Pedersoli Enfield 1853 quality

[Dennis Faerber]

A few years ago I was really disappointed in Pedersoli?s quality on their 1853 Enfields. Does anyone have a view as to how they are doing now?

[Southron Sr.]

Pedersoli probably makes the "best barrels in the business." Their replica Gibbs Rifles often win the 1,000 yard muzzleloader matches up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They make their barrels by the "carbide button" method. This is fine, but they cannot make a barrel with "Progressive Depth Rifling" like the originals. You have to use the "cut rifling" method to get the best PDR barrels.

The most accurate rifles of the era were the British P-58 Naval Rifle and the P-60 Army Rifles.

The Army of Northern Virginia did extensive testing of all the rifles and rifle-muskets in use by the ANV in 1862 and found that the P-58 and P-60 (when used with British made paper patched ammo) rifles were accurate out to 800-900 yards while you average rifle musket was accurate out to 500 or 600 yards.

Hence, the P-58's and P-60's (when available,) where the weapon issued to Confederate Sharpshooters.

Both rifles used the same "heavy" barrel. This barrel had 5 lands and grooves and the "magic" 1 in 48" twist.

Now, the Parker-Hale P-58 replica Enfields have 5 land and groove, PDR with the 1 in 48" twist.

However, Armisport and Euroarms Naval Rifles did not follow the P-H example and have less accurate twist rates. Pedersoli, on the other hand, copied the 5 land and groove, 1 in 48" Twist and consequently their replica Naval Rifles should be more accurate.

[Maillemaker]

I had a Pedersoli P53; I traded it for a Pedersoli Sharps. It was a good quality gun in terms of fit, finish, and quality of parts. It shot well enough, but I never got it to shoot as well as my Euroarms with Whitacre progressive-depth rifled barrel. I have a 500 series serial number Pedersoli P58 and the quality is poor. There were brass chips under the barrel channel, and the tang screw hole had been double-drilled/tapped into the trigger guard. Also at that early stage of production they were using up Euroarms parts, including the cast rear sight. Now they have machined rear sights.

Also, there was a short run of P53s where Pedersoli started putting a "clean out screw" in the bolster. My guess is they were trying to standardize production of the barrels with their Whitworth barrels or something. After much protest they stopped doing that (it is not period correct for the P53).

So, if you are going to buy a Pedersoli P53, I'd make sure it was later (newer) production, and I would make sure it does not have the incorrect cleanout screw in the bolster.

Steve

[threepdr]

The Pedersoli P53 was made with reenactors in mind. It is the most authentic Civil War musket out of the box and really requires no "de-farbing" other than the modern barrel markings. The new Lorenz was built with live shooters in mind and is the best out of the box shooter I've ever bought.

[hobbler]

I have the Armisport version of the P53.
Three grooves and 48" twist. Go figure.

[Southron Sr.]

How to Buy A Gun.....

Back around 1971 I asked a friend of mine (a Skirmisher then) to help me pick out a M-1 Carbine to buy. He had been a unit armorer in the military in Viet Nam, and I figured his expertise would come in handy.

A K-Mart store in Savannah had a sale going on for M-1 Carbines. We went back to the "Gun Section" of the store and sure enough, there were a dozen M-1 Carbines on the rack behind a counter. I had to walk back up front to ask one of the cashiers to send someone back to the gun section to wait on us. Then I went back to the gun section and waited for the clerk.

After about 5 minutes a clerk showed up. He was a fresh faced kid that couldn't have been over 20. It was soon apparent that the kid knew absolutely nothing about guns because when I asked to see an M-1 Carbine, he was clueless to which long gun on the rack I wanted to see.

So, I pointed out the section of the rack with the M-1 Carbines in it. The clerk handed me one M-1 Carbine (he was even uncomfortable even handling the gun) when my friend intervened and demanded to see all the other carbines on the rack.

The clerk complied with my friends request and ALL the M-1 Carbines in the store were soon laid out on the counter.

My friend told me to stand back and in an instant he had all dozen of those carbines broke down. The next thing I knew, he had all the parts grouped together in different piles on the counter. In one group were the barreled actions, another group was the bolts, trigger housing groups, etc.

Then my friend carefully selected the best part from each group of parts. All of this took about 30 minutes. Then he assembled a carbine out of the pile of the "best" parts he had selected.

So, I took that carbine he had assembled for me and we went up front and paid for it.....leaving piles of M-1 Carbine parts on that gun counter with a very perplexed clerk staring at them.

Now, that is how to buy a gun!!!

[John Holland]

There's a name for people who do such things....and it isn't you're a "Nice Guy"....

[Yakiman]

How to Buy A Gun.....

Back around 1971 I asked a friend of mine (a Skirmisher then) to help me pick out a M-1 Carbine to buy. He had been a unit armorer in the military in Viet Nam, and I figured his expertise would come in handy.

A K-Mart store in Savannah had a sale going on for M-1 Carbines. We went back to the "Gun Section" of the store and sure enough, there were a dozen M-1 Carbines on the rack behind a counter. I had to walk back up front to ask one of the cashiers to send someone back to the gun section to wait on us. Then I went back to the gun section and waited for the clerk.

After about 5 minutes a clerk showed up. He was a fresh faced kid that couldn't have been over 20. It was soon apparent that the kid knew absolutely nothing about guns because when I asked to see an M-1 Carbine, he was clueless to which long gun on the rack I wanted to see.

So, I pointed out the section of the rack with the M-1 Carbines in it. The clerk handed me one M-1 Carbine (he was even uncomfortable even handling the gun) when my friend intervened and demanded to see all the other carbines on the rack.

The clerk complied with my friends request and ALL the M-1 Carbines in the store were soon laid out on the counter.

My friend told me to stand back and in an instant he had all dozen of those carbines broke down. The next thing I knew, he had all the parts grouped together in different piles on the counter. In one group were the barreled actions, another group was the bolts, trigger housing groups, etc.

Then my friend carefully selected the best part from each group of parts. All of this took about 30 minutes. Then he assembled a carbine out of the pile of the "best" parts he had selected.

So, I took that carbine he had assembled for me and we went up front and paid for it.....leaving piles of M-1 Carbine parts on that gun counter with a very perplexed clerk staring at them.

Now, that is how to buy a gun!!!

You seriously expect someone to believe this actually happened?

[John Holland]

You have to know "Southron, Sr.", and yes he would be part and parcel to such a thing.....and think its funny.

[Southron Sr.]

Yes, this really happened! The name of my friend was Pat Henderson. He was the son of Colonel Lindsey P. Henderson of Savannah. At the time we all belonged to the Oglethorpe Light Infantry of Savannah.

I will admit Pat went a little overboard picking out the "best" M-1 Carbine for me.

Whether you purchase a gun in a gun shop, Sutlers Row at the Nationals or at a gun show-the rule is that it is best to carefully examine any gun you are thinking about purchasing.

Even well known companies produce occasional "lemons."

[MR. GADGET]

You have to know "Southron, Sr.", and yes he would be part and parcel to such a thing.....and think its funny.

Yes sir and it is very wrong...
No need for actions like that.

I also fail to see the stories tie to the quality of DP Enfield musket.

[Southron Sr.]

Dear Eggman:

Congratulations on winning that Second Place in the match!

Being a former FO, guess you know what the following radio transmission mean:

"Add 50."

"Fire for Effect."

[Muley Gil]

More thread drift:

In March 1973, the Marine Corps midshipmen from Auburn University went up to Ft McClellan to be aggressors against the artillerymen from the 14th Marines. It was a rainy Saturday morning and myself and others were riding with the Marine officer advisor, Major Philson. Once when we got to Fort Mac, it was several miles of wet red clay roads to get to where the field problem was to take place. When we found the 14th Marines, a captain walked up to Major Philson's car and said, "Sir, bad news. The Army won't let us fire our guns in the rain." I can't repeat exactly what the major said :D but he did say that the rain didn't stop the artillery when he was in Viet Nam.

Speaking of Viet Nam, a member of the Washington Blue Rifles found an Enfield musketoon, with sword bayonet, in a bunker during his tour of duty. The best explanation was that the VC were using it as a training rifle. Unfortunately, it was stolen before he could ship it back to the States. :(