Shooting the Pedersoli
05-06-2016, 08:21 AM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,748
Shooting the Pedersoli
It's been raining ever since I got back to PA on Monday. While I was down south my buddy got a CVA Wolf and put a scope on it and wanted to sight it in. So I told him I would tag along and bring the Pedersoli Frontier Rifle along.
The rifle shot very well. The first 2 PRBs shot at 25 yds were touching but 2" to the left. Knocking the front sight a bit to the left put me right in the bull with the next 2 using 80 gr of Goex FFg.
Then with the target out to 100 yards shooting alongside the Wolf, and adjusting the loads I ended up shooting about a 5-6" group.
I ended up shooting 100 gr of Goex FFFg, a .015" patch and .495" ball. It was fun shooting it but the sights are horrible for shooting any distance. These old eyes can barely see the front sight in the narrow slot in the rear. I think I may have solved that issue though after cleaning by applying a thin white line on the rear in line with the notch and putting white on just the tip of the front sight. Next outing will show how it works out. And I will have to check the load at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards.
All in all I fired about 30 balls through it and only had one fail to fire because the flash hole got plugged. I called RMC today and have one of their flash holes on the way. I did modify the existing one by opening the flash hole to .050" and putting a bit of a "funnel" on the outside with a 7/64" bit.
The rifle shot very well. The first 2 PRBs shot at 25 yds were touching but 2" to the left. Knocking the front sight a bit to the left put me right in the bull with the next 2 using 80 gr of Goex FFg.
Then with the target out to 100 yards shooting alongside the Wolf, and adjusting the loads I ended up shooting about a 5-6" group.
I ended up shooting 100 gr of Goex FFFg, a .015" patch and .495" ball. It was fun shooting it but the sights are horrible for shooting any distance. These old eyes can barely see the front sight in the narrow slot in the rear. I think I may have solved that issue though after cleaning by applying a thin white line on the rear in line with the notch and putting white on just the tip of the front sight. Next outing will show how it works out. And I will have to check the load at 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards.
All in all I fired about 30 balls through it and only had one fail to fire because the flash hole got plugged. I called RMC today and have one of their flash holes on the way. I did modify the existing one by opening the flash hole to .050" and putting a bit of a "funnel" on the outside with a 7/64" bit.
05-06-2016, 01:55 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Penns Woods
Posts: 1,628
Semi,
I have the same rifle in .32 percussion only mine was called the "Blue Ridge Rifle" back when I purchased it and it has the same Buckhorn style fixed rear sights you've shown. They're kind of a pain for guys like us who's vision isn't what it used to be.
BPS
I have the same rifle in .32 percussion only mine was called the "Blue Ridge Rifle" back when I purchased it and it has the same Buckhorn style fixed rear sights you've shown. They're kind of a pain for guys like us who's vision isn't what it used to be.
BPS
05-06-2016, 02:17 PM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
Mine is going to get a hacksaw & file job. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I find it helpful to have a little more width in the rear sight notch. And I favor a square notch.
05-06-2016, 03:29 PM
#5
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,748
Yeah mine looks like that. But I'm going to try this (see pics). It worked well for me with my T/Cs. I got a little sloppy with the white line but if it works I can redo it. It's only white fingernail polish and comes off easily with remover and a Q-tip.
And before you guys say anything - I prefer bright red but the white shows up better on the sights!
And before you guys say anything - I prefer bright red but the white shows up better on the sights!
05-06-2016, 04:45 PM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
Yeah, that's an option, and I may do it that way just for the "cool look" factor.
I don't expect to ever use the buckhorns for sighting, nor do I expect to shoot anything way out yonder with a little .45 ball.
I find I do better using the same sight picture for all shots (i.e. the top of the front sight aligned with the top of the rear sight) and adjust my hold on the target animal to place the shot where I want it.
I'm getting an average of 1,900 fps with a 75 grain load of GOEX FFFg. With the zero set at 75 yards it shoots only about 3.5 inches low at 100. Holding about an inch and a half below a squirrel's or rabbit's eye at 50 yards should put it in the center of its head.
I doubt I'll ever hunt deer with this .45 and round balls. If I ever do it will be with a 50 yard limit.
I don't expect to ever use the buckhorns for sighting, nor do I expect to shoot anything way out yonder with a little .45 ball.
I find I do better using the same sight picture for all shots (i.e. the top of the front sight aligned with the top of the rear sight) and adjust my hold on the target animal to place the shot where I want it.
I'm getting an average of 1,900 fps with a 75 grain load of GOEX FFFg. With the zero set at 75 yards it shoots only about 3.5 inches low at 100. Holding about an inch and a half below a squirrel's or rabbit's eye at 50 yards should put it in the center of its head.
I doubt I'll ever hunt deer with this .45 and round balls. If I ever do it will be with a 50 yard limit.
05-07-2016, 06:55 AM
#8
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
WOW!! does that thing loose its punch fast. But the shot placement is the key. I have a friend that has killed deer for years with his .45 caliber Traditions Shenandoah (I think that is what model he has. His rifle is over thirty five years old). And he's never had a problem killing deer with it.
Now to the buckhorn sights. After years of those fat T/C sights, I found I really like the buckhorn sight. For some reason I can focus in them. But each find their own favorite sight (actually mine is a scope) and stick with that.
Now to the buckhorn sights. After years of those fat T/C sights, I found I really like the buckhorn sight. For some reason I can focus in them. But each find their own favorite sight (actually mine is a scope) and stick with that.
05-07-2016, 07:56 AM
#9
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,748
Holy mackerel Semi. Looking at that chart I bet at 150 yards the ball would bounce off..lol. Sure looses steam in a hurry.
If my white line doesn't work, I may widen the rear sight notch slightly. I just have to be careful not to go below the existing height because it's perfect.
If my white line doesn't work, I may widen the rear sight notch slightly. I just have to be careful not to go below the existing height because it's perfect.
