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Thread: Review: Larry Flees Pedersoli Sharps Carbine rework.

  1. #1
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    Review: Larry Flees Pedersoli Sharps Carbine rework.

    So a few months ago I traded a fellow my like-new Pedersoli P1853 for his like-new Pedersoli Sharps Carbine.

    I took it to the range for a load workup session, only to discover that you can only get off about 10 shots or so before the action starts to gum up to the point where it is unusable - I was having to dribble Ballistol into the action between the breech face and the breech block face to loosen it up to keep running.

    This is in spite of Pedersoli's latest attempt having their own rendition of the "Sam Dobbins modification", where they have an O-ring behind the gas check plate to try and keep it pressed up against the chamber bushing.

    So I gave Larry Flees a call, and after a short discussion I decided to bite the bullet and send it to him to see if it would work as well as people claimed - that you could shoot an entire skirmish without having to stop and clean the breech block.

    Larry did very fast work. I sent it out on 11/16/2016, and it was done on 11/27/2016. I sent him the check for the work, and received my gun back on 12/5/2016. So basically a two-and-a-half week turnaround.

    What Larry does, in brief, is he removes the stock sliding chamber bushing and replaces it with a fixed sleeve that protrudes away from the breech face by a specific amount. He then replaces the stock gas check plate with an AMPCO Bronze replacement that is precision machined to match the new chamber sleeve. Like the stock gun, Larry's gas check plate is backed up with an o-ring in a recessed pocket in the breech block, though Larry uses a thinner o-ring than what Pedersoli uses. I suspect that is because Pedersoli is trying (and failing) to overcome sloppier tolerances with the thicker o-ring, and Larry's mod is so precise there is no need for so much slop in the o-ring.



    For this, Larry charges $250. It cost about $55 to ship it insured to him, and about $55 to ship it insured back to me. So the total price was about $360.

    In addition to the above, Larry machined the vent to shape it into a hexagon so that it can be removed with a standard socket rather than the special Pedersoli tool. He also very slightly turned down the end of the nipple as it was dragging on the breech block raceway. He also lightened up the lever spring. Larry did not charge anything for these things.

    Larry also includes a personalized instruction manual detailing what exactly he did to the gun and operating instructions to keep it running well.

    Today I took the carbine to the range to do a full load workup again. I made up 89 cartridges:

    10 25 grain
    10 30 grain
    10 35 grain
    10 40 grain
    10 45 grain
    10 50 grain
    10 55 grain
    10 60 grain

    These were all made up using nitrated 20-pound computer printer paper, using the Pedersoli 315-541 bullet. Bullets were dip-lubed in a 50/50 beeswax/Crisco mix.

    I also made up 9 (ruined one) cartridges made with 17 pound un-nitrated vellum as a test.

    As Larry had advised, I lubricated the breech block bearing surfaces with white lithium grease.

    I was able to fire all 89 cartridges consecutively with no change in the feel of the action and no degradation in performance.

    The action worked the same from the first shot until the last.

    So Larry's Sharps job appears to live up to the claim, and I'm very pleased with it. Examining the gas plate face after shooting showed no deterioration or evidence of gas cutting:



    My only negative comment is that in removing the barrel from the breech the vice or wrench dug into the barrel and marred the finish:




    I'm not terribly upset by this - it's kind of like when you get a new car you know you're going to get a door ding eventually but it still smarts when you finally do. I've always babied my firearms but I have come to terms with the fact that my skirmish guns are "working" firearms and consequently they see a lot of wear and tear and try as you might you still get dings and scratches and scorched wood, etc. It also may be that there is nothing for it because the barrel is reefed in so tight at the factory that that is simply what it takes to get it out. I frequently pad my vice jaws with thick leather to prevent marring things I am working on but perhaps this is not possible with these barrels.

    So, in summary, I'd highly recommend Larry Flees' Sharps modification. You will end up with a Sharps carbine that can run an entire skirmish without having to worry about the breech block seizing up. The price is good and the speed of service is fantastic. Be aware there may be some cosmetic blemishes caused by removing the barrel from the receiver.

    Steve

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    I also wanted to point out that a side-effect of this job is that the seal is so effective that virtually no fouling gets outside of the chamber. Before, soot from leaking gasses coated the entire inside of the wooded forestock. And the entire breech area was fouled.

    Now all of the fouling is contained within the chamber. It drastically improves cleaning time.

    Steve

  3. #3
    Bob S is offline
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    Larry Flees

    How do I contact Larry Flees?

    Respectfully,
    Bob S.

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    I sent you a PM with his email address.

    Steve

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    Wayne Clark is offline
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    Redersoli Port Tool

    [QUOTE=Maillemaker;59086]I sent you a PM with his email addressSteve,
    Do you still have the wrench that came with your Pedersoli carbine ? If so would you like so sell it?
    Wayne Clark

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    Hi Wayne,

    Send me your address and I'll send it to you for free.

    Steve

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    Wayne Clark is offline
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    wrench

    [QUOTE=Maillemaker;59089]Hi Wayne,
    Steve PM sent.
    Wayne Clark




    Send me your address and I'll send it to you for free.

  8. #8
    Ron Showacre is offline
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    I too would like to contact Larry. Would someone please send me his info.
    Thanks

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    Harry Gaul's Avatar
    Harry Gaul is offline
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    Check out the last Skirmish Line

    I believe that Larry advertises in the Skirmish Line.


    Harry in Pa.
    03626v
    Forney's

  10. #10
    Ron Showacre is offline
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    I contacted Larry to work on my Pedersoli 1859 Sharps. I explained the difficulty that was had trying to remove the barrel from the receiver. He was familiar with the issue, Pedersoli apparently had an issue with a batch of receivers and barrels where the threads were not machined properly. He was able to remove the barrel and complete his work. It was a pleasure communicating with him. In the next skirmish my team was able to take a medal. I am very satisfied with his work and turn around.

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