picked up a pedersoli 12 guage!

[alaskasmoker]

I think I scored a good deal here. Like new pedersoli cabelas 12 guage double, full back of 4 shot and 6 shot plus wads and shot cups.

Im pretty excited about it. If I cant manage to get some rabbits with that .32 by george I'll whackem with this thing!

My first question is, are the shotcups needed for rabbit hunting? I was told they were only necassary for turkey hunting or long range waterfouling.

I expect my shots on rabbits to be around 20 yard.

Whats the recommended loading here?

Also what are the specialty shotgun accesories needed?

Thanks!

 

[Leon/Iowa]

I also have the same gun. The load that works best for me is:
80 gr. of FF
two, .125 over powder cards
1&1/4 oz. #6 shot
one, over shot card
This load has worked on rabbit, pheasant, quail and turkey. Hope this helps. Leon

 

[Andre V]

Congrats on your new score.

 

[alaskasmoker]

So leon you dont use the shot cups then?

Also Ill add that Im very impressed with the fit and finish and general appearnce of the gun. Ive only ever seen them online before and was having a hard time justifiying the price, but it looks like alot goes into these.

And being as I found this in Alaska, I got it for a steal since I am the black powder market up here hehe.

 

[torn moc]

You will do fine out to 20-25 yds with a cyl. choke. Spend some time and pattern the gun with differnt powder charges and differnt pellet loads to see what works best in your gun.
Shotguns are particular animal....But they are alot of fun! I just acquired a Mowrey 12 ga. and look forward to patterning it...been looking for 10 years to find this gun...

 

[kgrohs]

Hey alaska, good deal, the shot cups can be used,cannot remember my loads for the 3 I have owned, but the old saying more shot less powder does come to mind. kjg

 

[Oldnamvet]

I get the best patterns from using equal volumes of powder and shot. I just measure both with the powder measure. Two over powder cards shot and an over shot card. I punch 1/32" holes in all my cards to make it easier for the air to escape when shoving them down the barrels. If you shoot one barrel only it is always smart to check the unfired load (with the cap off) to be sure it hasn't shaken loose while you are reloading the fired barrel. Double check which barrel you are reloading. A friend was excited and "reloaded" over the unfired load. Fortunately, he had his ramrod clearly marked and we noticed it was out of whack before he capped the barrels again. That would have been very bad. :nono:

 

[Ohio Rusty]

That is a great gun, and that is the exact same gun in my avatar. My avatar shows what a rabbit or pheasant sees when it's brought to the shoulder. I've never used shot cups, only cards and felt wads for components. 70 gr. of 2F and one ounce of 6's for rabbits and squirrels. 85 gr. of 2F and 1 1/4 oz. of #5's for pheasant are my normal hunting loads. I'll switch the #5's for #7's when grouse hunting.
Ohio Rusty >

 

[Leonredbeard]

alaskasmoker,
It doesn't take much to kill your ordinary rabbit. Now, I don't know how tough they are up there in the 49th state. I had a cylinder bored 12 gauge double from CVA. I killed three rabbits one day over an old dude's rabbit beagles. I had not patterned the load, nor was I an expert shot on running game. In trail shooting of chased rabbits, an open pattern can be a blessing at such short ranges.
volatpluvia

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Alaska you won't need shot cup for rabbits.Read Namvets post and when you reload just one side drop the ramrod in the loaded barrel. You can load light loads for rabbits like 7/8 oz of shot over the same dipper of powder.
:wink: Rocky

 

[Britsmoothy]

11/4oz and a little less powder in the measure. Thin OS cards x4 on the powder and 1 on top of the shot.No holes poked in them.
Carry a nip key and pricker.A scew to unload and a fiber or plas wad to shoot the powder of with as the cards can just flip over with the shot removed (plenty of screwed up news paper will do it) :thumbsup: