New Pedersoli Blue Ridge .36... questions

[ballandcap]

Just got back from Cabelas and picked up my Blue Ridge .36 caliber that just arrived. Got it on clearance and had a $20 off coupon so it was 479.00. Seems like a good price for what it is. This is my first .36 and those .350 balls sure are cute!

Was wondering what you all would reccomend for a starting load and what load worked best in yours. Will be using 3F Goex. I am getting ready to read the manual and will probably give me a minimum and maximum load, maybe even a starting load.

I am going for accuracy and will be Turkey hunting with it in a couple of weeks.

I know it's not P.C. but I just really like the look of this rifle, very sleek, slim, and simple. Lock seems to spark well, frizen opens/closes very smoothly, triggers are pretty crisp with no travel, browning on barrel is very nice, and wood to metal fit is not too bad. Sure is front heavy though.

Can't wait to get it out this weekend and see what it likes and get the sights filed down.

I have been using Hornady and Speer swagged prb's in other b.p. guns and the lead seems kinda hard. Would a different type of ball have softer lead? I am looking for maximum expansion. Not sure how much expansion I'd get in a bird though. My Javelina I just took with my .45 using swagged prb's did not seem to expand and same sized exit as entrance.

Also any .36 tips would be appreciated as well.

 

[oletymepreacher]

I have the same rifle, but in cap and ball. I use 30 grs of GOEX 3F. Accurate load and powerful enough for anything I will hunt with it. I have run up the load to max, but didn't see much use for it. The 36 is not legal for deer here in Colorado, so I don't need to overdo things. Hornady balls worked well, but I have been rolling my own since buying the rifle. Expansion may be accomplished with pure lead, but I wouldn't worry about it on turkeys. Rifles are not allowed where I hunt turkey in Colorado. For loads in this rifle, a good place to find out min/max loads is on Pedersoli's web site. Their manuals usually give the accurate/starting loads with ball size and patch thickness. Have fun with your new rifle!

 

[excess650]

The swaged RBs should be as soft as you'll find.

Congratulations on the new rifle, and good luck with the turkeys.

 

[123.DieselBenz]

Sounds like a fun gun!

Don't mean to rain on your parade . . . but a rifle is no longer allowed for turkey (or other birds for that matter in AZ)

Found on page 42 http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/regulations/HuntingRegulations.pdf

 

[cowpoke1955]

I have a .45 Blue Ridge flinter. The rifle is very accurate and reliable. The only thing I did was to drill the vent liner to 1/16th" and replaced the front sight. The factory front sight is tapered, so as you file it down it becomes wider. Mine became so wide, it filled the notch in the rear sight. I was using my Blue Ridge in competition, so I also needed accuracy. I replaced the front sight with this thin silver blade from Track of the Wolf: http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Cate...=14&subId=167&styleId=762&partNum=FS-TC-HB-TH . It stays the same thickness, no matter how far you file it down. It also gives me a good sight picture with the factory rear sight. Have fun with your new rifle and enjoy :thumbsup:

 

[David W.]

Tip No. 1: Do not attempt hunting turkey in AZ with a PRB, you'll get in trouble with the game warden.

Tip No. 2: even the mildest load you could fire at a turkey will simply whizz through. So why are you concerned about expansion? :hmm:

Tip No. 3: Try 000 buckshot (.350 dia.) instead of swaged balls, you will save money and they are accurate as anything else. You can buy a mould if you want, but why pay the expense? :2

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I've owned several .36's over the years and have generally found good accuracy at about 35 grains of 3f. That gives around 1600-1700fps and shoots flat out to 50 yards which is about as far as I can hope to hit or even see small game targets. If you have ignition troubles, and you may have, I suggest pulling the vent liner and breechplug and drilling the powder chamber to 3/8", which is full groove diameter of the bore. You can improve the inside cone of the vent liner at the same time.
The small bores are fun and cheap to shoot and I too like the Blue Ridge rifles. If they had made the buttplate and inch taller it would be a fair representation of a Bucks County rifle, as is it is still a nice looking gun and, as the song says, "I like guns"! :grin:

 

[ballandcap]

I won't be hunting AZ state land with this. Should have stated this initially. It will be legal where I'll
be hunting but thank
you for the concerns. I want expansion for
more devastation which is the point of
lead, of course the best is a well placed shot I know.
Good tip on the buckshot I will look for some.
Thanks for the tips, keep em
comin.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The Hornady Buckshot is much cheaper than their swaged balls but also a much harder alloy. The swaged balls are pure lead and as soft as one can get. Personally I thing you will not want much expansion. A .36 caliber hole in any small game animal is sure death and a bigger hole only means more meat damage.

 

[mr.flintlock]

I agree with the others in that 30gr would be a good starting point. I believe you will enjoy your new rifle. Here in Ga. it is legal to hunt turkeys with any muzzleloading rifle or pistol.
I believe your 36 will make an excellent turkey gun. I turkey hunted opening day(Saturday)and used my 62 cal smoothbore tradegun loaded with 80gr goex behind 1 1/4 oz of #6 shot. I have been thinking about taking my 32 flinter.After seeing what it will do to a squirrel I believe it will do fine for turkey.

Good luck and enjoy your new rifle.

 

[hanshi]

You will do fine with the swagged .36 balls and many report success with 000? buckshot. I prefer to cast my own. 30 grains of Goex 3f will make one hole at 50 yards for 5 shots. You're looking at 1600 - 1700 fps with that load. Since it's not a deer caliber heavier loads are a waste. It should also work well for Javelina.

 

[David W.]

The Hornady Buckshot is much cheaper than their swaged balls but also a much harder alloy. The swaged balls are pure lead and as soft as one can get. Personally I thing you will not want much expansion. A .36 caliber hole in any small game animal is sure death and a bigger hole only means more meat damage.

I get the same thumb nail test with both the swaged balls and the buckshot. I have them both right here in front of me.

I do agree not to have too much expansion in small game.

 

[badpenny]

i have one in.36.i shoot 25 grains of 2f swiss and a speer swaged .350 ball,very accurate load.if you can find some t/c 36 maxiballs you should try them.i've found them to be quite accurate also.36 caliber is the state minimum for deer here in s.c.

 

[ebiggs1]

I think I ordered the same rifle only I ordered .54 cal. My question is this, is the frizzen spring on your .36 overly strong? I have a Pedersoli pistol and man does it have a SPRING on the frizzen. I was kinda worried since Cabela’s didn’t have one and had to order it. I believe for under $500 bucks we got a good deal! Happy shootin.

 

[ballandcap]

That is a great tip on the sight. The front sight at the top itself already fills the rear and it does get wider the further you go. I will get that sight on order as the rear sight has a very narrow channel.

Ebiggs,
you too??? Congrats, just got mine all waxed up and sure is pretty!

Spring does seem pretty strong and an overkill but the frizzen operates almost as smoothly as my large Siler or T/C lock to flip forwards/backwards.

Cmon weekend!!!!

 

[Joel/Calgary]

That is a great tip on the sight. The front sight at the top itself already fills the rear and it does get wider the further you go. I will get that sight on order as the rear sight has a very narrow channel.

I took a different tack with my .32 Frontier. My old eyes need a fair bit of sight, so I filed the front sight to a narrower tapered post (also tapering in width to the front) and filed the notch wider. The front's still wide enough for me to see reliably, and is about 1/3 the apparent width of the notch. I also polished the rear of the front sight so I can black it if I need to or wipe it shiny if I don't.

Regards,
Joel

 

[Happydog]

I liked my Pedersoli percussion Frontier so much I bought a Cabelas Blue Ridge flintlock (both .50cal). Only difference are the locks. Both are great fun at the range, shoot the flinty and while it is cooling load and shoot the percussion. But they also attracts a crowd. I usually go during the week for that reason. Don't talk to someone while loading your B/P guns. I found out the hard way. No powder, just a PRB.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The Hornady Buckshot is much cheaper than their swaged balls but also a much harder alloy. The swaged balls are pure lead and as soft as one can get. Personally I thing you will not want much expansion. A .36 caliber hole in any small game animal is sure death and a bigger hole only means more meat damage.

I get the same thumb nail test with both the swaged balls and the buckshot. I have them both right here in front of me.

I do agree not to have too much expansion in small game.

Here are a Hornady swaged ball and a pellet of Hornady 000 Buck (the dark shiny one) in the vise.


Here they are after a turn of the handle.
URL=http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e245/coyotejoe/?action=view&current=Hornadyballs3.jpg]

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And here they are removed from the vise. Still believe your thumbnail?

 

[Happydog]

Sure looks like this answers the question. Great evidence in the pics.

 

[Skychief]

That CoyoteJoe sure has a way with words and pictures. Good stuff Joe and indisputable results. Thanks for presenting your photos here.

Skychief (shooter of 36 calibers).