Worked on my Pedersoli frontier tonight

[Ohio Rusty]

Late summer I purchased a used .54 Pedersoli frontier flintlock rifle. Last month I sighted it in and it seems a bit slow to fire. I did get it sighted in. Tonight I took a closer look at to the slow fire issues. I know it is only a mass produced Pedersoli rifle..... not a Kibler or a custom built rifle. It is what I could afford. I appreciate the fact that the touch hole liner screws out from the rifle so You can examine the innards of the rifle. This used rifle had rust in different places even after I did a good cleaning job last month. After removing the liner, there was rust on the threads in the barrel and the liner. I also saw rust inside the patent breech. Using a larger brush for the barrel, and a smaller brush with a patch to get down in to the patent breech, the barrel is nicely cleaned along with the touch hole and removable liner. I can see there is no extra ballistol down in the breech area that might contaminate the priming powder in the breech. The touch hole itself was a bit too small. That may have also contributed to the slow fireing. The touch hole should use a 050 drill bit in size which is .070 size. The touchhole hole itself was smaller than .050 so I drilled it out with the best bit I had which was .062. Muzzleloading season starts Saturday the 6th and I believe all my cleaning and tweaking will make this flintlock a faster shooting, more dependable rifle.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[Phil Coffins]

.062” touch hole is a good size and good luck on your hunt. I’d recommend not removing the touch hole liner as any tightly fitted screw will wear on both the male and female threads to the point you’ll have problems later. I’ve used liners in flintlocks for years with out removing them and had no problems cleaning or maintaining the rifles.

 

[Felonious]

Both nipples on my Ped were drilled way too small to get reliable ignition also. I don't know if it was a QC issue or they just made the holes a little too small, but it wouldn't surprise me if you're a flash hole is slightly undersized as well.

 

[wiscoaster]

I have both a Pedersoli Frontier in .45 cal and a Kibler SMR also in .45 cal and the Pedersoli does have slower ignition than the SMR but yet it's been reliable and shoots well, and I think you'll be just fine and have a good rifle.

 

[Jason Jablonski]

I’ve got a .50 Pedersoli Blue Ridge, ignition is great, touch hole doesn’t clog up. I prime with 4f.

 

[EC121]

Be careful with that little brush. It isn't made to be pulled. The bristle part is only crimped on the threaded part. It will come loose at the most inopportune time.

 

[wiscoaster]

Be careful with that little brush. It isn't made to be pulled. The bristle part is only crimped on the threaded part. It will come loose at the most inopportune time.

Ya, no kidding. Ask me how I know. Having a handy can of compressed air with a tube that fits into the touch hole is a good idea.

 

[barracudadave67]

Rusty
You can remove the flash hole liner to clean your Frontier. Clean the threads good, and put a dab of "Anti Seize" on the threads. This will keep them from getting rusted in.
If needed you can get new flash hole liners for Pedersoli at TOW. The thread size for Pedersoli is M8-1.25.

Dave

 

[kyron4]

As long as you are applying a dab of grease or anti seize on the threads and not over torqueing the liner , there is no issue with ever wearing out the threads to the point you would ever have an issue. With a patent breech , it's almost a must to remove the liner to properly clean the small channel at the breech.

 

[Seabee Chief]

Will priming with 4F instead of 3F do that much better in my Pendersol Frontier? I have already drilled out the hole

 

[kyron4]

Will priming with 4F instead of 3F do that much better in my Pendersol Frontier? I have already drilled out the hole

Better how ? As in faster or as in ignition vs. no ignition ? 4F vs. 3F in the pan shouldn't make any difference for either.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Use of 3F or 4F in the pan does make a difference. It takes specialized timing equipment measure the difference. @Seabee Chief, what is the diameter of the touch hole? 1/16" is the size that works for me although the King's musket has a much larger touch hole and 1F works in then pan for the musket. I am not advocating 1F for your pan powder, but I would not be too worried about the difference in ignition from 4f vs 3f.

 

[wiscoaster]

I can't find documentation to verify, but it seems to keep popping up in my memory (right? or wrong?) that I read that the Pedersoli Frontier has a longer (or maybe an angled?) fire channel from the touch hole to the chamber, so wouldn't 4F be best if that's the case?

 

[bpd303]

I use 4f Goex but 3f works just as well for all of my flintlocks. I use 4f because I have a lot of it, about 5 pounds and it feeds better in the small charging flasks I have.