Very new...need information

[chillstone]

Hey guys,

I just purchased a muzzleloader from a friend and needed a bit of info regarding what to do with it. I have a percussion Pedersoli Frontier Carbine .50...beyond that I know very little. I have been doing a lot of research but have a lot of missing info. I am good on general loading, shooting, and cleaning. I have also ordered the Complete Muzzleloader Handbook that a few of you guys recommended (but it has not arrived). A few of my questions are:

Is my twist 1:34"? If so, that means I can use a conical bullets right? Can I use sabots?? If so what size???

What size is my nipple (my wife is laughing her butt off)? Can or should I convert this to something else?? A more standard size??? 209 ignition???? Can I add a cap shield ( not sure of the correct term )?????

Any chance of hitting a pie plate at 100 yards? I have fired a lot of weapons for quite a number of years but I am no Bobby Lee Swagger.

Thanks!!

 

[Little Wattsy]

A) WELCOME! You are in good company!!
B) This is a TRADITIONAL site so discussing sabots and 209's are forbidden.
3) You DO have a gun that should print at 100 yards. Connicals will shoot well, you MIGHT get a decent group with patched round balls (PRB's) to 75-ish yards.
You wont gain anything by converting nipples; #11 caps do a very good job at making it go bang.

Get ready to make some smoke!! :hatsoff:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Well, Pedersoli says "yes" to 1:34" twist in the carbine, while the rifle seems to be 1:48" twist. Suppose their reasoning was that many current hunters are sold on projectiles rather than round balls. The rifling is 8 lands & grooves and shallow, .005" depth and will be more consistent with the use of Maxi/minie type projectiles. PRB can be used but lower powder charges will give the best results with fast twist, start around 40 to 50 grains and ease up slowly until the groups deteriorate, indicating the velocity is getting too high to properly stabilize round balls.

Not sure of actual nipple/cone size on that gun but #11 caps usually do the trick. Never went in for anything other than caps, though did switch to a nipple for musket caps on one old gun just to get better ignition. A shield is a perfectly sensible accessory for protection from cap fragments and are easily put on under the nipple. Good luck.

 

[nkbj]

Measure your twist with a rod and tight patch. The 38" twist on the Pedersoli website might be a typo. The rifle will probably shoot conical and round ball for you.

 

[chillstone]

What are some good online sites for ordering accessories (cappers, powder measurers,etc)? The stores here in Houston seem a bit limited.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

Track of the Wolf and Dixie Gun Works are well respected on-line stores.

It would be wise to check the twist rate. There are a number of typos on the Pedersoli web site and catalogue. The shallow groove would indicate conicals though.

 

[GaCop]

Track of the Wolf and Dixie Gun Works are well respected on-line stores.

It would be wise to check the twist rate. There are a number of typos on the Pedersoli web site and catalogue. The shallow groove would indicate conicals though.

+1, both companies are great.