What happened to Pedersoli's diet and exercise program?

[Sparkitoff]

How did the Pedersoli shotguns get so fat? I hear of 5 pound and change guns of the past. I have a 5-pound 12- ounce gun on its way. In older literature I see a 5 1/2 pound 20b and a 6 3/4 pound 10b. Now, I have current editions in 10, 12 and 20 and interestingly, they all weigh nearly the same at 7-pounds 6 ounces, 7-pounds 4 ounces and 7-pounds 4 ounces respectively. Where did the extra pound and a half come from?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Some time in the 80's. Early 80's.
My guess is some lawyer advised Mr Pedersoli that if some fool loaded one of his doubles badly and harmed himself he might find himself being sued.
Similar to what happened to American rifle producers and their triggers in the early 90s.

 

[SDSmlf]

I can tell you that my Pedersoli 12 gauge double proofed in 1978 weighs in at 5.8 pounds (5 lb 12 oz) if I recall correctly. What is the date on the gun you have on the way?

 

[Britsmoothy]

I owned a 1983 double once. That was the obese model.

 

[Dude]

Where's the extra weight? In the barrels?

 

[Sparkitoff]

The one on the way, based on the markings is 1976-1978 I think.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Where's the extra weight? In the barrels?

Yes, especially the first six or seven inches from the breach.

 

[3Setters]

I have the older version. 5 1/2 pounds. Easy ti carry all day.

 

[Brokennock]

The extra weight in the guns is the diet and exercise plan.....
We are the ones on the plan.
The extra weight for us to carry is the exercise.
The diet part comes in with us shooting less game because of the weight. Thus we eat more snack food.


Someone told me that Pedersoli bought stock in a snack food company....

 

[Hawk78]

The extra weight in the guns is the diet and exercise plan.....
We are the ones on the plan.
The extra weight for us to carry is the exercise.
The diet part comes in with us shooting less game because of the weight. Thus we eat more snack food.


Someone told me that Pedersoli bought stock in a snack food company....

lol

 

[poker]

Awesome picture Aaron, thanks

 

[Ponderosaman]

I have noticed that the wood color on the old model is different. Could just be stain and finish, but if the wood was different. That would make a difference.

 

[Brokennock]

Joking and sarcasm aside.
I have noticed that almost all the readily available SxS muzzleloading shotguns I have found available lately are clunky, overweight, and cumbersome. At least the ones I've found available that don't cost a fortune.
Lawyers and insurance people ruin everything.
But, also, I blame a lack of skilled and motivated labor.
No young people want to go through the process of becoming the skilled worker that it takes to make these guns right.
I have the acquaintance of an older gentleman who grew up in Italy. At a young age he went to work for one of the big shotgun makers there. It was years before he even touched an actual shotgun. He had to prove himself first. Had to be worthy. Then, he could take pride in what he did and move up.
Young people don't want to do that. And corporations don't want to take care of their people long enough to get them through that process.

 

[Ponderosaman]

My unmentionable is about 8 pounds (1 barrel pump) and my Pedersoli is about 7 pounds. A popular over under unmentionable is 6.75 pounds. I got a nice Buffalo hide strap for my Pedersoli, which has the stock rings. Some say that’s inelegant, but if you are walking more than a few miles, a strap is almost required in my opinion.

 

[megasupermagnum]

Choke tubes did a whole lot to change the way people look at shotguns. If you look at most shotguns from the early 1900's until the 70's, they are overall thin barrels. Scary thin by todays standards. With fixed choke, you don't need extra material. When choke tubes caught on, barrels needed to be thicker to accommodate. The most drastic comparison I've seen is compare a Remington 11-48 and a Remington 11-87 barrel side by side.

Now that said, muzzleloaders had chunky barrels. I think people were spoiled with thin barrels for a long time, but muzzleloading shotguns from the 1800's had thick barrels. So in a sense, we are now returning to more appropriate barrel weights.

 

[Britsmoothy]

but muzzleloading shotguns from the 1800's had thick barrels

Not the ones I've seen friend

 

[leadhoarder]

Pedersoli’s exercise program is that you carry their overweight gun!

 

[megasupermagnum]

Not the ones I've seen friend

Do you have an example? My Birmingham built mid 1800's shotgun has barrels way thicker than even new shotguns. I can provide measurements later.

 

[SDSmlf]

muzzleloading shotguns from the 1800's had thick barrels.

I have only handled half a dozen or so original double barreled shotguns from the 1800s. All were relatively light compared to contemporary examples. Curious where you got the information that doubles from the 1800s had thick barrels? Actual samples held in hand? Or internet research?

 

[SDSmlf]

Do you have an example? My Birmingham built mid 1800's shotgun has barrels way thicker than even new shotguns. I can provide measurements later.

Ok, saw your post after I posted. Guess if trumps my experiences. Like I previously stated, only handled half a dozen or so. Not an argument that can be won here. Rock on.