Tight bore in a Pedersoli

[sequoia]

I have a Pedersoli .50 Kentucky flint pistol. When I first got it I tried using .015 patches with a .490 ball. This was almost impossible to get down the bore without a major effort. I have tried using .005 patches but I could only find them in .45 cal.. I just measured the bore at .496 on the lands and .505 on the grooves. My CVA mountain pistol in .50 measured .496 and .515 respectivly. Should I try a smaller ball, say .485 or .480 with a .015 patch?

 

[rafterob]

If finding a .485 ball is no problem go that route. Otherwise go to a fabric store and ask to look at the Muslin. This is kinda like bed sheet material and is in the .005 range.Find a good tight weave and buy a yard to cut patches out of. That is what I used to use in my old cva pistol.

 

[cowpoke1955]

If you care to try, Cain's Outdoors carry the .005 patches in .50 to .59 cal. : http://www.cainsoutdoor.com/shop/item.asp?item=16019 . If they burn through, try some .50 cal. Wonder Wads between the patched ball and the powder. Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The .490 ball and .015 patches would probably work fine in a rifle with that same bore but pistols are just naturally more difficult to hold and load. That's probably why smoothbores remained common in pistols right up to the end of the era.

 

[Jumpshot]

Try a smaller ball. Hornady makes them in .480. I have the same situation with my Ped. rifle. I think a lot of Pedersoli's guns have tight bores. A smaller ball was the cure. Easy to load, good accuracy, and I didn't have to keep swabbing after every shot to get the next one down.

 

[Many Klatch]

Pedersoli's website say that your pistol should take a .490 ball with a .010 patch over 20 to max of 30 grains of powder. They usually know what they are talking about.

My LePage requires a good whack with a short starter to get loaded with their recommended load but it shoots well. The trick is finding a good .010 patch material.

Many Klatch

 

[Old Charlie]

I hyave one and it will load the .490 ball with a .010 patch. But it is still a tight fit. But it is danged accurate!
Old Charlie