First Time Buyer Advice

[DancesWithSquirrels]

Good evening,

Forgive me if this question has been asked already and is redundant, which I am sure it is.

I just bought a Pedersoli Kentucky Rifle Percussion in .50 caliber, and I am completely new at black powder. I have shot black powder before, but never have owned.

What are some necessities that I need to buy to get started? I plan on shooting this rifle at the range and for black powder season for deer. I'm not worried about the miscellaneous things later down the line, just the required items.

Here is the link to the rifle for further information:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022661242?pid=806229

Thank y'all!

 

[Eric Krewson]

First you need to find out what your rifle likes, it may like .490 balls or it may like .495, I like a .490 with a thicker patch, as for patching mine likes either .015 or .018, I like cotton pocket drill material from Joann's which is .018. You can shoot either 2F or 3F black powder in your gun, start out with 60gr and move up in 5gr increments to find the sweet spot. None of us like the substitutes (pydrodex and such) but if that is all you have available it will work OK. We all prefer to load with a range rod for load development instead of the ramrod that comes with gun, they are stronger and easier to use.

When I say "likes", all M/L barrels are different, they may shoot a 5" 50 yard group with one load and a 1" group with a slightly different load, you have to shoot a variety of loads to see what your rifle "likes". Shoot for a group first, adjust your sights to that group later. Some rifles shoot good with just about any load, some are very picky.

Range rods;

You need a powder measure, a ball starter, a patch cutting knife of some kind, a box cutter works well if you don't use precut patches, patch lube, I like mink oil, a .50 cleaning jag that will fit your ramrod threads, a ball puller for stuck balls and a patch worm to pull any cleaning patches you get stuck in the bore. A bore brush is unnecessary, buy the wrong kind and it will snap off in your bore and cause big problems getting it out.

If you feel you have to have one, get one like the one the left, the one on the right will pull out of the base and stick in your barrel.

You need cleaning supplies, most of us use just plain water, luke warm is fine, I use WD-40 to dry out the bore after the last dry patch I put down the bore to sop up the water from cleaning, I wipe out the WD-40 and put a patch down the bore with 30W nondetergent motor oil on it for storage.

Before loading my cap guns I put several dry patches down the bore to absorb any oil and pop a couple of caps to make sure the bore is clear.

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

First you need to find out what your rifle likes, it may like .490 balls or it may like .495, I like a .490 with a thicker patch, as for patching mine likes either .015 or .018, I like cotton pocket drill material from Joann's which is .018. You can shoot either 2F or 3F black powder in your gun, start out with 60gr and move up in 5gr increments to find the sweet spot. None of us like the substitutes (pydrodex and such) but if that is all you have available it will work OK. We all prefer to load with a range rod for load development instead of the ramrod that comes with gun, they are stronger and easier to use.

When I say "likes", all M/L barrels are different, they may shoot a 5" 50 yard group with one load and a 1" group with a slightly different load, you have to shoot a variety of loads to see what your rifle "likes". Shoot for a group first, adjust your sights to that group later. Some rifles shoot good with just about any load, some are very picky.

Range rods;

View attachment 361565

You need a powder measure, a ball starter, a patch cutting knife of some kind, a box cutter works well if you don't use precut patches, patch lube, I like mink oil, a .50 cleaning jag that will fit your ramrod threads, a ball puller for stuck balls and a patch worm to pull any cleaning patches you get stuck in the bore. A bore brush is unnecessary, buy the wrong kind and it will snap off in your bore and cause big problems getting it out.

If you feel you have to have one, get one like the one the left, the one on the right will pull out of the base and stick in your barrel.

View attachment 361564


You need cleaning supplies, most of us use just plain water, luke warm is fine, I use WD-40 to dry out the bore after the last dry patch I put down the bore to sop up the water from cleaning, I wipe out the WD-40 and put a patch down the bore with 30W nondetergent motor oil on it for storage.

Before loading my cap guns I put several dry patches down the bore to absorb any oil and pop a couple of caps to make sure the bore is clear.

Thank you so much for your response, this is very helpful.

 

[wiscoaster]

Welcome to the rabbit hole.

 

[Boomerang]

Welcome!
Of course to get started you will need black powder or a substitute. I highly recommend real black powder, and I would use 3f granulation. You will need #11 percussion caps, round balls (.490 diameter), patches of around .015 to .018 thick with a patch lube, a ball starter and I would get a good range rod for loading and cleaning. You will also need a powder measure and I would start out at about 50grains of black powder and go up 5 grains at a time till you reach your best accuracy. I wouldn't go above 90 grains 3f. All that should get you shooting. It will be up to you to experiment and see what gives you the best accuracy.