I picked up the Pedersoli Frontier I bought from bluegill in the classifieds here at the local P.O. this morning. I've heard various things, both good and bad, about them, so I thought I'd post my impressions. Due to the weather here, this post will be limited to quality, fit and finish. The actual shooting part will have to wait. At best, I might get some .32 cal balls poured today.
I know the Frontier is apparently neither HC or PC, but I actually could care less. I wanted a .32 or .36 for tree rats and such, Bill had one for sale at a price I couldn't refuse, and it looks old-timey even if it is an exact copy of nothing in particular.
As to this particular example, the wood to metal fit is above average for a production rifle. Not way above, but better than many I have seen. The wood is a bit proud at the tang area and there are some slight chips in the inletting around the lock, not uncommon with walnut, but they do detract a bit from the fit quality. The forestock where one holds the rifle in shooting feels slender enough, but I can understand how some would say it is kind of beefy looking, especially when viewed from below and most especially the area from the ramrod entry forward. I guess I can live with that, at least for a while. There are plenty of unfilled pores in the finish, which diminishes the quality look more than anything for me. All of these things are fairly easily correctable. The wood is very straight grained walnut, with just a hint of figure in the butt. This is quite acceptable in a hunting gun of the poor boy style.
The buttstock, though is very narrow from top to bottom. I would prefer a bit more wood here because I think this narrow butt adds to the beefy appearance of the forend, making it appear fatter than it really is. It also makes adding a patch box later more challenging, should one want to do that. The lack of patch box and brass forend tip in the poor boy fashion make me wonder if the furniture should have been iron rather than brass, but I am just wondering since I'm no historian.
The metal finish is very good. The barrel has a nice even brown tone. The lock is color case hardened. This is probably not PC or HC but it is fairly attractively done. I don't have any major feelings one way or another about it. I'm not a huge fan of shiny brass, but that is easily remedied with either Oxpho Blue or a few dirty patches. The fit of the butt plate and toe plate to the stock are quite good. The shape and fit of the trigger guard are not what I would call good though. I'd also like a bit more room inside the trigger guard as hunting with gloves on looks to be a challenge with this one. To Pedersoli's credit, the screws are NOT brass but are nicely blued steel instead.
The length of pull, at 14 1/4" is more than I would have liked. The LOP to the rear trigger is about where I would prefer the front one...my arms aren't very long. I guess I will get used to it. Had Pedersoli not made the butt stock so narrow, I could have shortened the stock a bit, but as it is, I don't believe that is an option.
The balance point of the rifle is a few inches ahead of the ramrod entry, making the gun a bit muzzle heavy, which is probably not a bad thing for off hand shooting. For one-handed carry, I think I'd like the balance point a bit further back, but to be fair, I haven't carried this one in the woods yet, so I may find it acceptable. Time will tell on that issue.
One interesting issue did arise as I was cleaning the factory grease out of the bore today. To remove the grease, I ran a solvent soaked patch down the bore and followed with a couple dry patches. Once the grease was out, I saw a hint of brown on the patch. Rust? I was concerned a bit, but the bore felt smooth as the patch went in and out. Hmmm? I ran a WD40 soaked patch down the bore and it came out with even more brown, but it was brown, not rust colored. As I was pondering this, I looked at my hand and a light bulb came on! I was using the factory issued ramrod for cleaning the bore as that is the only thing I have that is long enough to reach the bottom of the 38" barrel. The ramrod is stained very, very dark brown but apparently not sealed very well. The stain from the ramrod was what was getting on my patches! I'm working on removing much of the stain and I'll seal the ramrod with Truoil or something like that, which should keep my patches coming out clean until I can get a better rod for cleaning.
Overall, I think, assuming the rifle shoots as good as it looks, Pedersoli did a good job building a rifle for my intended purpose: small game hunting and plinking. I don't think I would fit in with the PC/HC crowd with this rifle, but I have no intention of trying to. I seriously doubt that a squirrel will object, particularly after a .32 caliber ball has passed through its cranium. :wink:
I know the Frontier is apparently neither HC or PC, but I actually could care less. I wanted a .32 or .36 for tree rats and such, Bill had one for sale at a price I couldn't refuse, and it looks old-timey even if it is an exact copy of nothing in particular.
As to this particular example, the wood to metal fit is above average for a production rifle. Not way above, but better than many I have seen. The wood is a bit proud at the tang area and there are some slight chips in the inletting around the lock, not uncommon with walnut, but they do detract a bit from the fit quality. The forestock where one holds the rifle in shooting feels slender enough, but I can understand how some would say it is kind of beefy looking, especially when viewed from below and most especially the area from the ramrod entry forward. I guess I can live with that, at least for a while. There are plenty of unfilled pores in the finish, which diminishes the quality look more than anything for me. All of these things are fairly easily correctable. The wood is very straight grained walnut, with just a hint of figure in the butt. This is quite acceptable in a hunting gun of the poor boy style.
The buttstock, though is very narrow from top to bottom. I would prefer a bit more wood here because I think this narrow butt adds to the beefy appearance of the forend, making it appear fatter than it really is. It also makes adding a patch box later more challenging, should one want to do that. The lack of patch box and brass forend tip in the poor boy fashion make me wonder if the furniture should have been iron rather than brass, but I am just wondering since I'm no historian.
The metal finish is very good. The barrel has a nice even brown tone. The lock is color case hardened. This is probably not PC or HC but it is fairly attractively done. I don't have any major feelings one way or another about it. I'm not a huge fan of shiny brass, but that is easily remedied with either Oxpho Blue or a few dirty patches. The fit of the butt plate and toe plate to the stock are quite good. The shape and fit of the trigger guard are not what I would call good though. I'd also like a bit more room inside the trigger guard as hunting with gloves on looks to be a challenge with this one. To Pedersoli's credit, the screws are NOT brass but are nicely blued steel instead.
The length of pull, at 14 1/4" is more than I would have liked. The LOP to the rear trigger is about where I would prefer the front one...my arms aren't very long. I guess I will get used to it. Had Pedersoli not made the butt stock so narrow, I could have shortened the stock a bit, but as it is, I don't believe that is an option.
The balance point of the rifle is a few inches ahead of the ramrod entry, making the gun a bit muzzle heavy, which is probably not a bad thing for off hand shooting. For one-handed carry, I think I'd like the balance point a bit further back, but to be fair, I haven't carried this one in the woods yet, so I may find it acceptable. Time will tell on that issue.
One interesting issue did arise as I was cleaning the factory grease out of the bore today. To remove the grease, I ran a solvent soaked patch down the bore and followed with a couple dry patches. Once the grease was out, I saw a hint of brown on the patch. Rust? I was concerned a bit, but the bore felt smooth as the patch went in and out. Hmmm? I ran a WD40 soaked patch down the bore and it came out with even more brown, but it was brown, not rust colored. As I was pondering this, I looked at my hand and a light bulb came on! I was using the factory issued ramrod for cleaning the bore as that is the only thing I have that is long enough to reach the bottom of the 38" barrel. The ramrod is stained very, very dark brown but apparently not sealed very well. The stain from the ramrod was what was getting on my patches! I'm working on removing much of the stain and I'll seal the ramrod with Truoil or something like that, which should keep my patches coming out clean until I can get a better rod for cleaning.
Overall, I think, assuming the rifle shoots as good as it looks, Pedersoli did a good job building a rifle for my intended purpose: small game hunting and plinking. I don't think I would fit in with the PC/HC crowd with this rifle, but I have no intention of trying to. I seriously doubt that a squirrel will object, particularly after a .32 caliber ball has passed through its cranium. :wink:
hotoSmile: 
