.32 cal Flintlock Tips

[Chris Cade]

i'm in the process of buying a .32 cal pedersoli flintlock. does anyone have any suggestions as to patch thickness and load? pedersoli recommends .315 roundballls.

thanx

 

[David W.]

I would try a .010 pillow ticking patch to start out with and about 15~20 gr. FFFg. You could try #1 shot and a .020 patch, if it is not too loose. If you can get by with the #1 shot, it will be a lot cheaper.

 

[cptleo1]

my .32 really likes FFF Swiss

27gr seems to work best

.310 Rb ox yoke .15 patch

It is not very fussy about patch or lube.

Then again I usually only shoot it @ 50 yds or less

Don't need much for tree rats & turkeys.

 

[Chris Cade]

is there a difference between swiss and goex powder?

 

[shootemup]

Hi there Mechslasher,

There is definitely a difference between 3f Swiss and 3f Goex. The Swiss is a hotter powder.

I like the Goex 3f just fine, but I absolutely LOVE Swiss. Swiss is more expensive, but I rarely shoot more than 4 pounds per year, so the cost isn't really worth worrying about.

Now, to the Pedersoli guns. The main thing, for me, is your lock. I'm personally not crazy about Pedersoli percussion locks, but think their flintlocks are just fine. I would be curious to hear your opinions.

As for a powder load, I recommend 20 grains of 3f Goex or 15 grains of Swiss.

I have found a .310 ball to work well in the two .32 Pedersoli's I have owned. I use a lubricated .010 cotton patch.

My current .32 is pretty tight, and I find .300 roundballs much easier to load. My current .32 is not a Pedersoli however, so you probably won't have that problem. I only mention it as something to keep in mind.

Good luck with it, I am sure you will enjoy your new rifle (pictures would be nice :grin: ).

Please keep us informed.

:hatsoff:
Spot

 

[Chris Cade]

i suspected that the swiss would be hotter. i have about three pounds of goex so i'll stick with that for a while. i just ordered .315 rb and .010 patches, which is what pedersoli recommends but i wish i would have ordered the .310's now. oh well, if combo is too tight, i'll find a thinner patch material. thanks for all the tips fellows!

 

[Dave K]

Swiss is ideal powder for a small bore.
People many times complain about fouling in small bores. You won't have that problem with Swiss and you may not with Goex though either.

 

[buford87]

I shoot a pedersoli .32 percussion, and my rifle likes 15 grains FFFg goex a over powder wad .017 pillow ticking lubed with stumpy's moose juice topped off with a .310 round ball. But try going up and down with the powder charge to see how your rifle shoots.....watch yer top knot..............

 

[shootemup]

I'm with ya, if Pedersoli recommends the .315 balls they'll probably be fine.

Seems like a lot of us have had good luck with the .310's, I never tried the .315's so can't really say - but it sounds like you have some enjoyable "work" ahead of you.

Please let us know what you find.

:hatsoff:
Spot

 

[hanshi]

Your observation on Pedersoli locks is interesting. I haven't had as much experience with Pederlsoli (only 2) and found the cap locks fine but not the flint locks. Maybe mine was just a "picky" example. Go figure. :idunno:

 

[silent sniper]

my custom 32 loves 30 grains goex FFF with a .315 ball and denuim patch lubed in deer tallow. 20 grains of FFF threw them all over the place, then i tried 30 grains FFF and started stacking balls in the bulleye. find the load your gun likes and go have fun. SS

 

[hanshi]

I also found 30 grns 3f to be exceptionally accurate in my .32 as well. That same charge works great in both my .36 and .40. Do I detect a pattern, here?

 

[MikeChapin]

Sounds like it. Both my .32 and .36 do their best with 30 grains of 3F. For the .32 I use a .311 ball with a .024 canvas patch.

 

[Chris Cade]

decided to start with 30 gr. of fff with a .315 ball and a .010 patch. the first shots hit way low with the factory front blade. guestamated how far i needed to come down and put a strip of tape below the tip of the front blade. those two shots went way high. readjusted the strip of tape and had three shots hit right where i was aiming on the bottom of the 2" circle. i now have a rough idea of how much to take off the front blade. will head back to the range to confirm before i start filing. thanks for the tips fellows!