Remington 700ML Badger Ridge 209 modification
Okie743
Member Posts: 2,700 ✭✭✭✭
Before last Black Powder Deer season I converted couple of Stainless Rem700ML BP rifles to the Badger Ridge Industries 209 mod that eliminates the 209 primer blowback through the bolt.
I had previously quit using my Rem 700ML's due to 209 primer breech plug flashback into the face from primer ignition. Did not care for having to wear a full face shield when hunting with the rifles. Remington and others have themselves protected by stating in the owners manuals to ALWAYS WEAR safety glasses when shooting BP guns. My rifles when first bought new were #11 caps, then musket, then the Rem and Canada 209 mods but the bolt allowed the 209 ignition flash to come back through the bolt into the face. The #11 and musket caps ignition was not reliable from the 700ML's even when using the lower ignition temperature of Black Powder and not reliable at all if using Pyrodex or Pyrodex pellets. Most genrally the mis-fires would occur when the Black Powder 700ML was looking at Big Horn Bucks, especially after I had spent several days in the woods waiting for a shot.
I suspect this flashback was why Remington quit making the 700Ml's and went to the Ultimate Black Powder rifle design. I contacted Remington about flash backs through the bolt from the 700ml's but my complaints fell on deaf ears.
The Badger Ridge Industries mod is a really good safety mod and allowed me to bring my 700ml's out of retirement.
The Remington 50 cal 700ml's can be very accurate rifles with the mod when fed the proper recipe for loads and safe to use with the 209's after the mod.
Here is a link to the mod.
Comments
Great information thank you.
I put one in mine and it really works well
You can watch videos of how to install the kit on their site yourself for a Rem700ML
Sometimes they are little slow answering emails but once they answer they come back promptly..
They do ship their kits promptly and provide tracking info.
Once you do one the next are easy if you are a gun tinkerer and can follow simple instructions and have few of the basic tools, such as for pressing on the 209 adapter onto the bolt face.
Keep a heads up about filing down the firing pin for proper protrusion.
I suspect they might quit selling their kits to the public in the near future so if you want a do it yourself kit I would suggest that your do so soon.
You also have the option of sending them your bolt for the install which they will do so at a reasonable price.
I installed a Badger Ridge kit into a guys 700ML 54 caliber few days ago.
Got really good groups from the 54 with 325 gr sabots.
I've had the Canadian kit in my .50 MLS since they were very first released and I've not ever noticed any blowback. In fact, I even use the shroud when needed without noticing anything though it does make it dirtier.
But, I do have a .54 MLS that needs a conversion. My .45 has the longer 26" barrel and if memory serves is already set for #209 but I have never shot the oem version, only the Canadian version. I'll check it out. I've taken a lot of deer with my .50 MLS.
You should ALWAYS wear safety glasses when shooting Black Powder guns FOR EYE PROTECTION. (and especially the Remington 700 Muzzleloader)
Lots of info on-line about the Rem700ML blowback into the face and in-line with the aiming eye.
Also the bolt nipple shroud should not be used with 209 primers because it directs more of the blast blow back back through the bolt towards the shooters eye and face. This was recommended by Remington. Blowback is why the bottom of a scope is gets black as the rifle is fired. The plastic nipple shroud intent was to be used as a rain guard when using the lesser ignition #11 caps.
To get an idea of the blowback spray some Rem oil inside the bolt body then fire the gun holding a white paper behind the bolt at the safety area. DO NOT HAVE YOUR EYE OR FACE BEHIND THE BOLT. The paper will be covered with the Rem oil and if the inside of the bolt has powder/primer residue inside the paper will be black. This is not a good thing when directed into the shooters face and eyes. Possible eye loss.
The blowback will be on the white paper. This is in-line with where your aiming eye would be.
The Remington 700ml was one of my favorite accurate black powder rifles until I discovered the blowback issue into the face and eyes. I was wearing safety glasses and would have probably lost an eye if not for the safety glasses.
I brought 700ML and MLS's out of storage and back in business after I installed and tested the Badger Ridge sealed ignition mod.
I suspect the blowback issue is why Remington eventually designed the Remington Ultimate with the sealed ignition system. I have a Rem ultimate but now I'm back to using the 700ml's with the Badger Ridge kit. The Remington Ultimate is not user friendly as a carry gun, heavy, balance not good, and I had to use the same load I use in my 50 cal 700ml's so as to get consistent accuracy from the Ultimate. My Ultimate does not like the Remington sabots/bullets that came with the rifle.
Here is a article about the ignition mod for the 700ML's that I stumbled across recently AFTER I had converted mine. If the link don't work just search for such.
Stay Safe and protect your eyes.
Upgrade to the older Remington 700ML Muzzleloader
https://www.randywakeman.com/IgnitionSystemUpgradetotheolderRemington700MLMuzzleloader.htm