Following in the Footsteps of Nath...

[Old No7]

I love seeing all the images that our friend Nath from across the pond takes when he goes hunting in England. He has a great eye for setting up a shot with a camera -- and for taking a shot with his guns too! I'll never see enough of the pheasants, foxes and other game that he bags over there, or of the beautiful English countryside -- but it's possible that I've seen just "one too many" of his posts about hunting with a blackpowder shotgun............

So.............

A like-new Pedersoli Classic Blackpowder Shotgun 12 ga came up for sale on a blackpowder website recently and after a couple of weeks with no hits, I made the seller an offer and he accepted. So I got a circa 2012 model with the changeable chokes (takes Browning Invector tubes). The seller had told me it was "unfired" and my close inspection shows that to be true.

I'm thrilled with the price, which was shipped to Maine at just under half the cost of a new one listed over on Gunbroker, and I also got 500 each of over powder and fiber cushion wads. So I just need to pick up some over shot cards and a few other small things, and soon I'll be ready to make some smoke with a "frontstuffer" as Nath calls them.

Here's an image I found online...

BP Shotgun 99.JPG

And a close-up pix of the one I got -- can't wait to get out and shoot clays or game with it!

BP Shotgun 04.JPG

But I do intend to test some loads and pattern it first. That will be fun too!

So cheers to my friend Nath -- thanks for leading me into the "dark side" (blackpowder) of shotgunning.

Old No7

[Pete44ru]

.

Welcome to the doublegun dark side

I LOVE my 20ga hammergun !





About a year ago, and 2 weeks after it found me, I patterned it @ another generous levergunner's gun club (Thanks, Jason) - where the pattern from each barrel hit the same POI @ about 30yds (just right for the thickets I hunt).

.

[Nath]

Excellent choice sirs .

Daryl. In all honesty, you may just need the overshot cards. Especially with the chokes.
A few os cards slip edge on past the chokes a treat and are turned by the rammer as they seat on the powder.

Now, here is a message from my three year old granddaughter whom spotted the smilies!

[gamekeeper]

Nice find, my old double had no choke but but would pattern just as well with only over shot wads like Nath suggested.….
My first venture into the Dark Side I just used toilet paper for wadding it did work but was liable to start forest fires…

[Nath]

Nice find, my old double had no choke but but would pattern just as well with only over shot wads like Nath suggested.….
My first venture into the Dark Side I just used toilet paper for wadding it did work but was liable to start forest fires…

I keep the toilet paper for my pleasure. The frontstuffer gets newspaper if that's all there is.

N.

[gamekeeper]

Nath, when I used toilet paper for wadding I had to use whatever the missus bought ( pink ) so I told my shooting buddies Pink gave higher velocity than White, I was surprised by how many believed me...
Darryl, I'm sure your new front stuffer will provide not only great hunting but humor too..…

[Nath]

Nath, when I used toilet paper for wadding I had to use whatever the missus bought ( pink ) so I told my shooting buddies Pink gave higher velocity than White, I was surprised by how many believed me...
Darryl, I'm sure your new front stuffer will provide not only great hunting but humor too..…

[Nath]

Just to tease Daryl



N.

[Pitchy]

Very nice fellars, doesn`t bees nest work good for a wad?

[Old No7]

Thanks guys!

The dark side was calling and I listened... The great condition and nice price helped too!

To Nath and John -- so this is all I need ? ! ?

Pink TP.jpg

Old No7

[.45colt]

I have had the same Pedersoli 12 gauge for along time. Great Shooter, fantastic quality, never a problem. while not traditional I use OX-Yoke Wonder wads, one over the powder, one over the shot . makes loading easy. sure hope I get time to shoot it more if/when I retire. Enjoy. https://www.rmcoxyoke.com/inc/sdetail/s ... /27026/727

[Larkbill]

https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

If you want to experiment these folks have everything from old style to the latest. Couldn't load my 16's without them.

[Bill in Oregon]

Nice double, Daryl. I have had the Pedersolis in all three gauges, and oddly, the fixed-choke 20 gave me the best patterns and handled better than the heavier gauges -- in my hands anyway.
I have used Ox-yoke wads, but usually go with Circle Fly.
Funny, I was just handling a William Moore at a gun show yesterday. This was a make favored by ML shotgun guru V.M. Starr.

https://circlefly.com/

[Pitchy]

Very nice fellars, doesn`t bees nest work good for a wad?

Guess everyone new that.

[Nath]

Very nice fellars, doesn`t bees nest work good for a wad?

Guess everyone new that.

Yes Pitchy it does and so does leaves.
I stamp leather and old hats too.

[Pitchy]

Thanks Nath, i guess the point i was alluding to was the mention of a material that isn`t a fire hazzard which i don`t think bees nest does.
Leaves, cloth, news paper tend to light the woods on fire.

[Bill in Oregon]

Very fashionable chapeau you have there, Nath!

Pitchy, I have used a pinch of paper wasp nest under a patched round ball to prevent patch burnout. Worked fine. Still have a hunk in my possibles box.

[Nath]

Thanks Nath, i guess the point i was alluding to was the mention of a material that isn`t a fire hazzard which i don`t think bees nest does.
Leaves, cloth, news paper tend to light the woods on fire.

Yes sure.
I have heard that wasp paper can still smoulder.... sometimes!

[Old No7]

I stamp leather and old hats too.

Um, gee, I guess I won't be following you on that Nath...

Nice double, Daryl. I have had the Pedersolis in all three gauges, and oddly, the fixed-choke 20 gave me the best patterns and handled better than the heavier gauges -- in my hands anyway.
I have used Ox-yoke wads, but usually go with Circle Fly.

Thanks Bill. I have heard of some guys who feel the large 1/2" tall fiber cushion wads will do nothing but blow a big donut hole (empty in the middle) in your pattern. I've also read where some guys will cut them in half or thirds and put all 2 or 3 pieces in, or crumble them up some, just so they don't disrupt the shot pattern so much.

I have had the same Pedersoli 12 gauge for along time. Great Shooter, fantastic quality, never a problem. while not traditional I use OX-Yoke Wonder wads, one over the powder, one over the shot . makes loading easy.

Thanks .45colt, yes, I will have many options to try -- hours and hours of fun ahead of me!

Old No7

[Nath]

Yes sir, to much gas pops a thick wad through the shot to some degree.
A guy who visits here stumbled on a good thing if you have loads of fibre wads and gotta use them. Skychief' is is handle on the muzzle loading forum and we all call it 'the skychief' load'.

You load with just thin cards or what have you betwixt powder and shot, the soaked with olive oil fibre wad goes on top of the shot.
The general consensus is the heavy wad retains some momentum and clears the shot column or put differently does not slow up into the shot etc.
I have tested it and it does work.

Certainly if used conventionally break the wad up first.
The good thing about oil wet wadding be it felt, leather or fibre it helps to keep the fowling soft. Even just thin cards can become a grease cookie by adding a blob of lube every now and then.

N.

[barbarossa]

I have one of the Pedersoli baker plains shotguns and like it a lot.I also have one of the Euroarms magnum Cape guns and a Pedersoli flint mortimer in 12ga

[Nath]

I have one of the Pedersoli baker plains shotguns and like it a lot.I also have one of the Euroarms magnum Cape guns and a Pedersoli flint mortimer in 12ga

[Old Savage]

Nath, quite the hat design, it could catch on.

[Nath]

Nath, quite the hat design, it could catch on.

It's based on the string vest principle.

[Old Savage]

Remarkably well executed.

[Nath]

[Ysabel Kid]

Another lady for your sorority!