What would you do?

[Jumpshot]

Yeah, I'd try .433 balls first (Hornady makes them, and there are cast balls available from Track of the Wolf) and see how they work. You'll need to try different patch thicknesses to see what works best. I like Ox-Yoke pre-lubed cotton patches, I get them at my local gun shop. But Track has them, if you're buying online.

If the .433 ball is too big, you can also get .429 and .424, and if it's too small, there's .435, .437, .440, and .445, so you have plenty of options. Since this is your first blackpowder rifle, keep in mind it will take some experimentation (with both ball sizes and patch thicknesses) to figure out what your rifle likes best. It's part of the process of 'learning' a new gun.

 

[hornetk4]

Bruce in my opinion ya gotta smokin deal, I got 5 pedersoli flinters and love them all.Trying to pic the best of the production grade guns is somtimes a crap shoot, none of them is perfect.The best thing about all of them is learning to make them shoot well,more than that you realy ought to get one of each and see for yourself which is better.The best tip I can give you is make the effort to get real black powder.Without the real stuff you may as well go buy a 22,Shoot safe an have fun.

 

[Bruce Roberts]

Thanks for info and encouragement. With holidays coming probably will need wait to shoot. I am going to use real black powder. Still trying to figure best ball size to start with. My lands are .44 and valleys .45. I'm thinking .435 or .433, not sure. Then need to think of patch thickness. Luckily I like considering all, but don't just want to start ordering a bunch of stuff. Can't wait to shoot.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Check out the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association http://www.nmlra.org/ All of the member clubs have their shoots listed once a quarter in the Muzzle Blasts Magazine. Find a local club, meet the shooters. Then you will find the gunsmiths. Most muzzleloading gunsmiths that I know don't have shops and mostly work for friends.

Many Klatch

Ahwww....that's just too obvious. A feller would have to do something for himself following that suggestion. You shouldn't encourage stuff like that these days. :wink:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks for info and encouragement. With holidays coming probably will need wait to shoot. I am going to use real black powder. Still trying to figure best ball size to start with. My lands are .44 and valleys .45. I'm thinking .435 or .433, not sure. Then need to think of patch thickness. Luckily I like considering all, but don't just want to start ordering a bunch of stuff. Can't wait to shoot.

Really, stop thinking and shoot. This game requires trying "a bunch of stuff". Get several size balls, couple thicknesses of patching, couple lubes (or more better make yer own), go out and shoot. Discover what works best for you.

 

[nit wit]

Hey Dan P:
I have one by Leroy Fleenor,1 Art Decamp ,1Roy Stroh, 3 jack Garners and two by charlie oakes.That enough exposure? :haha: It took me years to be able to buy good ones, and I still like my lesser ones. They are all good.
Nit Wit

 

[jethro224]

Bruce,
I've got some .440 balls. If you want to try a few without going out and buying a whole box PT me your address and I'll send you a few.

 

[Jumpshot]

I'll do the same. I can send you a batch of .433 balls. Just PM me your mailing address.

 

[Bruce Roberts]

You are all so generous and helpful, gives me a rear good feeling as a newbe! :grin:

 

[M. De Land]

I'd just ask some of my muzzle loading friends for a ball or two of each size to try out before going out and buying a 100.
YOu don't really have to push the ball down the bore to check. Get a good chunk of the patching material you want to try and seat the ball in the muzzle leaving enough patch material to pull it back out. It only has to be one ball diameter inside to get a good read. If the weave is imprinted on the ball all the way around without gaps the patch material is thick enough. If you get the ball stuck it is easy to put the barrel in a padded vice, carefully screw in a sheet rock screw into the middle and pull it with pliers as it is in the muzzle and not down the bore.
Now this is only true if you don't have a coned crown which some custom guns do. I doubt a production Pedersoli has such a crown.MD
PS If the idea of using a sheet rock screw makes you nervous just tape up the shank leaving only the point exposed and there will be no chance of dinging the crown or bore when you screw it into the center of the ball. They are philips headed and you will have good control. MD

 

[kodiakmarine]

I have never owned a Pedersoli, but most people seem to be satisfied with them. I did own a Lyman GPR. It was an outstanding rifle for a factory gun. I sold it to buy a Hatfield. BIG mistake :shake: ! Good luck with whatever you get.

 

[Bruce Roberts]

Great info, gun did come with a screw in bullet puller so I'm not concerned about that. But, I want to make sure I understand what you are saying about marks all the way around the patch. Do you mean marks from lands, or both lands and valleys??
thanks again.

 

[Clovis]

Hey, good luck with your new rifle! I've got the Pedersoli Frontier (Cabela's Blue Ridge, actually) and it shoots pretty well for me using a .440 ball and a lubed .018 pillow ticking patch. I've never tried a smaller ball,but it may work ok. I have some .445 balls but I don't recall using them in the rifle and if I did, I don't think it was any better so stuck with the .440. I have used charges up to 90 grains, but now am satisfied with 60 of 3f. Doesn't kick as much and has sufficent power to kill deer.
The only trouble I've had with the rifle has been the very small patent type breech which causes problems with getting powder to the touch hole and if you swap between shots, it can be plugged pretty easy. So have fun with it, take care

 

[Jumpshot]

You are all so generous and helpful, gives me a rear good feeling as a newbe! :grin:

No problem. I'll get them in the mail today or tomorrow.

 

[Bruce Roberts]

Thanks for info, Jethro224 is kind enough to be sending me some .440 balls, so I guess I'll start there since we have the same rifle manufacture.

 

[jrmflintlock]

I'd like to see some pictures. My buddy is interested in a flintlock one in .50?

He was wondering what style/timeframe a rifle like that would represent?

 

[M. De Land]

This picture taken out of an old Lyman loading manual will show better than any words I could use.

The example on the right is the correct weave pattern that should show up in the ball girth. The one on the left is an example of to thin a patch. MD

 

[Bruce Roberts]

Great info! Now I understand, just what I needed. Looks like pretty nice manual there.

 

[Zonie]

Must be my eyes are failing me.

I'm having problems seeing the manuals picture.