Kit Assembly

[sepiatone]

I am thinking of purchasing a Pedersoli Pennsylvania Rifle kit from Dixie. I have never put a kit together and am a little worried I could really mess it up...this kit in particular is on sale for $575 and would hate to be out this amount of money.

So my question: How difficult are these kits for the average individual with little or no experience? According to Dixie, this kit is rated a "skill level 1".

Another question: For those that own this rifle, how do you like it? Pros/Cons? This is the .45 flinter

Thanks in advance!

 

[Zonie]

The skill level 1 kits are basically finished except for the sanding, smoothing and blending of the stock to the metal parts.

The threaded holes are drilled and tapped and very little work is needed to put the parts together.

The finishing of the metal parts and the wood does take a little work but it is something that a person who has done a little woodwork can do.

If you buy one of these kits, post any and all of your questions on the Gun Builder's Bench here on the MLF. Helping folks with their first or fortieth gun is what that area was set up to do.
GUN BUILDER'S BENCH

 

[paulvallandigham]

The barrels are reported to be accurate. The locks are poorly designed, and have problems. They will need to be tuned to make them function properly. Go up to Member Resources, and scroll down to "Articles, Charts and Links". Click on articles. You will find articles there that will help you diagnose the problems and fix them. If you " hit a brick wall", that is why we are here. Ask your questions, and we will help. :hatsoff:

 

[sepiatone]

Thanks for the info guys! I think I may attempt a TOTW kit...these generally cost just a little more than the Pedersoli and opinions seem high with these kits.

Thanks for the help! I apologize if this was posted in the wrong forum.

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

I think that you'll find that a TOTW kit is for a more advanced skill level than for a Pedersoli kit.

Paul stated that Pedersoli locks need to be tuned to function properly. I would disagree with that blanket statement. My personal experience with Pedersoli locks is that they will function well, however the frizzens may need to be re-hardened sooner than some other locks. I think that most function quite well when new without any tuning required.

If you lack confidence in your abilities to complete your first kit build, I heartily recommend the Pedersoli as your first. I still own one of the Pedersoli Pennsylvania Rifles in .45 cal and it's a real shooter but it isn't a great representation of any particular school of Pennsylvania Rifle builders.

 

[fitter]

Go for it, thats how you'll learn.

 

[Birddog6]

Thanks for the info guys! I think I may attempt a TOTW kit...these generally cost just a little more than the Pedersoli and opinions seem high with these kits.

Thanks for the help! I apologize if this was posted in the wrong forum.

Keep in mind the Pedersoli is a rifle AssemblyKit....... The Lyman GPR kits are Assembly Kits, etc. meaning the rifle is built & all the major work is done for you, you basically sand, stain, brown/blue & put it back together.

The TOW "Kit" as they call it, is a collection a Parts to build a rifle. Not even close to the same game. Like comparing your dads 4 cycle rotortiller engine to a Nascar engine, yep their both engines but not close to the same thing to build.
Basically, nothing is going to be fitted on the TOW kit. You will have inlets roughed out on the stock, but you have to fit them all & make it into a rifle. IMHO, the fact all these places call these parts sets "kits" is very misleading.... That is like saying tomatoes out there on the vine is a "Catsup Kit". :idunno:

And another thing, I suggest you buy a Builders Book...... Money well spent & less mistakes made.
:thumbsup:

 

[mr.flintlock]

Before you purchase any kit check with Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading. Their kits have a lot of the complicated stuff done and their prices are reasonable.

 

[sepiatone]

Thank you for the advice. I'm so glad I posted this rather than purchase the TOTW kit. I realize I'm not at that level (having to inlet scared me away :shocked2: ).

I'm thinking the Pedersoli might be better for me. Also, I may start on a small, low priced pistol and see how I do.

This is something I would really like to learn. Do you guys have any book recommendations?

Thanks again

 

[rafterob]

You might want to contact Deer Creek also. They have their own kits which are basically old stock CVA parts and are available for a reasonable price compared to the others that are available. I think it would be a great first time build. If you search the forum you will come up with a phone number for them. They do not have a web site.

 

[4deer]

Gunsmith of Greenville County (its out of print so it might be hard to find, but has lots of information)
Recreating the American Longrifle (consider a good book, but I don't have it let)
The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle (I really liked this book)

 

[ebiggs1]

Not thinking Paul needs any defending and lord knows I have disagreed with him in the past, but I whole-heartedly agree with him on Perdersoli locks. I only have two, which is a small sample, but they both exhibit the same problems. One being the frizzen spring is way too strong on both. And a problem I don’t know how to fix on one lock is the hammer cock is off center. Not to mention the geometry on both.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

That's a lot of money for an import kit. I'd agree with checking on something from TVM. Another option would be to get a gun finished in the white from them or someone like Tip Curtis. It will be a few hundred bucks more but you'll have an American made product with quality parts which will retain much of it's value.

 

[Stubert]

I have 2 Pedersloi's, an 1803 harpers ferry pistol and the 45 cal. pennsylvania, the locks on both SUCK, I had to rebend the hammer on the rifle and fit the frizzen( it had a 1/16" gap all the way around the pan and the powder would fall out) On the pistol I had to change the hammer to get close to good geometry, now it sparks 70% of the time, I would not get another Pedesoli for any reason.I my opinion they are an overpriced POS. You would be better served with a Lyman GPR kit.

 

[sepiatone]

Do you have Tip Curtis's contact info? I searched his name and could not find anything. I didn't even think about starting with an "in the white" rifle. I think this is a good starting point for me.

I have a couple Lymans and an old CVA and would like to take a "step" up from these.

Thank you all for the helpful responses.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Tip Curtis Frontier Shop
POBox 203
4445 Jernigan Rd.
Cross Plains, TN 37049

Phone: 615-654-4445(Bus.)
Home 615-654-4944

[email protected]

Tip attends a lot of big shoots around the country on weekends, and is usually present at Friendship the entire week of the Spring and Fall national matches, held in June and Sept. at Friendship, Ind. NMLRA. If you don't raise him on the phone, he's probably out. Keep trying. He's not trying to ignore you. :wink:

 

[hpbear101]

I built the Pedersoli Jaeger kit and I am extremely pleased with it. They require a fair amount of shaping the stock and prepping the metal etc. The lock worked OK but it ate flints. I used Pauls guide that he has posted on the forum and tuned my lock. It made a big difference in flint life and ignition dependability. The other thing i did to improve ignition was to drill the touch hole liner to 5/64ths. So overall I have what I consider to be a good dependable flinter.
Tom

 

[sepiatone]

Thanks Paul!

 

[sepiatone]

I watched James Turpin's DVD on building muzzleloaders and ordered a couple of books. The DVD got me pumped up so I ordered a TOTW "kit". Eventhough I have limited experience, I think with enough patience and preperation I can pull it off. I had TOTW do the lugs and sights. I also have a friend that can guide me through this process. I know it will be challenging and hope I'm not too naive, but I think I can make it work...even if it takes me 6 months. :grin: Also, I have the summer off (school teacher) so I'll have a lot of time to dedicate.

I went with the Jacob Dickert rifle with a .45 cal. swamped Rice barrel and plain maple.

Thanks for all the help...I'm sure I'll be asking for more here soon. :grin:

 

[Vaino]

You done good! The TOW "kit" will require skills that you didn't think you had, but w/ perseverence and an inquiring mind, you'll surprise yourself in the end. Reading {studying} at least 2 of the "how to" books is quite necessary and posting your "problems" on this website will engender posts w/ solutions that will still require choosing the best options. By all means study Mike Brooks gun building tutorial available on the this website... his photos and insights are an invaluable aid and I still look it over periodically even though I've built many LRs. If I have any fault w/ Mike's tutorial, it's that he's so "gifted" in his art that he makes it look way too easy and for most, that's not the case.... but w/ more time it's quite possible. There are some other knowledgeable builders {Birddog6, Roy, Zonie and a few others} both fulltime and partime that "donate" their expertise to inquiries seeking help. Their detailed responses have been been responsible for many "beginners" completing MLers that perhaps seemed overwhelming to these more inexperienced builders. By choosing a TOW parts set, you'll learn a whole lot more than w/ a factory "sand and finish kit". The next order of business is the acquiring of suitable tools and this can be a preliminary project that will cost a few bucks more. By the way, a timeline of 6 mos. is laudable but why rush it?..Good luck....Fred