Pedersoli rolling block

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hithere

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just picked one up- I like it! - Anyone know what kind of loads they can take? marlin pressure?
Oh yah it's a 45-70
thanks
 
i don't think I would assume that you could use Marlin type loads in a rolling block, old ones def. NOT, in the Pedersoli I would stick to something lower in pressure.....while we all love the Rolling Block(or we should) the design is old and all the pressure is on the pins, I would stick with the lower pressure loads or better yet use Black Powder in your reloads, these types of loads are what these old guns/repros are all about. If you want heavy loads get a Ruger or Marlin or a Highwall, etc.
 
If you bought your RB NIB there should be a manual in there to tell you what pressure you can load to......Even if you just use low pressure Springfield loads you going to have all the recoil fun you want with heavier bullet wts.....A good friend has one he bought used and it shoots very well...have fun!...:)
 
I've had one for years....beautiful gun and shoots very well.
Hasn't ever been subjected to smokeless powder though, just BP and heavy cast bullets.
Only negatives:
Gotta pull the block and hammer to clean.
Their tang-sight is kinda cheapo....works OK, but poor windage adjustment system and adjustments not repeatable. Could easy be cured, however, with an after-market sight.
 
I have no idea what the upper ceiling for pressure is with a roller, but I would follow Ben's advice. I shoot a Uberti Highwall in .45-70 and a friend has a Pedersoli like yours, the best load we have found so far is 25.5 grains of SR 4759 and a LEE 405 gr FP, I have used Bullet Barn 405's and got similar results. They group about 1 1/2" @ 100yds for 5 shots. The velocity if I recall is somewhere around 1350 fps.
 
I own a few rolling blocks, original and repros. And I have owned a few of the Pedersolis. They are stronger than a trapdoor and I am not afraid to load them a little hotter. In a new repro I would go closer to the Marlin level loads. I work up to them though and watch, I don't just slam book loads in. And the originals I keep lower but still don't stick strictly to trapdoor loads either. I don't think Marlin loads would take apart any of them, but I am careful to not damage any of them especially valuable original rolling block rifles and pistols. These things are meant for cast bullets at medium level speeds and always have been. If you need hotter loads, this is not the gun for you.
I used to have a 24" Pedersoli roller that I shot continually for more than a year to properly test before ordering my Kodiak .45/70 double from them. That 24" roller shot better and better as the year passed with more than a thousand rounds through it. It was beautifully accurate afterwhile. It was the camp entertainment on a 10 day hunt in mountains one year, everyone shot it everyday and targets got farther and farther. With time we found we got more consistent very long range hits with it than the 7mm mag that was in camp. The long range apreture sight is a very functional piece of equipement. The load it shot hundreds of was a 480 grain cast bullet on 50 grains of 3031. Not supper hot, but an effective load. That was a great gun, I replaced it with an original but it doesn't get out nearly as much as that Pedersoli did. I'll bet you have a great gun there.
Rob
 
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I had one, up until a short while ago and had a lot of fun with moderate power cast loads. Something that helped me quite a bit and may be of value to you is Ken Waters book / manual Pet Loads. Mine is a second edition however, I believe a newer edition is currently available. Most of the manual is info compiled from the Handloader magazine. For the .45-70 he goes into some depth on the three relative action strengths and loads for each group, cast & jacketed. As I understand it, the Pedersoli is on a par with the Navy Arms roller, which Waters classifies as a Group II moderately strong action. Another good source of info is the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, third edition. Similar to the Pet Loads by Waters, they also list loads for three separate action strengths. Both of these publications would be a real benefit to you, but f you're really stuck, PM me your e-mail address, the specifics of bullets you plan to use ad I'll see if I can scan & send some info.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
As I understand it, the Pedersoli is on a par with the Navy Arms roller, which Waters classifies as a Group II moderately strong action.
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Which reproduction single-shot rifle (in .45-70) embodies the "best" quality, strength, handling and accuracy, in your candid opinion?:)
 
a)Sharps '74 from either C.Sharps or Shiloh Sharps
b) Hi Wall Repro
c) Ballard
d) Rolling Block
e) Rem Hepburn
f) CPA copy of Stevens 44 1/2
 
I would rate them right behind the Montana made Sharps and will try to explain why......Both C.Sharps and Shiloh make their guns on a custom basis with what ever options you want, both use/or can use Badger Barrels, the holy grail of BP cartridge barrels. They can be pricey but are worth it, having said that, the Pedersoli replicas are less expensive and worth it too.
 
Six Star said:
Thanks! How would you rate the Pedersoli replicas of the Sharps rifles?
Would one be a satisfying rifle to own and shoot?
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My buddy has one and bang for the buck as a reasonably priced 'shooter', it's a good deal. I'm 'working' on a trade for his as we speak.
 
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