tip up) they are trying to get a positive seal on the 209 primer (Correct headspace) to prevent blow back coming around the primer. The Larger the charge the more blow back you get. It works great in Bolt actions and Break actions that are sealed. A Lot of those even have the Ventliners in them and still you can get blow back. Just food for thought.
 
It makes sense about the blowback from pressure. The 209 primer wedges into the breech plug that I have and you have to pry it out with a primer removal tool. I jumped on the 209 primer bandwagon back then and when BH209 came out, I started using it with good results. I have kept the charge to around 90gr with no adverse pressure problems. The primers are stuck in the breech plug after firing in one piece, having to be pryed out.
 
All I can tell you is my experience with a plunger style rifle shooting BlackHorn 209. I knew it was not recommended. And I had my T/C Black Diamond XR. But I wanted to know if the rifle would shoot it. I always wear shooting glasses (safety) and hearing protection on the range.

I think it was my third of fourth shot. It new a chunk of that 209 primer out and back and I ended up digging it out of my forehead. That was the last time I shot BlackHorn out of a plunger gun. Now I know some people do shoot it. Even though it is not recommended. All I can say, is wear safety glasses and carry tweezers. And also.. I would not do it. Too many other good powders out there to use.
 
If it works for ya just keep all this in mind and keep the charges low. This is why we don't recommend it. I never shoot more than 100gn V in my MK-95 and it has a small bolt. Any more and it wrecks the plastic 38spl cases that is used in it.


Herschel, Thanks for pulling up that quote!
I was thinking of Cayuga Dave (RIP Buddy we still think about ya) when I typed the response above. I was fortunate enough to not pick anything out of my head. If memory serves me right I only tried 100gnV one time and found the primer on the bench. I made a big mistake once not tightening the bolt handle on one of my MK-95s (they screw into the bolt) and may have not got it locked all the way down. It blew the bolt back snapping off the handle and the case coming out of the rifle. You just really have to pay attention doing this stuff and not get distracted.
 
I would gather that it is not recommended due to the fact that BH209 is hard on Breech plug flash/vent holes, IF (big IF) this hole were to get too large - excess blowback pressure could blow your plunger back toward your face. I don't recall the plunger retainer on the Bighorn, but I doubt it's as fixed in place as a bolt gun.
To your OP, you will not be achieving anything/advantage by changing your Bighorn from RPJ to a bare primer breech plug?
 
My Bighorn came with 2 , 209 options. A magnetic breech plug that holds the primer in while it is cocked and another that works with the little red plastic jobs. I just use musket caps and they work fine. However I see that the local sportsman's warehouse carries the 209 conversion kits.
 
Are you looking for the older plug that holds the 209 in with a magnetic?
 
Thanks for all the helpful replies and comments. I have decided to abandon this conversion and discontinue usage of BH209 powder. I'll go back to #11 primers or musket caps and 777, which work just fine anyway.
 
This may not interest you but there is a way to not have blow back but not fast reloads . I too purchased a knight conversion kit w rpj plug . Didnt like it . I have a old bk-92 that was a 54 . Its now a 50 by putting on a remington uml barrel new take off with a harrels precision sabot brake and a kick-eze safari magnum pad . It is LIGHT !!! I went back to the original #11 plug , added a vent liner , AND a Pendersoli 209 conversion nipple for sidelocks . No blowback with 140grv of blackhorn and a 275gr 460 S&W Barnes xpb !!!! This absolutely ROCKS 'EM further than i care to shoot !!!! Its been 100% reliable . This has been my open country cannon . I dont think inside the box.......
 
Last edited:
Back
Top