Sunday morning I had my first range session with the .32 Pedersoli Frontier in its
flintlock configuration.
All in all, it wasn't the happiest range session I've ever had. I shot nine 5-shot targets at 25 yards. Although some of the groups approached what I thought this gun should do at that range, most were far from satisfactory.
I did learn a few things.
1. After the first shot from a clean bore, I decided to load a second shot without swabbing the bore. That was a BIG mistake. Got the ball ten or twelve inches down the bore and it hung up big time. It took putting all the stress I could to the thin hickory rod to get it to move another two inches. From there on it was a few inches at a time with quite a bit of effort, and that's a l-o-n-g barrel.
I swabbed with one side of an alcohol patch after that experience and never had another loading problem for the remaining 43 shots. I've read several reports claiming that small bores don't foul any more than larger bores. That sure wasn't my experience with this gun.
2. The L&R lock did not seem to be as good a sparker as the lock on my Lyman Great Plains. I had a number of "klatches" with no ignition of the prime. That's happened only three or four times with the Great Plains in several hundred shots, and each time it was due to a loose flint.
Well, to be fair, I must admit that I may have contributed to it's performance. First, the flint I had on hand were not quite as large as they should be for this lock. Second, I shot most of the session with the flint positioned bevel down. I put the bevel up for the last six or seven shots and had no problems during those shots. Perhaps it will just be a matter of learning what the lock likes and needs.
Anyway, I shot four five shot targets with
.081 pillow tick patch. The first with 20 grains of GOEX FFFg, then two with 25 grains, and one with 30 grains. Here are those targets.
I just can't explain the wide variations. All of the patches I could find were in good shape. Those three shots on the bull on target #11 are what I think the gun should be doing. But what the hell is going on with those other two shots far away from the point of aim? Maybe I was just having one of those bad days shooting and screwing things up myself. It won't have been the first time.
Not feeling particularly good about those groups, I decided to try a thicker
.022 denim patch and shoot groups with 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 grain charges. The thicker patches loaded just fine. Here are those targets.
Certainly nothing to brag about there. It's interesting that Pedersoli's recommended load for this gun is
40 grains FFFg.
Though the range session was a little disappointing, this is a fun gun to shoot with recoil right up there on a par with the .22 Rimfire Magnum. I'll get the lock figured out. I'll also try another round or two of 40 grain loads. Maybe try a different lube.
Maybe I'll just shoot better the next time out and find out it isn't the gun or load at all.
First Session with the .32 Pedersoli as a FLINTLOCK
