Conversion kit was delivered today, just need some time to get to work installing it.

I've never had problems with my .50cal Model 700ML, other than it being dirty as hell. I've always run 2 Pyrodex pellets and 300gr Barnes Expander MZ's. The weather shroud helped with no longer burning scopes and the musket cap ignition system has been reliable, but it seems like it's getting harder and harder to find musket caps these days. These were my main motivation for converting my ignition system.

Plan is to install the kit and then work up a load with BH 209 powder (testing various non-muzzleloader 209 primers). I'll do my best to detail the steps along the way.

***I'm not a gunsmith, so this is not advice on how to be a gunsmith***

I have the badger ridge conversion on my rem 700. Best I can recall I’m shoot 95grs of bh209 and a 300gr sst with federal primers. Haven’t measured a group but best group I’ve gotten so far. I’d say 1 1/2 in.

Installed the kit today in between some online classes. Really easy and straight forward. Go slow on shaping the firing pin, I used a combination of a fine file, 600, 1500, and 2000 grit sandpaper. Probably overkill but it gives a nice smooth dimple.

Need to find some BH 209, some 209s, and more bullets and sabots. I tested it with #57 shotshell primers, which are smaller than 209s if I recall.

Bolt nose pressed on:


Unmodified firing pin:


Closed bolt:


Open bolt:




Sounds good. Where do you get your BH 209?

Believe it or not but Walmart. I couldn’t find it at any gun stores

Just a follow up: After my last final exam for this semester (I'm officially 1/8 of the way through dental school) I took the smoke pole to the range today for my first shoot with BH 209 powder, CCI 209M primers, and Hornady SST-ML 250gr saboted bullets. I'm planning on hunting an upcoming primitive weapons season, so I wanted to make sure I'm set.

First impressions: While not as easy as dropping 2 Pyrodex pellets in, I like this stuff. Using my Labradar, I chrono'd 100grains (by volume) of BH 209 as pushing the 250 gr SST at 1710, 1755, 1723, 1790 (whoops!) and 1719FPS at 10 meters. Mean: 1739.4FPS, Std Deviation: 32.98FPS. I'm not sure if there's more meat on the bone or not, but I'm not 100% convinced that the Hornady sabots are sealing nice and tight. They're REALLY easy to push down to seating depth. Even after 4 shots the 5th load was as easy as the first. Accuracy was pretty good given that the sun at the Cahaba range during the afternoon is brutal (low angle) and I'm not sure I did my best shooting --I'll try to get a picture of the target up soon. Also, I ended up not even having to adjust my zero--which was odd because I switched bullets, sabots, powder, and ignition system. Weird, but whatever, I'll take it.

Post shooting impressions: The Badger Ridge Remington Model 700ML is the real deal. It works as advertised and kept the breech absolutely free of any blowby, soot, crud, etc. No more burned scopes, soot in your eyes, etc.

Clean-up impressions: I'd say this one is a push. BH209 is definitely NOT as dirty as black powder or Pyrodex, but you have to use actual solvents to clean it. You can find soap and hot water pretty much everywhere, but on a backcountry hunt, you'd have to bring something extra.

Anyways, hope this helps.

Bh 209 turned my encore into a shooter for sure. Clean up is so much easier but I can shoot about 3 before I have to run a patch down the barrel
You may wanna look into harvester muzzle loader bullets there made in kentucky my gun liked them and the hornady sst the best but I got a pack of the harvester 260 gr packed and ready to roll out next week

This is why I was thinking that the saboted Hornady SSTs aren't sealing well. It was ***almost*** too easy to seat those jokers.Until today, I have always used Barnes Expanders with the sabot they provide. It was much tighter fitting. I might have to head back to the range with some tighter fitting sabots.