Hickok
07-03-2013, 03:32 PM
I took my new Pedersoli 1859 Sharps 54. cal Berdan to the range. Been on this sight reading and gathering tips and info, and what a great help it was.
Load was 50 gr. Goex 2f and a Rapine 475 ringtail cast of pure lead and lubed with SPG. Made my own cardboard tubes.
At 50 yards it puts three bullets into less than an inch, and at 100 yards groups three shots go into 1.5"-2" group. I shot several groups an both ranges, and it just keeps shooting these groups consistantly. Yeehaa!
The rifle shoots right to point of aim @ 50 yards and 8 inches low at 100, so I have to do a little file work to the front sight blade. I was really expecting the rifle to shoot way high, so this is a pleasant surprize!
I also shot some of the Montana precision swaged bullets that I bought, 475gr. ringtail, cast 20/1, and they shot just as well as the pure lead, but grouped 1 inch higher at 50 and 2 1/2 higher @ 100 than the Rapine pure lead bullets with the same load.
The Pedersoli did start to get hard to open at 6 shots, but I sprayed some Windex on the action every 6 rounds and kept on shooting, a total of 40 rounds. I did antisieze everything, but at one point, pulled the breach block and coated it with MobilOne Synthetic Wheel bearing grease, and it seemed to work better than the anti-sieze. Probably going to have to send the rifle to Mr. Hahn in the future and get it fixed right.
One problem I did have and would appreciate advice, my tubes must have been rolled a little to thick, as I had pieces of the paper tube remaining in the chamber regularly. If I made the tubes thinner would it help?
I will order some tubes from Mr. Hahn, but would just like to know if tubes that are too thick or of too many wraps would cause the paper debris in the chamber?
I also cast some wheelweight bullets from my Rapine mold, but didn't to try any this session, rain was in the air. Just have to say the Rapine mold is fantastic, after getting everything up to casting temperature, the bullets just fall out of the mold. Mr. Rapine's retirement is a loss to cast bullet shooters.
Final opinion, this Pedersoli is accurate, just needs a better gas sealing system for extended shooting. I will later send it to Mr. Hahn for correction.
Next shooting session I will back the powder down and see if it tightens up the groups, but I happy with the way it is shooting already.
This was alot easier than tuning up my ArmiSport Enfield!
My thanks to the Good Lord and to all of you for the information and advice you fella's put forth, it sure made my first range trip with a Sharps a pleasure. Any advice is surely welcome.
This was a lot easier than tuning up my ArmiSport Enfield!
Load was 50 gr. Goex 2f and a Rapine 475 ringtail cast of pure lead and lubed with SPG. Made my own cardboard tubes.
At 50 yards it puts three bullets into less than an inch, and at 100 yards groups three shots go into 1.5"-2" group. I shot several groups an both ranges, and it just keeps shooting these groups consistantly. Yeehaa!
The rifle shoots right to point of aim @ 50 yards and 8 inches low at 100, so I have to do a little file work to the front sight blade. I was really expecting the rifle to shoot way high, so this is a pleasant surprize!
I also shot some of the Montana precision swaged bullets that I bought, 475gr. ringtail, cast 20/1, and they shot just as well as the pure lead, but grouped 1 inch higher at 50 and 2 1/2 higher @ 100 than the Rapine pure lead bullets with the same load.
The Pedersoli did start to get hard to open at 6 shots, but I sprayed some Windex on the action every 6 rounds and kept on shooting, a total of 40 rounds. I did antisieze everything, but at one point, pulled the breach block and coated it with MobilOne Synthetic Wheel bearing grease, and it seemed to work better than the anti-sieze. Probably going to have to send the rifle to Mr. Hahn in the future and get it fixed right.
One problem I did have and would appreciate advice, my tubes must have been rolled a little to thick, as I had pieces of the paper tube remaining in the chamber regularly. If I made the tubes thinner would it help?
I will order some tubes from Mr. Hahn, but would just like to know if tubes that are too thick or of too many wraps would cause the paper debris in the chamber?
I also cast some wheelweight bullets from my Rapine mold, but didn't to try any this session, rain was in the air. Just have to say the Rapine mold is fantastic, after getting everything up to casting temperature, the bullets just fall out of the mold. Mr. Rapine's retirement is a loss to cast bullet shooters.
Final opinion, this Pedersoli is accurate, just needs a better gas sealing system for extended shooting. I will later send it to Mr. Hahn for correction.
Next shooting session I will back the powder down and see if it tightens up the groups, but I happy with the way it is shooting already.
This was alot easier than tuning up my ArmiSport Enfield!
My thanks to the Good Lord and to all of you for the information and advice you fella's put forth, it sure made my first range trip with a Sharps a pleasure. Any advice is surely welcome.
This was a lot easier than tuning up my ArmiSport Enfield!