Pedersoli owners, speak up

[nkbj]

My forty Great Plains (kept the original barrel length) is border line for me on muzzle heaviness.
The Renegade is about the same, maybe a little handier feeling with the 28" barrel.

 

[longcruise]

My forty Great Plains (kept the original barrel length) is border line for me on muzzle heaviness.
The Renegade is about the same, maybe a little handier feeling with the 28" barrel.

I can see either of those in bench shooting.

 

[maillemaker]

I'm finding a couple of issues with Pedersoli guns lately.

They are putting patent breeches on guns that should not have them (their Lorenz, for example).

They are drilling cleanout screws so they can put right-angle fire channels in guns that would have had straight-in ones (their latest Enfields, and Lorenz). They try and hide this by plugging the hole and grinding it flush, but you can still tell, and of course now you have a fire channel that you cannot access to clean if it gets plugged.

Guns like the Enfield and, I believe, the Lorenz should have had straight-in fire channels. This allows them to be easily cleaned.

Certain Springfield guns had right-angle fire-channels, with the one going into the bore plugged off with a screw. This was a manufacturing expediency. At least the screw can be removed for cleaning when needed.

 

[nkbj]

I can see either of those in bench shooting.

That was pretty much the intent for the GPR (16" twist Ed Rayl barrel) but wanted to deer hunt with it also. Then we moved and around here you have to use a minimum .44 bore for deer. Oh well!

 

[hwb13]

I have 3 of them and have no complaints, I'm new enough at this I might just not know what to complain about. Pennsylvania long rifle, sxs 12ga , and an older brown bess. All go bang and when I do my part hit where aimed.

 

[smokepolehall]

I had a frontier that I bought with both the flintlock and percussion locks and was easy swap back and forth. Some of these people saying they owned one probably never did of they would know you can remove a few screws and the barrel comes right off and place it in the sink to clean it. I literally could shoot the 45 cal about 50 shots and never punch the barrel one time and never got tough to load or lost accuracy. Off course i lube patched with bore cleaner too. But 100 percent a frontier you can remove the barrel and thoroughly clean it in the sink. So not sure where the issues come in with cleaning it because of the breech. Like I said sounds like people that never owned one. The bolster on frontier percussion screws into side of the barrel not the nipple into a breech plug. The same hole for bolster hole in the side of barrel I can screw in the vent liner and install flintlock. So where does the cleaning issue comes in???? Its actually an awesome design for cleaning, and shooting.

I don't know what model you have. My Pedersorry is pinned, Scout model rock sparker.

 

[SDSmlf]

Exploring options for a specific squirrel rifle, percussion only. I’ve read and heard multiple times of issues with Pedersoli breech systems. I like to take things like this with a grain of salt, however, I also like to know what I’m getting into before hand.

This will be a hard working squirrel rifle that will see lots of action in thick and steep mountains and in all kinds of weather conditions. I do not have the time nor desire to have to fiddle with my ML’s while I’m hunting. I’ll no doubt be running a couple of patches down the bore after a few shots. Thus my concern about the picky breech comments I’ve read about on here. I’ve also read just recently that they require additional cleaning.

For those of you that have Pedersoli ML’s and shoots them multiple times every time you go out, please give your input.

Thank you

I have a Pedersoli 32 caliber Scout with both the flint and percussion locks. Great squirrel gun and can shoot all day without swabbing with the correct load combination, one of my favorite guns. But as this is a percussion only discussion, I’ll stay on topic and won’t comment on any of the specifics with my gun.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

Hello JTT. There is no concerns about how to thoroughly clean those rifles, at least with me. It has been spelled out well where the concerns are, and have been substantiated in this thread. Some Pedersoli rifles require additional and/or different attention when shooting multiple times than most other brands. The use of spit patch’s might help but it is not an option for a hunting application where my ML sometimes remains loaded for many hours, sometimes a few days, at a time.

Many folks wouldn’t even realize the situation, but for a hard core squirrel hunter that shoots quite a few shots every time they go out, they will notice it.

I don't know what model you have. My Pedersorry is pinned, Scout model rock sparker.

The frontier you remove the tang bolt, the 2 ramrod thimble screws and the barrel comes right off.

 

[ETipp]

I have a Pedersoli 32 caliber Scout with both the flint and percussion locks. Great squirrel gun and can shoot all day without swabbing with the correct load combination, one of my favorite guns. But as this is a percussion only discussion, I’ll stay on topic and won’t comment on any of the specifics with my gun.

Thank you for the input, but I'm not interested in the Scout model nor a flintlock. I'm looking for a longer barreled percussion rifle for my squirrel hunting methods and hunting grounds.

To narrow this down more, I am specifically interested in a .32 caliber Pedersoli PA rifle with a 41 1/2" barrel. However, I must find out if their breeches are problematic, in terms of wiping up to 10 times or more between or after a few shots. I'm simply not interested in spending 1K + on any rifle that's going to give me issues up in the mountains.

 

[rusticbob]

Keep using the Crockett and save your money for powder and ball.

 

[LME]

I don't know if rifles have different breech than the sxs shotguns. But I have 2 and have had zero problems. The only thing I use to clean my gun is a bucket of water and a patch and jag. I remove the nipples and "pump" water in and out vigorously. Never had a failure to fire.

I also use water with a little soap. Water ,by its self, works. Water is a universal solvent. It works on just about anything except rubber and precious metals. I did have a misfire but not from how I was cleaning my rifle. The reason was to much oil in the barrel. Ran a few patches down her fired a few caps and I was back to shooting.

 

[ETipp]

Keep using the Crockett and save your money for powder and ball.

Rusticbob, what is your reasoning for stating this?

 

[Trigger]

It is Probably funner with a Crockett. I guess your not on a full powder charge

The squirrel is strong.

Yea I mention it. Unmentionable.

Like $700 for a .36 cal TC.



I'm surprised the TC has not sold. Just saying.

A Crockett is close to $600 new.

And what a pedersoli. $1,000

 

[Trigger]

Kicking tires

 

[Mcgiiver1]

I have a .32 Pedersoli percussion and it operates with no problems. I use round balls with Wonder Bore Butter lubed patches and Pyrodex P grade with #11 caps. No ignition problems. Accuracy is not great in my opinion . I would say not good enough for squirrels past 25 yards. Different loads do not seem to help.

I was at a ML dealer one time when he was doing a shooting demo of a Pedersoli percussion gun for a potential customer. Upon firing, the drum which holds the nipple, blew out from the gun sidewise, not to be found. I know no further details about the loads or powder.

 

[Trigger]

The p..

I tried rs and 11 with the shotguns.

It worked good on the range. Then it was ehh when hunting. I though p would have done better but I don't know.

I got BP in 2f.. that's been good.. I think 3f might be better.

Either way I need more powder now so...

 

[Trigger]

Those times it didn't go.. I don't know why exactly either. The rs might be just fine with 11..

I've read mixed with using subs.

 

[ETipp]

I dont know if the Pedersoli Penn Dixie .45 cal I bought a while back has the patent breech or not, but on its first shoot, the only fouling issue I had was 2F compared to 3F. 2F would foul the bore much quicker than 3F so that was what I used.
I dont recall any other issues.

What were you using for patch lube?

 

[ETipp]

I have 3 of them and have no complaints, I'm new enough at this I might just not know what to complain about. Pennsylvania long rifle, sxs 12ga , and an older brown bess. All go bang and when I do my part hit where aimed.

What are you using for patch lube and do you run a patch down the bore between shots? How many times to you shoot at each session?

 

[ETipp]

I have a 50 cal Hatfield, patent breech. It’s my understand Pedersoli bought Hatfield and use the same patent breech design. At my first shoot with it, the patent breech completely fouled. Once cleaned with water and various picks, I met a shooter that never swabbed between shots. He did however, seat the patched round ball in subsequent loads with a slightly moistened patch. He claimed this method removed some fouling and left his barrel in the same condition for each shot. So, your initial load patch will probably be a favored lube, in the event you don’t shoot the first day out. However, once in the hunt and shooting, powder, patch, lube and ball, seat with a moistened patch. Since you’ve started shooting, you’ll be doing a thorough cleaning at days end. Since using this method with my Hatfield, with its patent breech, has not plugged with fouling. Swabbing between shots on empty barrel will push fouling into the reduced size portion of your patent breech. Pouring powder into the patent breech will bring minimum fouling with it.

This sounds reasonable IF one decides to use a spit type patch for a hunting application, which I have some reservations on doing. Considering I have never had an issue such as the Pedersoli's have with any of my other ML's (including my TC New Englander) after wiping between shots, spit patches appears to be conducive at reducing the issue. All I've ever used was real ML patch lube and its never failed me. As I have said, I do wipe between shots with moist patches with Windex on them. Never an issue with my Crockett that I have shot a lot.