Pedersoli Kentucky in flint, .50 cal

[Old Charlie]

I bought a Pedersoli Kentucky in flint, .50 cal and the thing shoots great. How ever the bore is so tight that I have to use .010 patch and consiterable force to load the thing. Broke the ram rod right off the bat. Going to make one out of brass.My rifle of course shoots wally world ticking. A Different patch for rifle and pistol. :cursing:
Old Charlie

 

[Arrowstorm]

the muzzle on my kentucky is also crowned sharp on the inside. be careful not to tear your patches. I use a .490 roundball with a .010 patch. works fine. shoots a bit high though. front site blade is pretty high...

beautiful pistol though. nice, tight fast working lock. had to cut into the top screw notch so I could use my screwdriver to tighten it. Also had to drill into the topscrew hole so I could use my hex to tighten. But man, it sure is pretty, and shoots nice.

 

[Bob Riegl]

That doesn't seem surprising as I have a pair of Traditions in .50 and they are also a bit tight and their barrels are crowned---the Pedersoli has much less crowning. I use a small rubber mallet to start and then the short starter and Brass pistol range rod. I am waiting for a Gun Works English flint pistol in .40 cal---it's being made as we talk ( I hope). Merry Christmas :hatsoff:

 

[CrackStock]

I think that those bores are tighter than most .50s. I use a looser ball because I do not want to risk damaging the gun by pounding overly tight balls into the bore.

CS

 

[Puffer]

Try "lapping it (not a lot, but even a little will help

Puffer

 

[Puffer]

Try "lapping it (not a lot, but even a little will help

Puffer

 

[Zonie]

If the patch is being cut by the sharp edge of the crown you may want to smooth it out.

I have found that polishing the edges of the crown using the black silicone carbide "wet/dry? sandpaper does wonders to reduce patch cutting and help in loading in general.

You need to have medium to small fingers to do it, but tear off a piece of paper and start it into the bore with your finger.
Now, rotate the paper around the circumference of the bore, sanding off the sharp edges.
These usually are most noticable on the rifleing

Keep doing this with new paper until the whole corner is slightly rounded and smooth.
Any tendency to tear the patches during loading will be gone and if you apply the same amount of removal all the way around the bore, it will not hurt accuracy a bit.

Because this will remove the blueing, you might want to thouch up the area with one of the cold blues available at gun stores.

 

[flm_shooter]

I use a .490 roundball with a .010 patch. works fine. shoots a bit high though. front site blade is pretty high...

Exactly what I use. And I filed off half the front sight.

 

[Bill Bryan]

I know what you mean. The Pedersoli is closer to a 49 cal.
I shoot a 50 cal Austin Halleck flintlock rifle and a 50 cal Pedersoli Kentucky pistol. I try to use the same mould for soft lead bullets. It's a .490 Lyman. I've played around with different patches and powder charges. In the end I've gone to a .010 patch for the pistol and a .015 for the rifle. I use a wooden loading mallet with both guns. I've never had a problem with cut patches. Make sure you are using soft lead.

 

[Rusty Old Gunns]

I use a .490 roundball with a .010 patch. works fine. shoots a bit high though. front site blade is pretty high...

Exactly what I use. And I filed off half the front sight.

If you file down the front sight, its going to shoot higher.

You need to decide on the range you want to soot at, and develope your load.

I prefer to use a slightly heavy load, and work things out from there. If it shoots 2" high at 15 feet, I'll just aim 2" low at that distance.

The next alturnative is adjust the load, or... if the load gets too weak, have a new front sight with a high blade soldered on, then take it to the range and fire it, file the sight a little, fire it, then file it again.

Keep on doing that until it gives you the POA (Point of Aim) you want with the load you like, and hit at distant you want.

But if the POA is too hi and you file down the front sight, it will only shoot higher.

Its kind a like saying, "No matter how many times I cut it... its still too short!"

 

[Toomuch_36]

I use a .490 roundball with a .010 patch. works fine. shoots a bit high though. front site blade is pretty high...

Exactly what I use. And I filed off half the front sight.

If you file down the front sight, its going to shoot higher.

You need to decide on the range you want to soot at, and develope your load.

I prefer to use a slightly heavy load, and work things out from there. If it shoots 2" high at 15 feet, I'll just aim 2" low at that distance.

The next alturnative is adjust the load, or... if the load gets too weak, have a new front sight with a high blade soldered on, then take it to the range and fire it, file the sight a little, fire it, then file it again.

Keep on doing that until it gives you the POA (Point of Aim) you want with the load you like, and hit at distant you want.

But if the POA is too hi and you file down the front sight, it will only shoot higher.

Its kind a like saying, "No matter how many times I cut it... its still too short!"

Absolutely correct. If you are shooting low the front sight will have to be shortened or a taller rear sight installed. If you are shooting high the opposite is true.
As for loads, what works best for you is best (all pistols will often like different loads). I usually find that lighter moderate loads offer better consistancy and tighter groups. Once you have established a load then adjust your sights accordingly.

Toomuch
...........
Shoot Flint