Muzzleloader/Blackpowder novice with a help request...

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Joe Bleaux

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I recently bought a H&R 12 ga. muzzleloader barrel to add to my collection of barrels and I'm a ML novice. It turns out the barrel I bought has the o-ring style breach plug (but the barrel itself is threaded in the chamber area). I've also asked on GBO for some advice, but thought I'd ask here, too. Any suggestions/recommendations/opinions on my options for a threaded replacement breach plug? Does anyone have one to sell? Any other suggestions for a ML novice and his new setup? Thanks in advance for any and all info!
 
I have only heard about this one outfit that makes custom smokeless conversions.
However, it never hurts to inquire about custom work which the owner indicates that he has done work on single shot shotguns. --->>> http://www.smokelessmuzzleloading.com

Just to be clear, this gun is the old original H&R Huntsman model?
And the non-threaded breech plug that came with it is the old original factory part with an O-ring and is not any other after market part?

I wonder if both the non-threaded breech plug and threaded barrel that came with your gun were factory original to the gun as originally sold, which would mean
that the gun was never fitted with a factory threaded breech plug, if you would still want to install an original H&R threaded breech plug?

AFAIK, the old original H&R threaded breech plugs needed a special factory tool which are not easy to find.
Perhaps the tool wasn't necessary for breech plug removal either.

Do you feel that there's a problem with the breech plug that came with the gun?
Have you test fired the gun yet, even if just to test it with only a percussion cap to see if it's functional?
 
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Just to be clear, this gun is the old original H&R Huntsman model?
And the non-threaded breech plug that came with it is the old original factory part with an O-ring and is not any other after market part?
Agreed, that sounds like mismatched parts that the seller assumed went together. :confused:
FYI..., IF..., that H&R barrel didn't come with your receiver, they are not supposed to be "drop-in" barrels, such as you find when using a TC Contender or TC Encore. The H&R barrels are supposed to be factory fitted to the receiver. You might get lucky and it drops in...,
I'd look around for the screw-in breech for that barrel, as suggested by arcticap.

LD
 
I briefly owned a used original .45 Huntsman with the press in breech plug.
I had to shim the #11 nipple with a washer so that the firing pin could set off the percussion cap.
I shot it and when I tried to return it to the gun shop a few days later they charged me a bunch of money to take it back.
I left the nipple shimmed so I had fixed it for the next buyer.
It wasn't a bad gun, I just didn't like it because the barrel was heavy and then I also read about the lawsuit that was caused by it.
But the 12 gauge and .58 guns are more desirable IMO,
 
First, thanks for the replies!

I've no interest in doing a smokeless conversion, just getting a proper BP setup. What I have is the barrel, forearm, breach plug and ramrod, no receiver, etc. I am 99% certain the barrel assembly didn't leave the factory as I found it because it has a factory H&R rifle (short) ramrod and the breach plug had some type of thread/floss (it looked like dental floss) wrapped in the o-ring groove under what appeared to be the wrong size of o-ring. That said, for those that have the press-in plug, is your barrel also threaded? As to the fitment on other receivers, I have a fair amount of experience with the (non-MLing) H&R single-shot guns, both rifle and shotgun, from the early "Topper" guns to the H&R/NEF SB2 Handis. I have several H&R/NEF receivers as well as numerous barrels and most interchange, although there are a couple of combinations that are either a bit loose or no-go, so I am good as far as properly fitting on at least one receiver I own. (NOTE - FOR ANYONE READING THIS, NEVER FIRE A BARREL ON A RECEIVER NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT LOADING, i.e., do not fire a .35 Whelen on a older Topper/158/etc. receiver even if it seems to fit.)

As to firing the gun with a press-in plug, I'd rather not in case of a hang/mis-fire. If I were an experienced ML/BP shooter, I might feel differently. Also, I reload both shot shell and metallic, so I have 209s, dies and brass for .25 ACP and plenty of primers already on-hand, so a conversion to one or the other seems to make sense from that standpoint. Not that buying caps would be a big deal, but I also understand, perhaps incorrectly, that either 209 or .25 ACP are surer sources of consistent ignition as well. Again, as I understand it, and perhaps incorrectly, that the 209 conversion is a nipple replacement (which would require finding a screw-in plug) or a complete new, non-factory breach plug and the .25 ACP conversion is a new, non-factory complete plug. My initial thought is to simply go with whatever turns up in the next week or two, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing them.
 
Just to be clear, I wasn't recommending a smokeless conversion, only referring a gun smith who seems to have the capability to make breech plugs for single shot shotguns.

I don't know what kind of other services that he might offer.
A person wouldn't know unless they ask.
For instance, here's another muzzle loading shop that offers machine shop services for all kinds of muzzle loaders including N-SSA guns but not limited to them.--->>> https://www.northeasttradeco.com

Here's another outfit that offers many custom muzzle loading services.:--->>> https://www.muzzleloadershop.com
Click on services.

If a person is looking for a custom service then they need to ask.
On the other hand, some outfits probably wouldn't want to touch that gun with a 10 foot pole.

There's other outfits that make custom inlines, or barrel makers that have the machining ability to fashion breech plugs if they choose to.
What kind of priming system to you want?
You made it seem like you wanted an original threaded breech plug that uses a #11 nipple, or similar.

The main reason why folks use .25 acp conversions is for rifle accuracy.
But if you can buy it then why not?
That's the same Canadian outfit that makes the Vari-flame primer adapter breech plugs.--->>> https://www.prbullet.com
 
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Just to be clear, I wasn't recommending a smokeless conversion, only referring a gun smith who seems to have the capability to make breech plugs for single shot shotguns.

Ah, my misread. That makes sense.

(portion snipped)

There's other outfits that make custom inlines, or barrel makers that have the machining ability to fashion breech plugs if they choose to.
What kind of priming system to you want?
You made it seem like you wanted an original threaded breech plug that uses a #11 nipple, or similar.

The main reason why folks use .25 acp conversions is for rifle accuracy.
But if you can buy it then why not?
That's that Canadian outfit that makes the Vari-flame adapter breech plugs.

Thanks for the links. This is my thinking, based upon what little I know about ML/BP and the whole bunch I do know about myself <GRIN>: I don't want to spend any more than reasonably necessary to "test the waters," but if my testing the waters proves to be enjoyable, I'll likely start adding other ML/BP stuff as I happen to find it (yeah, OK, I'll probably go into wild-eyed buying mode, at least until the fever breaks). I'd likely add one or more of the other H&R ML barrels and as I understand it (again, perhaps incorrectly) the breach plugs come in two flavors: threaded with all the same size and threading or press-in, again, all the same. If I go with one of the after-market 209/.25 plugs (or a factory threaded plug with 209 nipple), I could use it in any other threaded H&R barrels. I'll check with the companies/people at the links you posted and report back.

Which brings up the question: does anyone know if all H&R barrels are threaded and/or what the period/range of the threaded versus non-threaded/press-in-only barrels might be? I have seen it said several times that the original plugs were press-in but due to the potential danger of a delayed ignition with an open breach, H&R changed to the threaded plug, but I do not know if that is truth or rumor.

Again, thanks!
 
The guys on GBO are really the experts about serial numbers, H&R model history and features.
Especially the moderator.
They might even have a sticky about some of it, but perhaps that's wishful thinking.
Their H&R forums are probably the most active & informative H&R forums in the world.
GBO does have a database search feature that you can try to use for personal research, to avoid needing live people to provide redundant answers to often asked questions.
 
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