GPR vs. Pedersoli Frontier

[hexblade]

I do like the look of both rifles and they are both within my budget, looking at .54 cal, with slow twist rate for PRB (both have this), and both are available within my area. The question is, how would you rate them vs. each other on: reliability, accuracy, quality of production?

Sitting on the fence, and need some help to get of it.

Cheers

 

[Dausener]

I can't speak for the Pedersoli, but I do have a Lyman GPR in .54 (percussion). It's a great gun and you won't be disappointed. :thumbsup:

 

[BrownBear]

I've got them both and shoot them more or less interchangeably. Build and quality are similar, while the styles are different, but accuracy is comparable. I was surprised how well the Frontier balances for shooting, even with the full stock. The GPR has a balance I like a little better, but that's not saying the Frontier isn't good too.

The big difference I see is in cleaning. Probably from habit, the ease of removing the GPR barrel and slooshing in a bucket suits me better. You can remove the barrel on the Frontier, but with lots more hassles.

The patent breech on the Frontier is smaller diameter too, and I suspect longer. For my mind it requires a lot more attention to cleaning than the GPR, but that may have more to do with the crooks and twists in my mind and my cleaning method than reality.

Best answer is to shoulder both and see which balance you prefer. Then make a decision about what you want to go through for cleaning.

 

[ebiggs1]

I have both and I also agree they are so similar in performance that they are equal. Neither lock, I am assuming flintlocks, is good so that is equal. Both shoot very accurately. Pedersoil may have a slight edge in fit and finish but the Lyman is probably the better buy. Go with the one you like the best, it will be fine.

 

[BillinOregon]

While all the GPRs I have owned have been very good shooters, I would choose a Pedersoli barrel in a heartbeat.

 

[Timothy B]

Is the Frontier the same as the Blue Ridge rifles that Cabela's sells? If so, I would say go with the Frontier. I have a BR in 50 cal., it is a Pedersoli, and shoots very well. No problems with lock at all. The BR rifle comes with buckhorn sights, which I do not like, but were easily replaced with a simple notched flat top rear sight.

Purists will point out that neither are particularly HC/PC, but I think the Pedersoli can pass easier than the Lyman.

 

[mbokie]

This is opinion I've been hoping to see.

I have a Pedersoli Pennsylvnia, double set, 41 5/8" barrel. It's my first flint and first pure BP rifle. So I know zip.

Why the barrel choice over the other rifle?

 

[mbokie]

My Pedersoli has a modern sight, which, IMHO, cheapens the rifle. I want to change it to the real deal. What is the real deal?

This is the type it has now:

As an experienced BP shooter, why did you choose the Pedersoli?

 

[hexblade]

Thanks to all for their replies, I have handled the GPR already and it felt balaced and good fit for me. I will get my dirty paws on the frontier this weekend, this should help with the choice.

Cheers

 

[BrownBear]

...this should help with the choice.

The only way to fly! :thumbsup:

 

[Timothy B]

I'm assuming that the picture is to show the type of sight on your Pedersoli, and not a picture of the Pedersoli in question. That said, the correct sight is one that slides into a dovetail slot in the top flat of your octogon barrel.

The sight that came on my rifle had "horns" curled up each side, with a shallow notch in the flat space in between the horns. It still was dovetailed into the barrel, so replacing it was easy.

I've had the Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle for at least 11 years, and since it's such a good shooter, I have no reason to replace it. I have a 20 ga. flintlock fowler from Early Rustic Arms as well. I reenact civilian, so I really am not concerned with the PC aspect of the rifle.

 

[Trench]

I have loved my Frontier rifle in .36 caliber, but I can't imagine the heft of a heavier barrel and recoil on that stock. I'd go with a GPR for that caliber.

 

[mbokie]

Yeah, that's not my rifle in the pic. It's just one I found on the net.

So yours is a buckhorn?

The Pedersoli I tried had a buckhorn.

 

[Timothy B]

The buckhorn sights were easy to replace. I just swapped it with another sight from a gun I don't shoot anymore. If I didn't have the other sight, I would have taken off the horns with a dremel tool cutoff wheel.

As for the comparison with the GPR, I just prefer a full-stocked gun to a half-stock. I do 18th century portrayal, so the full stock is a better fit. I don't do military impression, so the fact that it's not really PC isn't critical.

I don't see a problem with recoil, even in .54,cal. These rifles have the mass to soak up the recoil. The shelf-like cheek piece on my Blue Ridge does well to ease the blow to the face, too.

 

[BrownBear]

I have loved my Frontier rifle in .36 caliber, but I can't imagine the heft of a heavier barrel and recoil on that stock. I'd go with a GPR for that caliber.

Mine isn't objectionable at all, and my only regret s that I don't have a 36 cal, too! The barrel is "light" enough in the larger bore that it's not overly barrel-heavy by any means. If I recall correctly, the 50 and 54's don't weigh all that much more than the 32 and 36, but my recollection gland has been faulty many times before. My usual load is 90 grains of 3f Goex, no pussy cat by any means. But with the butt out on my arm where it belongs, I could shoot it all day long without discomfort.

 

[Trench]

I have loved my Frontier rifle in .36 caliber, but I can't imagine the heft of a heavier barrel and recoil on that stock. I'd go with a GPR for that caliber.

Mine isn't objectionable at all, and my only regret s that I don't have a 36 cal, too! The barrel is "light" enough in the larger bore that it's not overly barrel-heavy by any means. If I recall correctly, the 50 and 54's don't weigh all that much more than the 32 and 36, but my recollection gland has been faulty many times before. My usual load is 90 grains of 3f Goex, no pussy cat by any means. But with the butt out on my arm where it belongs, I could shoot it all day long without discomfort.

Good to hear. I always wondered about this rifle in the larger bores in how they handle.

 

[tg]

I had the last Americam version of the longrifle mentioned here in .45 cal flint and a LGP in .54 caplock, it would be hard for me to make a choive unless I was using one for something with a historical flavour then the gun trhat fit thetime period would be the choice, I am usually partial to longer barreld fullstocks though, I like the sight plain and the longrifle mentioned here does come to the eye and feel good so it might get the nod as an earlier gun could alwasy be used in a later period if history was an issue.

 

[mbokie]

So for you, it was the stock and not specifically the barrel.

I'm going to look into the proper sights. The sights posted don't seem to do it justice.

It's like watching the Mennonites driving their buggies talking on a cell phone.

 

[rudy parnell]

The GPR rifles are good reliable shooters that can be fixed relatively easy....It's a strong gun....with good balance. No doubt it's a good value and maybe the best shooter available....IMO
I've always wanted one....but settled for the TC.
All said, if you ain't happy 'ier..try a TC. You can't go wrong with neither.

 

[larry wv]

I have both in .54 and like them both. But if I had to get rid of one the GPR would be the one to go. Larry