Pederzoli Brown Bess
- Thread starter y2k
- Start date
These are probably as good as you will find, without getting a custom made reproduction. How are you planning on using it? The reason I ask is that a large musket lock does little to promote fast locktime. This can affect use with small shot as a shotgun. Wingshooting would be a real challenge. I've not tried it with a Bess repro, but have with a Charleville.
i agree with tiriag's comments on the Brown Bess as a shooter. I shot a Pedersoli Brown Bess over the summer and thought that it was a well made gun but I had little luck shooting it. It was minute of regiment accurate but was okay with bird shot.
It did have a slow lock time that bothered me as compared to my other flint guns.
You also might want to check out Loyalist Arms as they have several versions of the Bess at about half the price fo a Pedersoli.
sluice
It did have a slow lock time that bothered me as compared to my other flint guns.
You also might want to check out Loyalist Arms as they have several versions of the Bess at about half the price fo a Pedersoli.
sluice
Pedersoli Brown Bess
The Pedersoli Brown Bess is a well made, moderately priced reproduction musket. The problem with them is that the flash hole is simply a small hole drilled through into the chamber. As a result, ignition is painfully slow. Iffy, at best.
To speed up ignition time, take the gun to a competent gunsmith and have him install a flash hole liner. These are generally hollowed out inside, so that some of the main powder charge ends up right next to the flash hole. In fact, you should be able to see granules of powder crowding the hole.
Vent liners can be any size or style you like. 1/4 X 28 works well, or 5/16 X 24. Both are readily available.
Lock time will still not be as fast say, as the average flintlock rifle. Still, by installing a vent liner, lock time will improve considerably. Expect a bit of a lag between hammer fall and ignition, regardless.
At .750 bore, these guns are a nominal 11 bore. So, they make nice shotguns. They also add quite a bit of challenge to the hunt. An average load of 80 grains Ffg black powder and 1 1/8-oz. of shot, makes a nice bunny getter.
11 gauge over powder and over shot wads can be purchased via mail order from Dixie Gun Works, in the U.S. You can also make your own cardboard wads, simply by making a punch out a piece of 3/4-inch steel pipe. A couple or three of these wads glued together, with a dab of lube smeared on their edges, make a good overpowder wad. A single wad goes on top of the shot.
If you prefer to shoot patched ball, don't expect MOA accuracy. They will punch a respectable group at 50 yards or so. Plus, those .75 caliber balls make pretty intimidating holes in a target!
Hope this is useful. Have fun.
Alex M
The Pedersoli Brown Bess is a well made, moderately priced reproduction musket. The problem with them is that the flash hole is simply a small hole drilled through into the chamber. As a result, ignition is painfully slow. Iffy, at best.
To speed up ignition time, take the gun to a competent gunsmith and have him install a flash hole liner. These are generally hollowed out inside, so that some of the main powder charge ends up right next to the flash hole. In fact, you should be able to see granules of powder crowding the hole.
Vent liners can be any size or style you like. 1/4 X 28 works well, or 5/16 X 24. Both are readily available.
Lock time will still not be as fast say, as the average flintlock rifle. Still, by installing a vent liner, lock time will improve considerably. Expect a bit of a lag between hammer fall and ignition, regardless.
At .750 bore, these guns are a nominal 11 bore. So, they make nice shotguns. They also add quite a bit of challenge to the hunt. An average load of 80 grains Ffg black powder and 1 1/8-oz. of shot, makes a nice bunny getter.
11 gauge over powder and over shot wads can be purchased via mail order from Dixie Gun Works, in the U.S. You can also make your own cardboard wads, simply by making a punch out a piece of 3/4-inch steel pipe. A couple or three of these wads glued together, with a dab of lube smeared on their edges, make a good overpowder wad. A single wad goes on top of the shot.
If you prefer to shoot patched ball, don't expect MOA accuracy. They will punch a respectable group at 50 yards or so. Plus, those .75 caliber balls make pretty intimidating holes in a target!
Hope this is useful. Have fun.
Alex M
- Location
- Lunenburg N.S.
Loyalist Arms
I purchased a Pedersoli trade gun and a Billy Dixon sharps rifle from them.They were excellant to deal with. I also later ordered a spare main spring for the lock on my trade rifle .I was surprised when it arrived in just over two weeks time, as they had to bring it in from Italy.
I purchased a Pedersoli trade gun and a Billy Dixon sharps rifle from them.They were excellant to deal with. I also later ordered a spare main spring for the lock on my trade rifle .I was surprised when it arrived in just over two weeks time, as they had to bring it in from Italy.
