I bought my Pedersoli Scout Flintlock Muzzle Loader months ago. Last Saturday and Sunday Afternoon was the first time I had been able to get to the Range to Shoot it.
From the first Shot, I was "HOOKED" First Shot felt great, the Rifle Fired very Fast, no hint of Lag. After that though I learned real quick to keep the Touch Hole Clean. I was using Pipe Cleaners - useless ! I picked up a dry Grass Stem the perfect Diameter and it worked. I since made myself a Vent Pick as the Grass was a poor Solution. I learned nearly as quick to wipe the Pan and Frizzen every Shot to keep them Residue free. Another lesson was not to use my Finger and a Rag to wipe them - Crikey those Flints are Sharp :grin: I had a small Paint Brush and it did a good Job. I will be buying a proper Tool Kit next Pay Day.
I started with 50 Grains of FFFg Wano and used Homecast .440 Cast Bullet Engineering Round Balls. 60 Grains Shot a little higher and Fouled far worse than 50. Did not try any stouter Charges they are for the next Trip, both seemed quite mild. I was trying some 10 thou Ox Yoke pre Lubed patches I bought off EBay dirt Cheap, happy with them as Fouling was no great issue especially with the 50 Gr Charge. Next Trip to the Range I will be trying both Olive Oil and Coconut Oil and slightly thicker pure Cotton Patches
I also tried some Lee 200 Grain REAL Conicals Wads punched from Eggs Cartons and a Home Mix Lube of Beeswax and Superfry. I used a 50 Gr Charge and they Shot a bit higher than the Round Ball. Only Fired 6 or 7 of these and the Lube worked great. Again 50 Grains seemed very mild.
Another lesson was "NOT" to Gasbag and get distracted when Loading the Rifle - Stupid Dry Balled it twice ! I removed the Lock and sat patiently poking a little bit of powder down the Touchhole until I could not pack any more into the Breech and Shot the Ball out. I have one of those Brass Screw in type Ball Pullers but could not get it to Start. At least I was Smart enough to have Loaded and Empty Marks on my Ram Rod.
Another little positive was that I had little trouble with Flinching when the Pan Ignited. So long as I stayed focused on the Sights and Target I did not even notice the Pan Flash. Ignition was noticeably slower when I put too much Powder in the Pan. I was using one of those Pan Primers that are supposed to drop 3 Grains of FFFF. I was using FFFg that I shook through a Flour Sifter to get Fine Powder. There's a knack to using them as I often got more Powder than required. I was surprised at how little Priming the Rifle required.
The Rifle Shot 6" to the Right and to Point of Aim at 50 Metre's with the 50 Grain Charge. I tried to drift the Front Sight and it would not Budge. I did Drift the Rear Sight but the Front Sight is noticeably off Centre and needs to be corrected. I have marred the edge of the Sight, no big deal just a bit annoying being first time out.
I'm about to remove the Barrel from the Stock, I have sprayed the Sight with a Penetrating Oil as it seems to be seized. I'll be Clamping it in a Vise with Timber Jaws. The extra support and Penetrating Oil should loosen the Sight and future adjustments should be easier.
The only real negative was this Rifles Lock seems to Chew Flints. I used up a Flint each afternoon, maybe 30 Shots each. I had them mounted in Veg Tanned Leather about a Millimetre from the Frizzen as per my understanding of several Online Articles. The Flints contacted the Frizzen 3/4 of the way up which is probably too far up. The Frizzen has smooth even wear and throws plenty of Sparks. Both Springs are quite heavy, the Cock being the Heaviest so maybe I may have to get the Lock Springs looked at. I will try thinner Leather or a thin Sheet of Lead to hold the Flint.
I loved the Noise, Smell and Smoke when Shooting my Flintlock and even enjoyed the Mess cleaning it - like I said "HOOKED" ! The more I shot it the more comfortable I became - just gotta sort the Sights out so I'm ready for a Hunt during the Week before Easter. With any luck the Fallow Deer Rut will have started. I would love to take the Stag I've had a crack at a while ago with my Bow but I'd be wrapt just to fill the Freezer with a Doe. Either way there is Feral Goats on the Property also
regards Jacko
From the first Shot, I was "HOOKED" First Shot felt great, the Rifle Fired very Fast, no hint of Lag. After that though I learned real quick to keep the Touch Hole Clean. I was using Pipe Cleaners - useless ! I picked up a dry Grass Stem the perfect Diameter and it worked. I since made myself a Vent Pick as the Grass was a poor Solution. I learned nearly as quick to wipe the Pan and Frizzen every Shot to keep them Residue free. Another lesson was not to use my Finger and a Rag to wipe them - Crikey those Flints are Sharp :grin: I had a small Paint Brush and it did a good Job. I will be buying a proper Tool Kit next Pay Day.
I started with 50 Grains of FFFg Wano and used Homecast .440 Cast Bullet Engineering Round Balls. 60 Grains Shot a little higher and Fouled far worse than 50. Did not try any stouter Charges they are for the next Trip, both seemed quite mild. I was trying some 10 thou Ox Yoke pre Lubed patches I bought off EBay dirt Cheap, happy with them as Fouling was no great issue especially with the 50 Gr Charge. Next Trip to the Range I will be trying both Olive Oil and Coconut Oil and slightly thicker pure Cotton Patches
I also tried some Lee 200 Grain REAL Conicals Wads punched from Eggs Cartons and a Home Mix Lube of Beeswax and Superfry. I used a 50 Gr Charge and they Shot a bit higher than the Round Ball. Only Fired 6 or 7 of these and the Lube worked great. Again 50 Grains seemed very mild.
Another lesson was "NOT" to Gasbag and get distracted when Loading the Rifle - Stupid Dry Balled it twice ! I removed the Lock and sat patiently poking a little bit of powder down the Touchhole until I could not pack any more into the Breech and Shot the Ball out. I have one of those Brass Screw in type Ball Pullers but could not get it to Start. At least I was Smart enough to have Loaded and Empty Marks on my Ram Rod.
Another little positive was that I had little trouble with Flinching when the Pan Ignited. So long as I stayed focused on the Sights and Target I did not even notice the Pan Flash. Ignition was noticeably slower when I put too much Powder in the Pan. I was using one of those Pan Primers that are supposed to drop 3 Grains of FFFF. I was using FFFg that I shook through a Flour Sifter to get Fine Powder. There's a knack to using them as I often got more Powder than required. I was surprised at how little Priming the Rifle required.
The Rifle Shot 6" to the Right and to Point of Aim at 50 Metre's with the 50 Grain Charge. I tried to drift the Front Sight and it would not Budge. I did Drift the Rear Sight but the Front Sight is noticeably off Centre and needs to be corrected. I have marred the edge of the Sight, no big deal just a bit annoying being first time out.
I'm about to remove the Barrel from the Stock, I have sprayed the Sight with a Penetrating Oil as it seems to be seized. I'll be Clamping it in a Vise with Timber Jaws. The extra support and Penetrating Oil should loosen the Sight and future adjustments should be easier.
The only real negative was this Rifles Lock seems to Chew Flints. I used up a Flint each afternoon, maybe 30 Shots each. I had them mounted in Veg Tanned Leather about a Millimetre from the Frizzen as per my understanding of several Online Articles. The Flints contacted the Frizzen 3/4 of the way up which is probably too far up. The Frizzen has smooth even wear and throws plenty of Sparks. Both Springs are quite heavy, the Cock being the Heaviest so maybe I may have to get the Lock Springs looked at. I will try thinner Leather or a thin Sheet of Lead to hold the Flint.
I loved the Noise, Smell and Smoke when Shooting my Flintlock and even enjoyed the Mess cleaning it - like I said "HOOKED" ! The more I shot it the more comfortable I became - just gotta sort the Sights out so I'm ready for a Hunt during the Week before Easter. With any luck the Fallow Deer Rut will have started. I would love to take the Stag I've had a crack at a while ago with my Bow but I'd be wrapt just to fill the Freezer with a Doe. Either way there is Feral Goats on the Property also
regards Jacko
