Pedersoli Kentucky

[GrizzLeeBear]

I just won one of these on GunBroker in .45 cal. It will be a week or two before I receive it, but I thought I would jump on here and see if I could get some feedback on it from any of you here who have one. What loads it likes, any quirks or issues, etc. The one thing that seems a little odd about the rifle is the pics show it to have brass front and rear sights. All of the pics I can find online show them to have blued sights. Did some of these come from the factory with brass sights or would these be aftermarket?

I am new to the forum, but not new to muzzleloaders. I started shooting them this summer again with a group at a local club after a 15 year break. Got distracted with life, other shooting events (Bullseye pistol, Handgun silhouettes, High Power rifle). But I have gotten away from those events and decided to get back to the smoke poles.

 

[andy52]

I've had one for a couple of years. I didn't care for the sights it came with so I changed those out. Mine if fairly accurate with 30 grains of 3F.

 

[Hammond79]

I have an older one with brass sights. Made in 1972. You can look up the year of manufacturing by the SN. Mine is pretty accurate with .445 balls and .018 patches. 60-70 grains of 3F. I found an ad on the internet that stated the bore was .453 which if memory serves is 11.5 mm. This is the reason I went with the .445 balls. Another thing worth mentioning is the older guns might not have a patent breech. Congratulations on your new to you rifle!!

 

[Hammond79]

Inadvertent post

 

[Hammond79]

Inadvertent post

 

[GrizzLeeBear]

Thanks Hammond79! I should have the rifle in the next couple days. Doing a little more looking and the barrel has a XXX stamp at the breech end. Doing some more searching here I think this is the date code for 1974. The photo in the 1979 add page you posted looks exactly like it. Interesting that it is called a Pennsylvania rifle in the add.

 

[Hammond79]

Thanks Hammond79! I should have the rifle in the next couple days. Doing a little more looking and the barrel has a XXX stamp at the breech end. Doing some more searching here I think this is the date code for 1974. The photo in the 1979 add page you posted looks exactly like it. Interesting that it is called a Pennsylvania rifle in the add.

You are more than welcome. Mine actually has "Ohioan" stamped on the barrel.

 

[wiscoaster]

I have a .45 cal Pedersoli Frontier, basically the same, and I use 0.445 balls with a .010 patch and a 65 gr. 3F powder load.

 

[LonestarShootR]

Other than some minor cosmetic differences that Pedersoli goes by different names. Great marketing by them. I have a 1974 navy arms marked Kentucky .45 and just purchased David Pedersoli Alamo longrifle. Turns out to be the same gun, this one has a dark walnut stock, engraved patch box and was made in 1981.

 

[GrizzLeeBear]

Thanks for all the info. guys. I was hoping to shoot it this weekend, but it appears to have disappeared into the USPS "network". Tracking originally showed it with an expected delivery date of Oct. 4 by 9:00 pm. Well that came and went and now just says "your package will be delivered later than expected" and it just shows it "in transit" after it got to Akron, OH on the 3rd (about a half hour drive from Canton, OH where it was sent from on the 2nd). Who knows, it will probably next show up somewhere like Portland, Oregon because, you know, that's between OH and MI, LOL.

 

[LonestarShootR]

Well shipping is all over the place. The rifle I just got came across the country. Shipped by the seller Tuesday and i received it on Thursday. The downside the shipping was $120. Everything was in order.
I got busy doing other things today and did not get around to shooting.
Best of luck on your new Kentucky!

 

[smokepolehall]

Thanks for all the info. guys. I was hoping to shoot it this weekend, but it appears to have disappeared into the USPS "network". Tracking originally showed it with an expected delivery date of Oct. 4 by 9:00 pm. Well that came and went and now just says "your package will be delivered later than expected" and it just shows it "in transit" after it got to Akron, OH on the 3rd (about a half hour drive from Canton, OH where it was sent from on the 2nd). Who knows, it will probably next show up somewhere like Portland, Oregon because, you know, that's between OH and MI, LOL.

With usps never count on the shipping days with them. I have 2 pkg.'s missing. I have a shorter barreled model the Scout in .45. .0445 & .015 patching 55 gr of Graf's 3F is decent at 50 yards for me.

 

[wiscoaster]

With usps never count on the shipping days with them.....

No kidding. Multiple instances of gun-related items with tracking promising delivery "today" then later an update promising delivery "tomorrow" and yet when tomorrow comes it's yet again updated to "tomorrow". Guys, UPS is playing games with firearm-related shipments.

 

[Terry Lightle]

Had a rear sight take 4 days to go 8 miles a few weeks back

 

[GrizzLeeBear]

Man I was just looking at the map. I could have driven there in 4 1/2 hours and the Log Cabin Shop in Lodi is only 45 minutes from there and I wouldn't have even had to go out of my way as it would be on the way!

 

[Hammond79]

I have a .45 cal Pedersoli Frontier, basically the same, and I use 0.445 balls with a .010 patch and a 65 gr. 3F powder load.

That's my accuracy/deer load too... with .018" patches

 

[GrizzLeeBear]

Rifle got here today! Lonestar, I think I got the twin of your rifle as this one is marked Navy Arms as well. Rifle is in very good used condition. A couple small wood chips around the sideplate and a few other very small blemishes. Bore is very good. Overall a well taken care of used gun. Nice light rifle weighs just under 7 lbs. and balances just behind the entry thimble The 35 1/2" barrel feels very handy. The sights however will need changed for my 58 year old eyes, the small brass sights are just to hard for me to see. Overall though I really like the gun, I think I got a good deal for $475! Might have to pick up one of these in .32 cal. in the future.

 

[LonestarShootR]

The rear sight recently fell off of the 74 navy arms rifle on the left. I just replaced it. It looked like someone was a little aggressive with a grinder or file. I don’t believe it was original. The front sight is brass like you mentioned your was. My eyes are like yours at 64 and cannot get the rear and front to focus at the same time. Please give us a report on your findings shooting it and a picture or 2 wouldn’t hurt either.

Any who’s I took this picture this morning showing the 74 and 81 models next to each other. Both are .45’s

 

[bpd303]

I think I got a good deal for $475!

I picked up a David Pedersoli Pennsylvania Dixie flint lock in 45 cal back in 2013 at one of our muzzle shoots from a member that I had done some deals with for $225. It is in as new condition and a good shooter. It is basically the same as the Kentucky rifle. Some pictures of it and the first target. Looks like the prices have increased since then.