Just picked up my first black powder rifle

C

chickenmcnasty

New member
Well after much deliberation i finally got one. I ended up going with the pedersoli kentucky in .50 perc cap. It's a 1:48 twist. I got it at cabelas for $449 as it was mispriced.
A big thank you goes out to everyone that helped figure out my dumb questions. However, i will have a lot more i'm sure.
For starters, does anyone have experience with this rifle and what she prefers as far as powder/bullet/ball combinations? I'm going to have some serious range time this weekend!

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I'd start out with 70gr of Pyrodex under a thin prelubed patch with a .490 Pb roundball. I say a thin patch like .010 because some Pedersoli rifles are tight bored and can be hard to start the ball down the bore. Get yourself a ball starter to help.
You absolutely must push the patched ball all the way down to the powder for safety. Make it easy on yourself until you get a feel for your rifle and what it likes for patch thickness. You can ram a ball with a thin patch where you can't with one too thick. The range is not the place to learn this.
 
Suggest you pick up a copy of Lyman's Black Powder Handbook. Your library may have it and if not, you can get it through interlibrary loan.
 
CONGRATULATIONS! yes indeed!! Nice Rifle. Def. get you some literature. Or do what I did, go on youtube and watch EVERY how to video on black power rifles. Loading, Safety, etc. good luck and let us know how she shoots.
 
That's a beautiful rifle! :)
The Pedersoli manual recommends using a .010 patch, a .490 round ball and 50 - 100 grains of powder with their .50 Kentucky.
 
The 'addiction' has begun! :D

A most beautiful rifle indeed.

The Pedersoli manual recommends using a .010 patch, a .490 round ball and 50 - 100 grains of powder with their .50 Kentucky.
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And you'll find the rifles 'sweet spot' somewhere in between going up in 5grn. increments. IMO, the secret is consistency in the loading process. If you have a string of good shots, remember what you have done to obtain them.
I.E:
Did you swab before each shot?

Did you tamp your powder(pouring powder down barrel and settling powder by hitting side of breech area with palm of your hand) between each shot?

How much seating pressure did you use?

Again, all about finding out what the rifle likes and repeating that loading process with consistency.

The biggest thing is to have fun !
 
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I picked up some no. 11 caps and triple 7 powder as they were out of pyrodex. Hopefully the caps will fit

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Caps are OK. Powder choice is questionable. Triple 777 is the powder of choice for most in-lines. Have never used triple 777 in my Traditional rifles. Just Gorex Black >2-FF, 3-FFF, and Pyrodex R/S.
 
You probably won't be able to return the Triple 777 to the store. As most stores won't accept powder returns. ( I would ask though just to make sure) So just keep it. Maybe sell it later down the road to some other inline shooter. Or perhaps the day will come when you may want to try a in-line yourself. Kept covered with a tight cap. Triple 777 won't spoil that's for sure. No Harm-No foul. Just down $23.00 and change in the wallet is all._:) BY the way next time you go to buy Caps. Look at CCIs #11-Mag caps. A very good cap its been for me over the years. A little hotter than Standard #11s for a few more pennys per tin is all. (CCI #11-Mag caps)
 
Doo hickey

What is that doo hickey collar thingy around the nipple fer?? Oh sweet looking rifle. I want a Kentucky now. Love the way the wood goes all the way to the end on them.
 
Sure Shot,

It's not my fav. powder but I've used 777 in most of my hammer guns and just like Pyrodex, have not had any ignition problems.

Just remember chicken, you must reduce the amount of 777 used by 15% compared to other powders such as Pyrodex. Triple Seven is about 15% 'hotter' then other conventional powders.
 
Sure Shot Mc Gee said:
You probably won't be able to return the Triple 777 to the store. As most stores won't accept powder returns. ( I would ask though just to make sure) So just keep it. Maybe sell it later down the road to some other inline shooter. Or perhaps the day will come when you may want to try a in-line yourself. Kept covered with a tight cap. Triple 777 won't spoil that's for sure. No Harm-No foul. Just down $23.00 and change in the wallet is all._:) BY the way next time you go to buy Caps. Look at CCIs #11-Mag caps. A very good cap its been for me over the years. A little hotter than Standard #11s for a few more pennys per tin is all. (CCI #11-Mag caps)
Click to expand...

Well crap. Is it unsafe to use in my rifle? Or is it just a reliability issue?

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Well crap. Is it unsafe to use in my rifle? Or is it just a reliability issue?
Click to expand...
Well like I said I haven't used triple 777 in my rifles. (All of which are Traditional style weapons,) so I don't know of any 777 shortcomings that may exist when used in a Traditional application. But according to shortwave he has used it. Perhaps your questions (above) should be directed to shortwave. I'm sure He has the answers your looking for in regards to your situation. (or read the next quote below)

From what I know about 777 chickenmcnasty comes from a few friends who are in-line shooters. Their rifles are ignited with 209 primers. Not #11 caps. Its their powder of choice. Not mine.

Per shortwave's thread (seen above): Sure Shot,

It's not my fav. powder but I've used 777 in most of my hammer guns and just like Pyrodex, have not had any ignition problems.

Just remember chicken, you must reduce the amount of 777 used by 15% compared to other powders such as Pyrodex. Triple Seven is about 15% 'hotter' then other conventional powders
Click to expand...

So with that said. I guess all you have to remember is to drop your volume charge rate 15% when using Triple 777 in a Traditional application. That's not that hard to accomplish is it. :)
 
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