Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol

[granth]

Hello all.
I recently bought a Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol off Dixie Gun Works. I was just wondering about y'alls recommendations on charge, patch thickness and flint size. Thanks!

 

[springfield art]

Hello all.
I recently bought a Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol off Dixie Gun Works. I was just wondering about y'alls recommendations on charge, patch thickness and flint size. Thanks!

View attachment 144766

The Dixie catalog has a section recommending charges & sizes for all their products. The flints are usually just called 'pistol size', you see them sold as musket, pistol, etc. size. I have an older one of these that I 'aged', as it looked really modern. They're handsome!

 

[granth]

The Dixie catalog has a section recommending charges & sizes for all their products. The flints are usually just called 'pistol size', you see them sold as musket, pistol, etc. size. I have an older one of these that I 'aged', as it looked really modern. They're handsome!

Oh, I didn't know that. Thanks!

 

[granth]

The Dixie catalog has a section recommending charges & sizes for all their products. The flints are usually just called 'pistol size', you see them sold as musket, pistol, etc. size. I have an older one of these that I 'aged', as it looked really modern. They're handsome!

Also, how does it shoot? I've heard issues with lock geometry on some Pedersoli flinters.

 

[ELewis]

I have one. I shoot .570 round balls from Hornady with at .010 lubed patch from Ox-yoke. I use 30g of fffG BP as the main charge and a little squirt of 3g or so of 4f in the "pan". it shoots fairly well. It does seem to be hard on flints and rounds the edge over very quickly. I think this is because no matter how I adjust the flint, it seems to be hitting the frizzed at close to a 90* angle. I'm working on adjusting that. Also be aware that if you use the .570 balls like I do, you are going to need to swab the barrel after about 2-3 shots, or you won't get the next one in.

 

[nkbj]

I have one. I shoot .570 round balls from Hornady with at .010 lubed patch from Ox-yoke. I use 30g of fffG BP as the main charge and a little squirt of 3g or so of 4f in the "pan". it shoots fairly well. It does seem to be hard on flints and rounds the edge over very quickly. I think this is because no matter how I adjust the flint, it seems to be hitting the frizzed at close to a 90* angle. I'm working on adjusting that. Also be aware that if you use the .570 balls like I do, you are going to need to swab the barrel after about 2-3 shots, or you won't get the next one in.

ELewis, have you come up with an improvement on the Pedersoli lock?

 

[wiscoaster]

I have one (built from a kit) and my loads log for this pistol says 0.570 RB, 35 gr 3F, and 0.010 patch, and it's got a 5/8 in. flint. I did have to play a bit with my leather and flint mounting to get the flint to hit the frizzen at a decent angle.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hello all.
I recently bought a Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol off Dixie Gun Works. I was just wondering about y'alls recommendations on charge, patch thickness and flint size. Thanks!

View attachment 144766

Jist pick a charge and try it. I would start at around 59 grains and go down from there.
Don’t worry about blowing it up. Not possible.
First issue is will the lock make enuogh sparks to light up the priming. Very few of them will without work. Spring are usually too weak.

 

[springfield art]

Hello all.
I recently bought a Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol off Dixie Gun Works. I was just wondering about y'alls recommendations on charge, patch thickness and flint size. Thanks!

View attachment 144766

The fact that these are rifled gives them an extra bit of interest! The percussion version they make now is "fuggly" looking, I think, just from an esthetic point of view. I got one of these new in box a number of years back at an auction, for less than a hundred bucks! Not gonna find that deal, anymore!

 

[nkbj]

Someone could start a cottage industry fixing Pedersoli's booboo.

 

[springfield art]

Jist pick a charge and try it. I would start at around 59 grains and go down from there.
Don’t worry about blowing it up. Not possible.
First issue is will the lock make enuogh sparks to light up the priming. Very few of them will without work. Spring are usually too weak.

The Civil War musket military charge was 60 grains; It's wasteful to use such a large charge in a pistol. Unless someone wants to simply get a thrill out of a huge blast of flame just for the heck of it.

 

[maillemaker]

From US 1841 Ordnance Manual:

Always consult your owner's manual for recommended charges. Historical charges may not be safe due to changes in powder manufacture or other factors.

 

[smoothshooter]

Hello all.
I recently bought a Pedersoli 1805 Harper's Ferry Pistol off Dixie Gun Works. I was just wondering about y'alls recommendations on charge, patch thic

Those are nice guns, but you will probably have to send the lock to Brad Emmig tor tuning. He has one of those locks from me to work on.