What would you do?

[Bruce Roberts]

I'm looking to get my first BP rifle and am being offered a Petrsoli Pennsylvania .45 flintlock that is 20 yr old and has never been fired by owner. I can get very good deal, BUT I read about all the problems that come with some of the Petrsoli rifles.

So, would you take the Petrosli? Or pass and get a Lyman Great Plains or TC Hawken which are the other options I'm looking at. Assume that all prices are similar.

 

[Billnpatti]

All prices being equal, there is no question about it. Buy the GPR. They are one of the finest and best shooting factory made rifles out there. They are also the closest in appearance to the original Plains Rifles made by Hawken, et al.

 

[rafterob]

If, by a really good deal you mean $100-200 go for it. Pedersoli are well built quality manufactured guns. Keep in mind that the Lyman GPR is built in Italy just like the Pedersoli.

 

[ohio ramrod]

The problems that SOME PEOPLE have with pedroseli's are easily fixed.( Too small of a powder chamber in the breech and too heavy frizzen spring ) They were and still are a quality rifle.But then this is just my opinion, completely free and worth what you paid for it! :idunno: :idunno: :idunno:

 

[pargent]

YEP I would take an old Pedersoli over a GPR any day.

 

[larry wv]

Pedersoli buy it. :wink:

 

[Jumpshot]

I currently own one Pedersoli rifle and four pistols. Some people complain about Ped. quality but that hasn't been my experience. My Ped. Pennsylvania is also a .45 flintlock. A couple of things to keep in mind: the frizzen springs on these things tend to be pretty stout. It functions perfectly fine and sparks great, but you might find it eats flints faster than a gun with a lighter frizzen spring.

Also, the bore in mine is a bit on the tight side. I find it easier to use a smaller ball (.433") and a thicker patch. A larger ball (.440") works well, it just needs swabbing more often or it will get too hard to load.

Ignition is very fast. With good flints (black English) and 4F in the pan, I can't tell a difference in ignition speed between it and a caplock. And it's a very accurate shooter.

If the price on all three is roughly the same, I'd say go with the one that appeals to you the most and fits you best when you shoulder it.

 

[Bruce Roberts]

Still interested in more replies. I'm trading a bolt action 12 ga. valued at about $125. I'll try to attach my first attempt at posting a picture, of the Pedrsoli. Oh well, can't figure how to add a JPEG pic here.

 

[tecum-tha]

Pedersoli in flint. Never ever again.
A gun is not a good gun, if it needs work, because this and that was not done correctly.
The barrel is fine, the breech is a pain and may be too small creating ignition problems.
See it on this .50 cal here: http://pedersolilancaster.rsengineering.de/

Picture of the cut off piece in left bottom on first gallery page.
It can probably bored open, if you know what you do. I was so fed up with it, that I finally just cut it off and installed a correct flint breach and restocked the whole rifle. The lock is a good sparker, but a flint eater. I got about 15 shots per flint, then the flint broke.
Problem with Pedersoli: They probably know what junk they produce, but never changed anything on their flinters in 20 years to make them better guns. This breech works fairly well with percussion ignition.

 

[hobowonkanobe]

Hands down lad, buy it. There are MANY far worse than that. I have 2 muzzle loaders and both are Pedersolis. I have NO complaints. Pieta, CVA etc... that's a dif story.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm trading a bolt action 12 ga. valued at about $125. I'll try to attach my first attempt at posting a picture, of the Pedrsoli. Oh well, can't figure how to add a JPEG pic here.

At that price you're on the very long end of the trade. Go for it. If someone here wants to peddle you a GPR for $125, consider it, but demand an inspection period and full refund if you don't like what you see, seller pays shipping both ways.

 

[nit wit]

Pedersoli for sure :thumbsup: , I converted a perc rifle to flint for my wife, she has had no problems whipping us men at times. The only problem is it won't fire blank charges without a wad.
Nit Wit

 

[BE Wild Willy]

For that trade I'd jump all over it!!!

 

[nkbj]

Was there a price mentioned on the Pedersoli...

Put a flint in it and see if it's nice and sparkly. Examine the bore like a horses teeth looking for what it's been fed. Feel that patch for drag and eyeball it what for. Then be dickering.

Just personal preference but I've a soft spot for a .45 full stock rifle flavoring the gravy.

 

[Zonie]

The only real problem I've seen with a Pedersoli is replacement parts cost slightly less than a Ferrari distributor.

As with most factory guns the touch hole is also too small to work well.

 

[jethro224]

I'm trading a bolt action 12 ga. valued at about $125.

If the bore is good MAKE THE TRADE! :thumbsup:

 

[jdkerstetter]

The only real problem I've seen with a Pedersoli is replacement parts cost slightly less than a Ferrari distributor.

As with most factory guns the touch hole is also too small to work well.

Both are too true. To build an Italian gun using only their parts you would spend as much as you would on a complete American made gun....more in some cases.

The Pedersoli breech arrangement, though not ideal with the long flash channel, works fine once a vent liner with a generous cone on the inside is installed and the hole is drilled out larger.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Bear Rider]

...
...
...To build an Italian gun using only their parts you would spend as much as you would on a complete American made gun....more in some cases.
...
...
...

That holds true for ANYTHING that you try to build from only factory-supplied parts at retail prices -- guns, cars, you name it.

 

[Clovis]

While I have a love/hate relationship with my Pedersoli/cabela's Blue Ridge .45 I think you could make the trade you are talking about, if you find things you don't like about it, take it to the highest qualified black powder gunsmith in your area, pay him to fix what you want fixed and pay for the parts and still be ahead on the deal...at least that's what I think I would consider. Take care

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I liked my Cabela's Blue Ridge which is the same model as the Pedersoli "Frontier". The only problem that I had was cutting patches..., which showed good quality cutters on the rifling machine, and was an easy fix. Cosmetics, not so much, as the thimbles and sights needed modifying, but she shot well. I never had the ignition problems others have had.

Now the "Pennsylvania" I believe has the smaller lock than the "Frontier", so look hard at the lock, and be sure it's in good shape and the pan seals well when the frizzen is closed.

For a trade worth $125.00...., geesh that's half of what you'd pay for caplock, Traditions, Kentucky rifle kit with Spanish parts from Sportsman's Guide, and a new Pedersoli Pennsylvania rifle from Dixie is around $860. So if you found you didn't like it, you should be able to sell it used for a bit of a profit, which you could apply to a rifle that you do like. :wink:

LD