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.

 

[Paco]

I was reading other threads on cleaning and I found out that water was the magical ingredient. Use some sort of soap if you wish.
I had just gotten a pre owned cva hawken for cheap (needed a few parts) and the bore and lock were dirty and the lock had some light rust on the inside.
I used straight castile soap (Bronner's) on the bore and lock and rinsed with hot water. It took the crud off better than I had hoped.
Just giving options.

 

[Banjoman]

Eric Krewson purty much covered it. Only thing I can add is when loading and shooting black powder guns, SLOW DOWN. The dry ball will come soon enough.

 

[maillemaker]

Things you will need:

• Black Powder or Substitute
• Percussion caps
• Powder measure
• Patches
• .490 round ball to start with
• Ball Starter
• Cleaning Rod
• Field cleaning solution (home made or commercial)

Things you will probably need:

• Nipple Wrench
• CO2 Discharger to blow out fouled/dry ball

 

[jrweis1997]

My advice would be dont cheap out on a cleaning rod you use it way more than you think you will

 

[Hermit Tim]

The first thing you need is a bigger gun safe. Once this first one gets in your blood there may be 35 more rifles following you home by this time next year...

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

The first thing you need is a bigger gun safe. Once this first one gets in your blood there may be 35 more rifles following you home by this time next year...

Haha my Pedersoli came in yesterday and the wife already got worried about me saying “now I need to get a flintlock”!

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

Welcome to the rabbit hole.

Thanks!

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

My advice would be dont cheap out on a cleaning rod you use it way more than you think you will

That’s what I’ve been reading too. I got a range rod from track of the wolf that is super sturdy.

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

Things you will need:

• Black Powder or Substitute
• Percussion caps
• Powder measure
• Patches
• .490 round ball to start with
• Ball Starter
• Cleaning Rod
• Field cleaning solution (home made or commercial)

Things you will probably need:

• Nipple Wrench
• CO2 Discharger to blow out fouled/dry ball

Thank you for the information.

 

[DancesWithSquirrels]

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.

Thank you. I ordered some Swiss and Schuetzen 3f that came in yesterday.

 

[Daveboone]

I second a good range rod! I prefer a T handle...and make sure you have ...before shooting...a good quality ball puller...one for your caliber. Trust me on this, you will need it, and the T handle will come in handy. No matter how experienced, everyone dry loads sooner or later, and it is far from the crisis we think at the tim. Thompson Center makes a good one. A Patch puller is smart too, as well . Dont get too hung up on what you are using for patch lube....almost anything (including spit!) works..just personal preference. I like Hoppes #9 black powder lube/cleaner, but also like t/c bore butter in warm weather. Many uses good old Windex, both for lube and cleaner.

 

[Spikebuck]

Dances: great lists already, so I won't add to those.

My tip is that your Pedersoli front sight, as they come from the factory, is very high! I have owned several Pedersoli rifles and they are very good shooters. You made a great choice. Just shoot those first shots from a very close distance as I believe they will be quite low off the target at longer yardages. You'll most likely need a small fine file to work that front sight down. As already stated, get a group first, but you might have to take that front sight down some just to get it on cardboard first.

Best luck and good shooting!