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Pedersoli Jaeger Rifle-54cal

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Blackfingers

40 Cal.
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
380
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11
Location
North Tonawanda, NY
Got her back after a few years, always regretted selling her. What I would like to know is, what period in our history would this rifle best represent? Flintlock, sling swivel at the front, button at the rear. Fast twist maybe 1:22? :confused: Blackfingers
 
I wonder, pre War of Independence ? these rifles were the precursors of the Longrifle.
 
The Jaeger rifle, per se, began as wheel lock versions in the 16th century but probably converted to flint ignition late in the 17th. The first known rifle makers of German extraction who specialized in the type seem to have arrived in North America around 1710...give or take a decade. Most quickly gravitated to longer barrels with smaller bores fairly quickly. As to when they would have been in use here I'd have to make a WAG of about 1730ish. Rifles of the type were sent during the various wars against the French during the 1750-1763 period and German (usually called Hessian) Jaegers were active during the AWI era as well. Original pieces generally had much slower rifling than Pedersoli's modern copy but a fast twist doesn't prevent it's use with patched round ball, just keep powder loads moderate.
 
Blackfingers said:
Fast twist maybe 1:22? :confused:
1:24


Wes/Tex said:
Original pieces generally had much slower rifling than Pedersoli's modern copy but a fast twist doesn't prevent it's use with patched round ball, just keep powder loads moderate.

They also make a longer barrelled target model with a tang mounted diopter, it has a 1:65 twist.
 
Wes/Tex said:
The Jaeger rifle, per se, began as wheel lock versions in the 16th century but probably converted to flint ignition late in the 17th. The first known rifle makers of German extraction who specialized in the type seem to have arrived in North America around 1710...give or take a decade. Most quickly gravitated to longer barrels with smaller bores fairly quickly. As to when they would have been in use here I'd have to make a WAG of about 1730ish. Rifles of the type were sent during the various wars against the French during the 1750-1763 period and German (usually called Hessian) Jaegers were active during the AWI era as well. Original pieces generally had much slower rifling than Pedersoli's modern copy but a fast twist doesn't prevent it's use with patched round ball, just keep powder loads moderate.

Many of the early Jaegers used a twist equal to the length of the barrel. So, if you had a Jaeger with an original 24" barrel, you had a twist of 1 in 24". They knew that a spin added to stability in rifles, crossbow bolts, and arrows. The prevailing theory was the 1 turn in the length of the barrel.

The Pedersoli Jaeger is made in the spirit of those early rifles, but to accommodate manufacturing, more than several representative eras were put together to make their version of the Jaeger. The plastic nose cap looks like the ebony or horn caps. The simplified architecture puts it approximately in the AWI time frame. It is still a good rifle that can fit in many historical contexts.
 
Thanks guys, a font of good info! Found out today, she doesn't like Lee R.E.A.L. conicals. Probably was a round ball gun from the beginning. Mine takes a .520 PRB very well, .530's are a chore to load, somewhat a smallish .54cal bore I would think.
FYI, my 1803 Harpers Ferry in .54cal doesn't like the Lee bullets either! :hatsoff: Blackfingers
 
I've found that many .54 cal. muzzleloaders are too tight a fit with a 530 roundball, but of coarse I think the same with many 50 and 45 cal guns. I want to be able to thumb start a ball, ball starters and heavy rods belong with bench guns and someone else's junk box.
 
The original jaeger I am currently working loads up for seems to have a 1 in 24 (length of the barrel) and a left hand twist. Seems happy with 50 grains of FFg.
 
Do a Google search for Fred Stutzenberger's well written article on jaeger rifles. It's available as a downloadable .pdf. He traces their involvement in American history from the American Revolution all the way to the Alamo. The Baker rifle, the jaeger's English cousin, saw action in the Napoleonic wars.
 
Keep yer eye on the Classifieds for my Jaeger. My 1803 Harpers Ferry shoots to my liking and is much lighter. May list her today or tomorrow for sure. Randy aka Blackfingers
 
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