Sealed Breech 209 solutions for BlackHorn209

Now offering sealed breech Ruger 77/50 conversions!

2/25/2017

Before we only offered a 209 conversion for the Remington 700 ML. But now I'm happy to announce that we now offer a similar sealed breech 209 system for the Ruger 77/50!

Excerpted from the Ruger 77/50 manual

Much like the Remington 700 ML and 700ADL, Ruger sold a muzzle loader that looks a lot like the Ruger 77/44: the Ruger 77/50. According to the Ruger website, it was in production from 1997-2004. Judging by serial number data no where near as many were made as the 700ML. The Ruger functioned very similar to the Remington, and even had a breech thread that allowed use of 700ML breech plugs. (Not that we nor the manufacturer are endorsing that. It's just so similar it's possible). Thus these rifles had many of the same problems as the Remington 700 ML: Blow-back, frequent misfires, and factory setups that didn't have 209 options.

So when Ruger owners find the Badger Ridge Industries 209 kit for the Remington 700ML, they often contact us and ask if we can make a similar "seal up the breech, BlackHorn209 compatible, finger simple prime de-prime system" for the Ruger 77/50. Now, I'm proud to say "YES WE CAN!"

In order to develop and prove out our sealed breech 77/50 209 conversion a few 77/50's were purchased and converted by Fred and myself. Having a couple of centerfire Ruger 77 MKII's that I've hunted with for years, in many ways the 77/50 didn't feel like a totally new rifle to me, even though it was a 'totally new' rifle to me. And while on the surface it works similar to the Remington, and the breech plug threads of both are essentially identical, the 77/50 is a very different rifle to convert.

Ruger Manual's warning about blow-back

As the rifle came from the factory, or even when modified with a Canadian 209 system, the warning about "Hot Gases Exit Nipple Area" excerpted from the 77/50 manual rings true and must be heeded. Hot gasses and pieces of primers/caps being blown back and around the nipple and the associated fouling are some time referred to as "blow by". However I find it seems more accurate to call it "Blow Back". The later version of the 77/50 used a protrusion on the bolt itself to try and direct the blow back to the side of the rifle. And while it does accomplish this, it also directs blow-back into the bolt. The bolt has a vent in the bolt body that directs the blow back that enters it down and into the stock! So as delivered from Ruger, blow back gets in the bolt, and is even directed down and into the inner recesses of the rifle!

This complicates cleaning and over the long term reduces the reliability of the system. So compared to the Remington we had to modify the Ruger's bolt much more to get a 209 system that seals the breech and is more reliable.

Blow back directed through the bolt and down into the action and stock (note the blown up cap I found in this mess on the R&D rifle I purchased)

The main reason to switch to our system is not only to use 209 primers, but to seal up the breech area and essentially eliminate all of the blow back issues. 209 primers are hotter and more reliable source of ignition. Using them to seal blow back into the breech plug vastly simplifies cleaning and makes the rifle safer and more reliable. Our conversion seals out the elements and allows one to shoot Blackhorn 209 powder. Which in my opinion is the best black powder substitute available. The Canadian 209 system and the original cap system are not Blackhorn 209 compatible, and they allow blow back into all those nooks and crannies.

Remember, blow-back not only can injure a shooter or by stander, but it can burn the optics mounted above the breech, project corrosive fouling throughout the bolt and action, and wear out a mainspring prematurely. Even worse, the Ruger 77/50 is known to have an additional deficiency: Blow back launches the firing pin rearward and occasionally shears the trigger's sear!

Our conversion for the Ruger 77/50 fixes all of these woes by sealing the blow back into the breech plug with the 209 primer!

Badger Ridge Converted bolt feeding primers and sealing them into the breech plug

The conversion process requires the bolt to be completely stripped, our new firing pin to be installed, the extended shroud to be cut off, and the nose of the bolt dressed. Then the 209 nose is timed to align it for loading and unloading, pressed on, and firing pin protrusion set. So once complete there really isn't any going back. But once the converted rifle is shot, I'm sure no one will ever want to go back to the leaky original set up!

Our Ruger 77/50 conversion is through its first rounds of testing but is still in what the DoD would call LRIP (low rate initial production). I'm not comfortable sending this one out for just anyone to install, and for now, will only offer it as a full conversion service. Or in other words, I'm not willing to sell this one as a kit; you will have to pay me to install it.

The Ruger conversion uses a very similiar breech plug to the one used in our Remington system:

Badger Ridge's Hunter 209 Breech plug with vent liner

If you are interested in making your rifle work the way you always wanted it to, and Blackhorn 209 compatible, you can purchase Ruger 77/50 conversion as a service (very similar to our Remington 700ML conversion service). Mail us your bolt, we'll convert, and send it back with the breech plug, vent liner, and other accessories. The details are all in the listing for this service!

We also can ship an entire new 209 converted bolt to you if you want to keep the original leaky system, or are missing a bolt etc. That is more expensive than converting an existing bolt. We do not recommend this unless you hunt out west where leaky non 209 systems are required for special hunts, but on others you can use our sealed breech 209 system.

And as always feel free to use the Contact form to send me your info. I'll call or email back promptly.

Bolt fully closed on Ruger 77/50 with 209 conversion installed. Primer is fed into breech plug with a slight crush seal

20 Comments

Here's what someone who's used our 209 conversion for over a year has to say about it! Buy with confidence!

2/13/2017

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Loading, feeding, and swaging 209 primer into breech with our conversion kit

I always enjoy hearing from our customers. This time, Mike A from New York, who had me convert his Remington 700 ML to our 209 conversion over a year ago, took the time to write in. To me, it says a lot about your product when people love it so much they take their time to write a thank you note. I can just say, "Thank you for being a great customer!"

The message I received from Mike A, New York is below:

QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR BADGER RIDGE:

Just a positive comment...

You converted my Rem. 700 ML a few years ago.

I've taken it into the field for a few years now during deer season, and to the range about once a month for those same number of years.

Essentially, with 90 grs. of BH 209, 300 gr. Hornady XTPs, MMP EZ load sabots, and CCI 209 Magnum primers, the result with a low ringed scope is clover leafing dead center at 50 yds. And dead center adjusted up + 3" at 100 yds. The holes are paper punch clean.

The gun is competitive with any of the other BP guns I own. It is fun to shoot.

You turned the firearm from a tomato stake to a reliable, easy to clean, accurate, easy to use gun.

Thank you.

Mike A
New York

Thanks again for writing in. All of my rifles have shot best between 80 and 100 grains by volume of Blackhorn 209 as well. Glad you are satisfied!

0 Comments

Now offering sealed breech Ruger 77/50 conversions!

Here's what someone who's used our 209 conversion for over a year has to say about it! Buy with confidence!

Welcome to the Badger's Den!
Where Badger Ridge Products are discussed.

I constantly add to and update this blog's content.

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Now offering sealed breech Ruger 77/50 conversions!

Here's what someone who's used our 209 conversion for over a year has to say about it! Buy with confidence!

Welcome to the Badger's Den!Where Badger Ridge Products are discussed.I constantly add to and update this blog's content.Not finding what you wanted?​-Check out the "Archives", "Categories", or the menu bar.​

Written by:

Archives

Categories

Welcome to the Badger's Den!
Where Badger Ridge Products are discussed.

I constantly add to and update this blog's content.

Not finding what you wanted?
-Check out the "Archives", "Categories", or the menu bar.