Pedersoli Mortimer

[TerryK]

I was thinking about buying a Pedersoli Mortimer, standard weight flintlock in 54 caliber. My application would be primarily whitetail deer. What do you guys think?

 

[Tom Compton]

I like the look of the Mortimer and English Sporting Rifles in general. I prefer the .54 for deer and elk. Great combination to me.

 

[bpd303]

I wouldn't hesitate getting one.

 

[dodger]

I was thinking about buying a Pedersoli Mortimer, standard weight flintlock in 54 caliber. My application would be primarily whitetail deer. What do you guys think?

I have a Pedersoli Mortimer target version . It's the same gun as the standard but has a simple Creedmoor rear sight as well as the hunting sight .
It's a well made and accurate gun and the flint lock performs very well and has a safety which is useful in a hunting environment .
54 caliber has more punch than .50 and is preferable for killing game .
If you get the target version , it can be used for target or hunting by taking off the Creedmoor .
This gun is long and rather heavy , so I would handle one first to make sure that it will be appropriate for your style of hunting and the location .
Happy shooting .

 

[TerryK]

I'm really afraid of the weight. I would be ordering online, so I have ask for second hand impressions. I have a few flints, so I really don't want to buy something that I don't like. This is the hunting/standard model. Single trigger, and standard barrel flip sights. Still uncertain.

 

[dodger]

I'm really afraid of the weight. I would be ordering online, so I have ask for second hand impressions. I have a few flints, so I really don't want to buy something that I don't like. This is the hunting/standard model. Single trigger, and standard barrel flip sights. Still uncertain.

The weight is primarily due to a heavy and long barrel. I have thought of shortening mine but there is no gunsmith locally that I would trust and I trust myself even less .
Have you thought about the Jaeger?
It's shorter and a couple of pounds lighter .

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I am familiar with the gun. My brother owns one and I have tuned the locks on several. It is popular with the international muzzleloading target shooting crowd. In fact, they have a "Mortimer" match I believe. It is well made and is quite accurate. However, it is heavy and unbalanced. Personally, I dislike the feel of the gun. For a target gun, the muzzle weight may be fine, but I would hate to carry it around for hunting.

dave

 

[TerryK]

I'm really afraid of the weight. I would be ordering online, so I have ask for second hand impressions. I have a few flints, so I really don't want to buy something that I don't like. This is the hunting/standard model. Single trigger, and standard barrel flip sights. Still uncertain.

The weight is primarily due to a heavy and long barrel. I have thought of shortening mine but there is no gunsmith locally that I would trust and I trust myself even less .
Have you thought about the Jaeger?
It's shorter and a couple of pounds lighter .

I do have a nice Jaeger and it is on the lighter side with a swamped 31 inch barrel in 54 caliber. I was thinking of getting another just because I sold a few other guns. I actually had the highest bid, but it did not make the reserve. Funny because it was 50 bucks off the "buy it now price". So it closed, unsold while I was in a meeting at work. No big deal, I wanted something "huntable" and this one was probably too heavy. I also have a 50 RMC and a 54 TC Renegade for deer, so I have back up.
I can keep my gun money in the cookie jar for something else. Nice to wait for another one that fits my wants.
I appreciate the comments. I figure I did well by offering 50 bucks less than the buy it now price and being declined. I think I was meant to pass on this one.

 

[curator]

I have the "standard" Mortimer rifle. While it is somewhat heavy, the extra weight helps soak up some of the extra recoil of the .54 over a lighter .50 caliber gun. My best hunting load is 80 grains of OE FFg and a 300 grain Lee R.E.A.L. bullet. Very accurate and deadly. Recoil is stout enough that it would be quite unpleasant on a lighter gun. The Mortimer's butt plate is wide and slightly curved which helps distribute the recoil energy over a larger area. It is much nicer to shoot than my equally weighty .52 "Plains Rifle" with a narrow, deeply curved butt plate. The lock is very fast and nearly sure-fire, even in wet weather. Having lugged an M14 through jungle and rice-paddies, I don't think of the Mortimer as particularly heavy.

 

[Tom Compton]

Mortimer doesn't seem too heavy to me and I'm almost 70. Renegade stock and GM 1" drop in .54 w L&R flintlock is my hunting gun.

 

[TerryK]

Well, my birthday is on the horizon, and I just ordered it. Hopefully it can be used for hunting, if not it will do well on the range and sit well on the wall in my man cave.
Now I have to consider sights. I prefer a peep, but the factory lollypop pedersoli sight looks like it would weaken the wrist. Should I get a factory peep, or other type?

 

[dodger]

Well, my birthday is on the horizon, and I just ordered it. Hopefully it can be used for hunting, if not it will do well on the range and sit well on the wall in my man cave.
Now I have to consider sights. I prefer a peep, but the factory lollypop pedersoli sight looks like it would weaken the wrist. Should I get a factory peep, or other type?

I think you will like the gun .
I personally don't think the factory sight unduly weakens the stock . Whether you use it or not depends upon the kind of competition you wish to enter . Some comps and organisations dictate a period correct sight .
I found the blade hunting sight to be very accurate at 100yds .
If authenticity doesn't matter and you want an aperture sight,then I think a Sheutzen or a mid range Soule type sight would be ideal .
On my rifle, I have just fitted a Pedersoli windage adjustable globe front sight as I didn't like the original post and bead , we'll have to see how that goes .
If I wanted to use the gun for hunting , a Lee Shaver front sight would be more robust ( and is probably what I should have fitted ) .
Have fun shooting .

 

[TerryK]

The rifle arrived. I am really impressed with the quality. I really like the color cased parts, and the hardware. Features like captured barrel wedges, and the safety on the lock is pretty cool. The lock sparks like crazy, and the trigger is a really nice weight for hunting. The only think that I don't love is the weight. It is pretty heavy, and I really like a light / short rifle for my type of deer hunting and my trashed knees. I have other hunting flintlocks, so this one may spend most of the time at the range or on the wall. I may have to trade it on a Pedersoli Jaeger or I may just keep it?

 

[dodger]

The rifle arrived. I am really impressed with the quality. I really like the color cased parts, and the hardware. Features like captured barrel wedges, and the safety on the lock is pretty cool. The lock sparks like crazy, and the trigger is a really nice weight for hunting. The only think that I don't love is the weight. It is pretty heavy, and I really like a light / short rifle for my type of deer hunting and my trashed knees. I have other hunting flintlocks, so this one may spend most of the time at the range or on the wall. I may have to trade it on a Pedersoli Jaeger or I may just keep it?

Keep it , you will get used to the weight after a while . They are very nice rifles to shoot and accurate too .
As for buying a Jaeger ?
Well .
Buy one to keep the Mortimer from getting lonely .

 

[19 16 6]

I like the weight. I like the stock.
The gun fits me & I find the weight causes the barrel to hang in mid air & on target.
My brother Nathan likes the way it hangs on the target too. He is a bit smaller than me, but hairier. :wink: Don't catch alight nate :grin:
See how it goes for you.
One thing you might do is to polish the pan, they are a bit rough from new.
If it shoots low, get to filing that front sight down.
O.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Terry,
I mentioned the weight. For me it is not the absolute weight that I dislike about the gun, it is the lack of balance. I don't mind weight as long as it is distributed well. The Mortimer is very muzzle heavy, which some target shooters like. On the other hand, I shoot well but dislike lack of balance in a target gun.

dave

 

[Tom Compton]

Shoot it a lot then u won't go back.

I don't want a shotgun that hangs like a rifle or a rifle that swings like a shotgun.

But it's your gun so do as you like.
TC

 

[Semisane]

The rifle arrived. I am really impressed with the quality. I really like (color case/captured barrel wedges/lock safety/lock spark/trigger).... The only think that I don't love is the weight.

It's your gun. Eliminate the one thing you don't like and cut that 36 7/16" barrel back to 30 or 32".

 

[rushlake1]

The rifle arrived. I am really impressed with the quality. I really like the color cased parts, and the hardware. Features like captured barrel wedges, and the safety on the lock is pretty cool. The lock sparks like crazy, and the trigger is a really nice weight for hunting. The only think that I don't love is the weight. It is pretty heavy, and I really like a light / short rifle for my type of deer hunting and my trashed knees. I have other hunting flintlocks, so this one may spend most of the time at the range or on the wall. I may have to trade it on a Pedersoli Jaeger or I may just keep it?

Terry K..

I have the Mortimer in 12 ga. smooth bore..it is a heads up mount sight picture.but it is balanced....May wanna consider a 12 ga. barrel for it.
Mine is 37" long.... made by Ed Rayel...to replace the factory one.

Top gun 12 ga.mortimer

middle gun T/C Renegade 32" dropin bbl.58 cal


Bottom gun T/C Cherokee 32.cal

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I'd probably choose Pedersoli's Rocky Mountain Hawken for a hunting rifle. Shorter, less expensive. But those Mortimers are sure beautiful, and would double as a fine range target gun with that 1:65" round ball twist.