Huntsman .25ACP breechplug

[Keith Lewis]

Has anyone tried the .25ACP conversion breechplug from Canada? I have one in my T/c Omega and am really pleased with the performance and ease of use. It eliminates the plastic carrier in the Huntsman and I am considering getting one soon. It allows use of small rifle primers instead of the 209 shotgun primers which give a wide selection of primers and primer power to chose from.

[Critter]

Let us know how it works for you.  I'm thinking about a huntsman barrel seriously and am not fond of the 209 ignition systems.

[Keith Lewis]

Another benefit is the breechplug will allow use of a standard six point socket to remove it rather than the screwy one required with the standard Huntsman breechplug. It also allows an extension to be used so that if you have a scope it does not get in the way of the removal tool.

[Busta]

Keith,

I have one for mine, absolutely love it. Don't know what more to say, but it has the plastic carriers and 209's beat, BIG TIME! It is a lot faster at the range and less of a hassle. I can load up a hundred or two at a time and just pop them in as I need them.

I also have a capper that will hold 4-5 primed 25 ACP cases for hunting, works like a charm. T/C Hunters Choice 209 Speed Capper.:grin:

http://ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=12165_10304&products_id=76735&osCsid=2590390f73e30b956b75112a1917fbc9

[snicker]

I also got one for my Huntsman.  Works great.  The gun is just as accurate with the .25 ACP as it was with the 209's.  With the hex head it is so easy to remove the breech plug and the blow back is not as bad.  I still get a little bit but not near as much as with the orange carriers, thought about flaring the cases a little bit.  And to check to see if it's primed just look in the carrier slot and you can see the 25 shell.

[Keith Lewis]

Thanks guys; that is the information I was looking for. I am going to order one today. I got my Huntsman sort of second hand as I traded a Traditions Pursuit LT with scope amost new for a used Huntsman without a scope and I think I got the better part of the deal. I have not even had a chance to shoot it yet but the original breechplug and wrench is a sorry piece of engineering. I much prefer a hex head breechplug.

[Keith Lewis]

Keith,

I have one for mine, absolutely love it. Don't know what more to say, but it has the plastic carriers and 209's beat, BIG TIME! It is a lot faster at the range and less of a hassle. I can load up a hundred or two at a time and just pop them in as I need them.

I also have a capper that will hold 4-5 primed 25 ACP cases for hunting, works like a charm. T/C Hunters Choice 209 Speed Capper.:grin:

http://ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=12165_10304&products_id=76735&osCsid=2590390f73e30b956b75112a1917fbc9

I picked up the idea for the T/c capper a while ago and have since bought one. Personally I did OK just carrying the loose primed .25 brass in my jacket pocket. I did not want to carry 209's that way.

[Victor3]

Where can I get one of these plugs?

[Busta]

http://www.prbullet.com/nef.htm

[Hammerspur]

As an alternative for any interested, Hubbards makes a 209 breechplug for the Huntsman which needs no plastic carrier for it's primer holder (nipple) and is easily removed with a 7/16" deep socket.

http://www.hubbardsoutdoorproducts.com/drop.html

[Busta]

Hammerspur,

I called Hubbard's a while back about the breech plugs and he told me they didn't make a 209 plug for the "NEW" NEF Huntsmans only the "OLD" '70's & '80' era H&R Huntsmans. The old H&R Huntsmans used two different types of breech plugs, screw-in and push-in. He did tell me that he should get around to making one for the new Huntsman, but I have never heard of him making one or haven't seen it on his website yet. Do you know if he is making them for the "NEW" NEF Huntsman for sure?

Here is what he has on his site:

H&R Huntsman
I make the following items for the "Huntsman":
Telescoping Ramrod $30.00
Screw-in Breech plug $17.50
Push-in Breech Plug $20.00

[Hammerspur]

No, Busta I don't know for sure about what Hubbard's offering. I have an older .58 cal Huntsman with the push-in breechplug, and an old 158 Shikari which was originally a 45-70 cartridge shooter they converted to muzzleloader. It uses their standard breechplug as offered in the barrels they sell.

I've never examined the new Huntsmans for specific design, dimensions, etc. in comparison to my .45 cal.  I can certainly measure mine and compare notes with you or anyone who cares to check theirs out to see how the two compare. I assumed they would be alike, but maybe not?

[Victor3]

When using the 25 ACP plug, isn't there a big gap left where the plastic carrier was? How does the back end of the bbl meet the standing breech with it?

Also, how is the case removed after firing? I guess the rim sticks out enough to pick it out?

Neat little thingy. I can see how a 25 shell could be superior to the 209 for sure. Not too exited about the gap that must be left at the breech though (?)

[Busta]

When using the 25 ACP plug, isn't there a big gap left where the plastic carrier was? How does the back end of the bbl meet the standing breech with it?

Also, how is the case removed after firing? I guess the rim sticks out enough to pick it out?

Neat little thingy. I can see how a 25 shell could be superior to the 209 for sure. Not too exited about the gap that must be left at the breech though (?)

Victor3,

The plastic carrier has a tab that protrudes from a notch in the back of the barrel that takes up approxamately 15-20%, the other 80-85% makes full contact with the standing breech. This cut out (notch) serves two purposes, it shows the rifle is primed at a glance since the tab sticks out and it also is a vent for blowback. The round part of the carrier fits inside the aback of the barrrel and snaps into the breech plug.

The 25 ACP case sticks out just enough to be able to grip the rim at the back and is easily pulled out with thumb and forefinger.

The cutout (notch) is of course not needed when using the 25 ACP conversion, but does act as a window and allows you to see if the rifle is primed at a glance. I really like the conversion over the standard carriers, but the carriers are very practical for the average guy who just uses the rifle for hunting purposes. If you do a lot of target shooting the 25 ACP has it all over the carriers, just load a hundred or two and there is no hassle at the range.

[Keith Lewis]

When using the 25 ACP plug, isn't there a big gap left where the plastic carrier was? How does the back end of the bbl meet the standing breech with it?

Also, how is the case removed after firing? I guess the rim sticks out enough to pick it out?

Neat little thingy. I can see how a 25 shell could be superior to the 209 for sure. Not too exited about the gap that must be left at the breech though (?)

The .25ACP case sticks out just enough to mate perfectly with the face of the breech as a shotgun shell would. The ability to use multiple small rifle primers in the .25 case is great. I have on for my Omega and also for my NEF and I find it a lot easier to remove the spent primers as the case is easy to grasp with your fingers. When hunting I find it a lot faster and more positive. I needed a second shot to finish an elk before it wandered into the bottom of a canyon and the ability to get the primer out and reprime fast was a godsend. The ability to use a standard six point socket to remove the plug is another big improvement over the goofy stock tool.

[Hammerspur]

Busta,
The Hubbard's item is 5/8'' diameter, like the latter 'new' NEF Huntsmans, with a thread pitch of 18 TPI. Overall length including primer carrier is 1 5/8", breechplug alone 1 3/16".

The threaded portion is 7/8" L, with 1/8" unthreaded beyond that on the forward (combustion) end.

The earlier Hubbard's breechplug (which mine is) removes with a 1/2'' socket, and the primer holder has a knurled outer circumference for finger tightening/loosening, with a 7/64" allen-hex indent at the start of the flash-hole for when added persuasion is needed (usually).

The newer Hubbard's system requires a 7/16" socket for breechplug removal, and the primer carrier is hex shaped on it's exterior of 3/8" dimension for removal with a socket or open-end wrench...that's an improvement IMO. Otherwise, critical dimensions are the same between the two Hubbard's products.

As I don't have a NEF item at my disposal for comparison, so the possible interchangeability or adaptability is uncertain.

The Hubbard's primer holder is 1/4x28 TPI and projects 7/16" beyond the breechplug... as no plastic carrier is required for the 209 primer, if this dimension seems compatible with the NEF breechplug, this alone could be a partial retro-fit upgrade in lieu of the OEM item.

Although the plastic primer thing allows instant observation of "loaded/unloaded" condition of the rifle, no such feature exists in a centerfire arm. Since all firearms should be treated as loaded unless one has checked, that seems superfluous IMHO.

[Busta]

Hammerspur,

My NEF Huntsman is a 2003 model with the 7/8" diameter breech plug, so I am not going to be of much help here. If someone has the newer 5/8" breech plug, they may be of some help.

I agree totally about always making sure of the status of your rifle as in loaded and unloaded. I never meant to imply that the visual aide (protruding tab) was a safety feature, but rather a feature to indicate that it positively has been primed for range or hunting, never to indicate it is safe without the tab being present. To me, if there is a charge in the barrel, it is loaded and ALWAYS treated as such, wheather it is primed or not. Hope that clears that up? SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS!

[Hammerspur]

10-4, Busta!  

[myarmor]

I believe this information on the conversion would be well suited for a Sticky. Instead of lost for the search.
Good info.
-Aaron