New rifle on the way soon

[KHickam]

I ordered a new rifle they are on sale at Cabelas for $600 - It is a Cabelas Blue Ridge rifle in 54 caliber - I already have a nice 49 caliber Early Virginia rifle for really primitive doin's and a nice smooth bore also. The purpose of this was to have an extra (relatively accurate historical arm) that I can use as a back up or primary arm if I ever get to shoot at elk again

I am gonna order both .526 and .530 cast balls in order to find a relatively accurate load for hunting and the most accurate hunting/target load I can come up with I will order a mold in the appropriate size.

Has anyone had a rifle like this and what were the pet loads it liked just for reference. :thumbsup:

 

[S.Kenton]

I had one a while back..it liked a 530. RB, a .018 patch lubed with Olive Oil and 80 grains of powder. The rifle shot GREAT with this load combo. I did play around with the powder charge a little from 60 grains to 90 it did shoot well at 60, but for my hunting needs I liked 80 a little better. Others Mileage may vary.

 

[cowpoke1955]

I have one in .45 flinter. My wife bought it for me about 20 years ago. I have won several matches with it. Never gave me a problem. The only thing I did to it was change out the front sight to a silver blade. Congradulations :thumbsup:

 

[stinkyfeet]

I also have a 45 flinter. Its shoots very well and after drilling the torch hole out to 5/64 the ignition is super quick. Some thing to keep in mind the cabelas blue ridge is the same gun as the pedersoli frontier which I own. Did yours come with the blued or browned barrel by chance I heard they were changing them and advertised as such.

 

[KHickam]

Not sure - haven't received it yet - last I saw they were browned

 

[Spikebuck]

I had one for several years and just recently sold it to another Forum member. Was cleaning out the gun safe of several production guns to make way for some customs.

They are a very good shooting gun except I, and many others here by the reports, feel the front trigger pull is way too hefty...but OK if you use the set. Pretty lightweight considering a 39" straight octagon barrel. You'll like it.

Mine liked a .530 RB with .015 oxyoke prelubed patch and 90 gr of 2F Goex. It also shot the Buffalo ball-et very well.

Never played with the load a lot because it shot really well out to and somewhat past 100 yards. With that load I was a few inches high at 50 and a couple low at 100, so for deer hunting I didn't have to adjust aim. I shot a doe at 115 yards (had a good rest on a tree) with it and cored the heart (a little low, but effective!) If anything, I'd have gone with a little thicker patch or even tried a .535 RB to tighten it up to see if it would do even better. But never did that. I'd just guess that the .526's won't be needed unless you use a pretty thick patch.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[AZbpBurner]

I've got one of the older Investarms/Cabelas "Sporterized" rifles with 1:48" twist. Sporterized means that the stock is checkered & it looks pretty good. I imagine your rifle will be one of the Pedersoli's. Cabelas says that the .54 cal has a 1:65" twist, so with the slower twist, you should be able to push for better accuracy with heavier powder charges.

 

[Tyrone]

KHickman--What happened to the JP Gunstocks trade rifle?

 

[Black Jack]

I believe the current Cabelas version has a blued barrel, while the Pedersoli version is still browned.

 

[Spikebuck]

I believe the current Cabelas version has a blued barrel, while the Pedersoli version is still browned.

Didn't used to be that way, but appears it is now. I had two "Frontiers" from Cabelas and at that time they were exactly the same as Pedersoli branded ones. Still have the 36. I guess if one wants a browned barrel or any other finish it's easy enough to change.

 

[KHickam]

Well, received the gun today and took it out to shoot - I fired 11 shots.

First load I used was 65 grs Graf's Reenactor powder, .526 RB with a .018 pillow ticking patch - and I was pretty pleased with that group. This was the first 6 shots out of my rifle - 1st shot was dead center at 6 oclock just touching the bullseye

Then I changed to a .530 RB and shot this 5 shot group without swapping or anything. Ignition was good but I did have a few flash in the pan's that I had to pick the vent but it went off pretty well - not quite as fast as my 49 cal rifle and a lot more barrel heavy but not bad for a $600 gun

 

[torn moc]

distance???

 

[KHickam]

25 yds :redface:

 

[GANGGREEN]

Keith, I had a .50, not the .54 so I can't give you a pet load but I absolutely loved mine. I ended up selling it because I thought it was odd that I had a few guns I had built myself and a few custom guns built for me by a friend, but I often wonder if I did the right thing by selling it. I think you'll love yours.

 

[KHickam]

Well, I do like it - different from my custom guns - named it "Thor's Hammer" as soon as the weather clears I think I will take it out load it a bit hotter and try my hand at hitting a PPC silhouette target at 400 yds. :thumbsup: