Which BP shotgun should I buy?

[Kevin2241]

I have been shooting BP rifles and pistols for about a year now and want to get a shotgun. I would use it mostly for our monthly club shoots, at an encampment or occasionally for ducks and upland birds.

I have looked at the Pedersoli webpage and am considering 3 12 gauge side by sides, the L241 Standard, LX242 Extra Deluxe and the S293 shotgun/slug.

Are there other brands and models I should consider? I will probably only own 1 BP shotgun. Versatility and reasonable quality are important to me. As much as I would like to have a custom shotgun, I cannot afford one at this time.

Any advice or counsel you could provide me would be appreciated. Thank you.

Kevin

 

[Ken Morrison]

Kevin,
You will find a lot of information about Pedersoli double barrel shotguns on this forum.

Cabela's sells shotguns made by Pedersoli in 20, 12, and 10 gauge, if you are near a store you can get your hands on one. The Cabela's version is a little less cosly then guns sold under the Pedersoli name. Some have fixed chokes and some have choke tubes.

Dixie Gun Works also sells Pedersoli shotguns under their name. Dixie also sells a kit version in 12 and 10 gauge. Dixie's guns were more expensive then Cabela's the last time I checked.

If you are ever in Eastern Pennsylvania try to visit Dixon's gun shop in Kempton which is near Reading. In addition to being a treasure trove of every type of ML stuff they always have several Pedersoli's on the rack. The last time I was there the going price was $775. Dixon also often has a few used shotguns on the rack.

There are usually severa percussion shotguns on Gun Broker, do a search for CVA, Navy Arms, Dixie, or Pedersoli.

Good shooting. :wink:

 

[renovato]

The Pedersoli is a good gun all around. Another option is check gun shows. Years back, CVA made a really nice double shotgun. I do gun shows for a living and I travel around to them. I see the CVA guns at the shows occasionally and they run in the $400-450 range.

 

[cowpoke1955]

Another option at those prices may be a fowler. You can use it as a shotgun or a smoothbore. They come in .62/20ga. and .75/12ga. And it's custom to boot! Check the prices at Early Rustic Arms: http://www.earlyrusticarms.com/ and Sitting Fox: http://sittingfoxmuzzleloaders.com/ . You can get them in kit form, in the white or finished. Just a thought. Good luck :thumbsup: .

 

[FishDFly]

You mentioned club shoots and occasionally for ducks and listed the 12 gauges.

On the trap range, the 10 gauge is found more than the 12 gauge.

Ducks will require steel shot which means you need a shotgun with screw-in chokes. Personnaly for waterfowl I would rather have a 10 or a 12.

You listed double barrels. I have the Pedersoli in 10 gauge with the three (3) screw-in chokes.

Double barrel shotguns are made so the left barrel trigger pull is harder to pull than the right. The reason being is that if the left lock is cocked and the right barrel is fired, the left will not go off under the recoil. My left trigger pull was so hard, I often would take it down to see if I had cocked the lock or not. It went off to the gunsmith.

I have always lusted after a Pedersoli Mortimer, they only come in 12 gauge and it's a single barrel, but it sure is a nice shotgun.

If you are not against a single barrel, T/C made the New Englander in 12 gauge which comes with screw-in chokes. You would have look for a used one, but they are good functional shotguns and you cannot beat the warranty.

I have both shotguns mentioned and I really like each.

RDE

 

[bigbore442001]

I would look at a used TC single barreled shotgun like the New Englander or Black Mountain Magnum. I bought a used but never fired Black Mountain Magnum from a gentleman last spring.

I loved carrying it while hunting for turkey and hopefully this winter I will do some serious fowling with it.

The logic in getting a single shot is to see if you like it as well as learning how to shoot the shotgun. There is a bit more than just shooting it. You have to play around with different loads and wads to get a good pattern .

 

[Old Sarge]

Yep...The T/C Hew Englander is a great choice. Interchangeable Rifle barrel gives you a good all aroung rifle/shotgun combo. I use it and love it!!! Look around the gun shows for a used one.
Several members use these with good results, too.

Good Shooting
Tom

 

[wtilenw]

I used to own one of the Pedersoli SXS 12 gauge guns. I bought it thinking I would use it for Turkey hunting but the way it was built it was BRUTAL! with heavy Turkey loads. I believe this was because of the design of the gun itself. I think it is a gun meant for flying game birds. Turkeys are shot actually aiming like a rifle and that thing was not designed for that. I would get a Fowler of some sort with a rear sight for Turkeys. I too like the look of the Mortimer and think it would make a great Turkey gun. I now have a Fowler in Flintlock and look forward to shooting it with ball or shot. It looks just like TOTW's English Fowler in their catalog except it has a 30" barrel and is a half stock with a durrs egg lock. Fowler Link
Idaho PRB

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

One negative factor with the Mortimer is its weight. These guns weigh over eight pounds--more than a 12 bore double should, probably the result of trying to save tooling costs by making a shotgun out of a rifle. And the price is unreasonable as well. Guess that's two negatives.

 

[Britsmoothy]

In saying that though it is a nice gun (Mortimer). I had one and gave it to a good friend who does well with it.
I shot pheasant well with it and it comes with sling loops.
I fitted sights and it shot a 690 ball real good.
A much better lock than the Pedersoli doubles.
I onlt own a Pedersoli double now and whilst heavy allways have a blast with it.

Brit.

 

[F.G. Ford]

If you are serious about a good Pedersoli Shotgun , you may find it at Gun Broker item # 117981084.
I have nothing to do with this sale, but if you watch it, you may get a bargain.
They are good guns!
Best of luck
Old Ford

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have had a petroisile (spelling ) side by side twelve for over 35 years and like the gun, even if the stock is a little short for me.I suggust you visit a Cabellas if you can since they stock them and I have heard that the wood to metal fits are not as close as they used to be.

 

[Kevin2241]

Thanks everyone for your replies to my post.

I have been checking on prices for smoothbores. The owner of a local BP shop I trade with has a locally built custom trade gun from his personal collection he is offering me for $1200. The gun has a browned barrel and curly maple stock. He has invited me out to the shop to his shop and demo the trade gun before I buy. I'll be heading out to see him after Christmas.

Again many thanks everyone.

Kevin

 

[tg]

A lot of folks go with a period type fowler or trdae gun and pony up for the hevi shoot or whatever you can use for waterfowl, that way the gun can follow you into the world of putting on funny cloths and such if the bug bites, what group do you shot with here in Oregon?

 

[Kevin2241]

TG:

I shoot with the Forest Hills Black Powder Brigade. We are just down the road from you.

Kevin

 

[Tajue17]

I use a pedersoli 20 ga double and my dad uses the 12 ga. I fold up pheasants all day with it, chrome lined barrels makes loading easy and it patterns beautiful with my 1-oz of #5 shot and 70grains of 2F swiss. we also use them during the shotgun season for deer here in Ma because you can load both barrels, with my 20 shooting patched round balls and the fixed chokes it hits 1" right @ 40yds with the modified (left) barrel and 2" high @ 40 with the right (IC) barrel (bench rested) ,,, now this is just with 70grains and I have not tried any other patches or wads or powders because i just bring this out for fun on deer and its mainly my brid and rabbit gun I'm sure I can get it tighter than the above if I wanted to spend all day down the range with it.

so by far a sweet excellent made shotgun that I have yet to find 1 flaw after owning it for 6yr.