Harrington & Richardson Sidekick?

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Dogfood

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Hi all,
Being a proud New Englander, I have a soft spot for the guns that were being made in my neck of the woods when I was growing up. Harrington and Richardson single shots are a particular favorite of mine. I recently picked up an H&R (and *not* NEF) Sidekick in .50 cal and there doesn't seem to be much info on them. I can find some on the NEF Sidekick, but can't help but wonder if the specs are necessarily the same.
I know H&R history/research is particularly tricky due to the factory fire, but if anyone has any information on the gun, I'd be keen to learn.
Attached below is a picture of the manufacturer's markings. Interestingly, the serial number begins with "BP" and I'm not sure if that's a date code prefix or whether that designates the gun as black powder only.
Cheers,
dgfd

PXL_20210703_150647908.NIGHT.jpg
 
First thing I'd do is get an after market breach plug. Those orange primer carriers are a pain. I have the heritage, basically the same as a sidekick but stainless barrel and camo stock. The barrel should be a green mtn,mines accurate with just about any bullet she shoots . Her favorite is a 350gr hornady FPB.
Get yourself a Hubbard's replacement ram rod and you have in my opinion one of the best muzzleloader s built .
 
Cecil at at pr bullets makes a aftermarket plug . Myself and Busta helped him fugure that out. He messed them up the first time around .

https://www.prbullet.com/nef.htm
I use a metric unlimited plug I'm away on vacation i don't have their information at my finger tips but I'd recommend theirs .
 
From a post by Busta

Here is a pic of the new and old plug. If you do a search for "carrierless breech plug" on here you can get more information. Unless they dug up some barrels from 2002-2004, all the Huntsman/Sidekick barrels since 2005 are 5/8" breech plug.

Old 5/8" on left, new 5/8" on right.

003-2.jpg



Here is the 7/8" plugs for the older 2002-2004 Huntsman and 2004 Sidekick.

027.jpg
 
Cecil at at pr bullets makes a aftermarket plug . Myself and Busta helped him fugure that out. He messed them up the first time around .

https://www.prbullet.com/nef.htm
I use a metric unlimited plug I'm away on vacation i don't have their information at my finger tips but I'd recommend theirs .


Calls with Metrics Unlimited last year revealed that they lost both their supplier for the plugs and the laborer who knew how to correctly machine the finished plug. MU said that they are not getting back into making the plugs.

Go with Cecil!
 
I'm not Cecils biggest fan ,but if that's your only option its better then nothing . Im sure some on here could fabricate a breech plug if asked.
 
My last conversation with him was a few years ago .
 
Well when a guy tells me NEVER buy a 45cal with a faster twist than a 1-28.....I got to wonder how well versed he is about things. Ive talked to him on the phone and he comes off as.........Less than professional to put it nicely.
 
Never talked to Cecil and have only read a little bit of his articles and info. But a few of his products are interesting and may be of use to some. He may not be right about some stuff but I get the impression he's trying to improve the sport.
 
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As far as his product goes he's the only one making a replacement plug for your muzzleloader that I'm aware of currently. Its will work fine
 
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