I have been looking for some time for a 209 Primer conversion for my inline muzzleloader. I found a guy selling them on Gunbroker, ordered one kit. Waited for over a month for it to arrive from Canada only for it to be a kit for a Remington 700. Contacted the guy, he said it was a shipping mistake and to make up for it I could sell the 700 Kit on Gunbroker, and he would send me the kit I originally ordered. Well that was a year ago, and after alot of emails with zero response I still have the original #11 percussion cap system on my muzzleloader.

Anyone know where I can get a 209 Conversion from a reliable source? Cabela's used to sell them, but no longer carries them.

Cut and pasted from a Michigan Sportsman's forum:

Now that "the season" is almost upon us and it will soon be time to "sight them in" I thougth I would pass this information along. For anyone who has a ruger 77/50 muzzleloader and is considering getting a 209 conversion kit, don't. If you already have one be carefull.

I purchased one from Cabelas in early November of 03 and was very happy with it over the season. Jump forward to sight in time for 04. Load it up, lean across the bed rail of my truck and take aim, barely touch the trigger and "bam". I think wow, I don't remeber the trigger pull being that lite. Load it up again and everything shoots fine. Third shot load it up, pull the bolt back to cock and "bam" the gun goes off. Thankfully I had the gun resting on the tailgate muzzle end up when I cock it, you can't cock a 77/50 with the safety on either. After that I could rarely get the firing mechanism to catch on the trigger when cocking the gun. I tried a bolt from a relative that has the same gun and got the same results, trigger won't catch. Keep in mind that relative has same conversion kit also, just hasn't had it as long or fired as many rounds.

I took the trigger mechanism apart and it was obvious that the sear had some issues. Took the gun to a reputable shop who specializes in muzzleloaders and they told me the same thing and recommened sending it to Ruger.

To make a long story short, after waiting three months for Ruger to fix it and send it back they send a letter saying no-no on the 209 conversion and that they would restore the gun to original as a courtesy this time, don't do it again. They stated that the 209 primer creates excessive blowback on the bolt assembly and causes the sear to wear.

Remeber the relative with the same gun, well his is starting to have lite trigger pull also. I called Cabelas last February and told them basically what happend and what Ruger says, but I see they are still selling the kit.

Just wanted to let anyone know who has a 77/50 with the 209 kit or is thinking about getting one to be carefull. Maybe it is a certain model year that this problem occurs on, I bought mine within a month of my relative from the same dealer.

Now, after reading that, if you still want to risk it:

http://www.muzzleloadingbullet..._209_conversion.html

Wow, thats the first I have ever heard of that...I got quite a few friends with the same Muzzleloader and the 209 kit and none of them ever had a single promblem.

Guess I should try some homemade style gunsmithing to improve the firing from the rifle. The hole on the power side of the nipple is so small you can barely see through it in the sunlight. I guess I could always try and have it opened up slightly to try and improve the chances of getting spark against the powder.

The problem is not the #11 cap. The firearm was designed for that. Using a 209 is probably not smart, period. And I honestly don't think you will do anything but ruin that nipple if you try to get it opened up.

I would try to find some RMS 10.75s. They are known for reliability.

Good luck!

Looking at the design of the rifle I just dont see how blow back from a 209 primer could cause this problem. The whole assembly is open and there should be zero pressure coming back at the firing pin. Its an Inline loader, looks just like a bolt action Ruger MKII with a 3 position safety. When I have seen my friends shoot there rifles the 209 primer is usually near destroyed when the rifle is broken down.

But if this is a real issue, there is not a chance in hell I will be doing this to my rifle. I will just sell this one as it sits with the #11 nipple installed and buy me a new rifle designed for the 209 primers from the factory. Probably just get me an TC...

Is it really worth the risk? Only you can answer that...

If you are bound and determined to shoot a 209 primer, there are several out there that are designed to do that. Personally, I would find a White on the secondary market. I have several, and although Doc White, the designer, says they are not designed to use a shotgun primer, that it is too hot and will blow a group apart, he does offer the conversion kit. I know several guys that shoot the shotgun primers in their Whites.

And fwiw, I have a 209 conversion kit for one of my Whites. It is still in the original packaging. I suspect you can guess why...

quote:

Originally posted by Brando:


Guess I should try some homemade style gunsmithing to improve the firing from the rifle. The hole on the power side of the nipple is so small you can barely see through it in the sunlight. I guess I could always try and have it opened up slightly to try and improve the chances of getting spark against the powder.

the reason the hole is small,is to keep the gas from coming out when you fire.If you have problems with ignition,try using genuine blackpowder,is much easier to light.

I have always shot Pyrodex 50/50 pellets out of it...I always liked them cause it was easy to reload quicker, didnt have to worry about measuring.