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Pedersoli double rifle .72cal

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Austrian

32 Cal.
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I just wanted to ask if anyone here has any experience with the Pedersoli SxS Double Barrel muzzleloader rifles (Kodiak and Safari Express) - I've done my Internet research and found only a couple of very vague reviews of shooters with mixed results, and even less about the .72 caliber.-

I ordered one in .72 (straight stock model) because I've always been in love with the pre-20th century big game nitro express safari double rifles - but as a poor man I'll never be able to afford guns that start at 30000$. :(

This is the closest I can get, and I love muzzle loaders so it was a logical thing to do. :grin:

Thanks in advance!
 
A friend has one, and I've handled it but not shot it. Your wish for a "poor man's" double rifle will be well served I think. I've shot a lot of large caliber double cartridge rifles, and the handling compares well. It will seem very muzzle heavy to you, but that's a good thing when it comes to stout loads.

My buddy is shooting .715 patched balls over 120 grains of 2f Goex, if I recall correctly. He's gone higher, but at a price on his shoulder. I recall that number because it's the standard charge I use in one of my 58 caliber rifles. His light plinking load is only 80 grains of 2f Goex.
 
Thanks for the replies!

A top heavy guns is definitely good in my book, the guns I shoot best off hand, and feel best, are those with heavy barrels that rest solidly in my left hand.

I just hope the barrels will at least roughly shoot together, I'm definitely not expecting cloverleaf groups at even 50yds or anything like that, but at least both barrels shooting the same elevation would be nice.
 
I've read some horror stories about the double rifle barrels being unregulated to the point they're near useless for anything. Of course, with a muzzle loader there are many variables to consider first before blaming the gun / the manufacturer.

I know for a 1000 bucks I cannot expect barrel regulation like you'd have on a rifle that is worth 30 times as much, there is a reason they're so expensive, but I just hope those are horror stories and exceptions.
 
Not a rifle but my old pedersoli 10 db brl did NOT shoot well, right barrel right left barrel left. Both were the same vertically tho, so that is a good sign?
 
I have owned three Pedersoli Kodiak rifles, one 58-caliber "house" brand and two Kodiak Safari High Grades. While I no longer own any - not big enough, if you can believe it - I have had consistently good-excellent results, with provisos. Please PM me that I may bore you to tears with excessive details, including the schematic and identification of my 775-grain conical.
 
My .72 Kodiak has 3-4" of vertical dispersion at 50 yards. With the right barrel I have to use the 6 o'clock hold and with the left barrel the dead on hold.
 
I was just looking at the 72 calibre Kodiak Express as sold by Dixie Gun Works, and it says that the rear sights are twin, flip up open sights adjustable for elevation and windage. It would seem a simple matter to adjust them to the same point of impact.
 
I intended purpose of the flip up leaf sights on double rifles is for different ranges. Doesn't mean you couldn't use one for each barrel.

Even the astronomical cartridge double rifles have issues with regulation. They come regulated for a particular load, should you want or need to shoot anything else, you start over.
 
I have been using a 58 for deer for 30 years. I like the straight stock as it handles like my shotgun. I did not have any problems with regulation but mine is an early one. Stacey
 
Well I a firm believer that the only excuse one needs to buy a gun is that you want it. Now where I've hunted rules stipulated single shot ml, so a double wouldn't do me any good. Are you planing to hunt with yours, and where at? With a Minnie it would be up to elephant. Val forget took elephant with a 650 grain Minnie. I think I would want one for brown bear.
 
I'm not planning to take it to a hunt, I'd love to but where I live hunting game with anything other than a modern scoped centerfire rifle is deemed unethical and is strictly prohibited, sadly.

I've always been especially fond of big game bore rifles and double rifles, I love how they look, handle, how they work and what they shoot.
I own a lot of different kinds of rifles, but no double barrel yet, and thats needs to change.

@ tenngun
If you removed one nipple and/or the connector of a lock rendering one barrel useless, would it pass as a single shot? Or what that be way too risky?
 
I'm not familiar with any European hunting laws. I'm sorry to hear you can't hunt with it. However you will enjoy it. Very few shots are ever fired at game.
I honestly don't know if removing the nipple would count or not, I tend to ere on the side of caution.
 
I have had a couple in .72 and in .58.
Regulation varies by rifle, but I never had one I could not get to shoot within at least 4 inches at 50 yards just using one of the two rear sights.
The .72 is very pleasant to shoot with a patched round ball and 120 grains of FFg. It begins to get your attention shooting a Fosbury conical of 700 or more grains when you approach 150 grains of powder, but I didn't find the recoil at all abusive, like say a Ruger No. 1 in .458 Lott.
The Kodiaks are interesting rifles. They just begin to get a bit heavy -- not an issue for a power lifter!
 
@BillinOregon
Now that sounds reassuring, I can definitely life with 4'' at 50. :)

Speaking of heavy conicals, one thing I've always wondered is if the ball in the second barrel moves under recoil creating a barrel obstruction. I wonder if thats going to be an issue with the recommended .715 ball and 0.10 patch combo, especially if I soak the patch with a lot of water based slippery lube. Not to mention the conical that must be even more prone to this problem.

Is that just a theoretical issue that never happens in real life?
In any case, when I shoot it I'll put the ramrod in the second barrel to make sure its sitting on the load.
tenngun said:
I'm not familiar with any European hunting laws. I'm sorry to hear you can't hunt with it. However you will enjoy it. Very few shots are ever fired at game.
Thank you. I have stopepd trying to understand the local hunting laws around here long ago, most make little sense and were obviously made by people who have very limited experience with firearms.
But thats true for most laws all around the globe that involve firearms.
The Kodiaks are interesting rifles. They just begin to get a bit heavy -- not an issue for a power lifter!
Unless I shoot it a day after doing max weight log lifts, after those my shoulders are so sore recoil of anything above 22 knocks me unconscious and the weight of the gun crushes me offhand. :haha:
 
Well I'm long in the tooth and wimpy to boot, 80 grins in my .62 is stout enough for me :haha: however brown bears moose and elephants are rare around here, :haha:
 

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