Anyone use the .72 blackpowder double rifles?
I have seen in either Cabelas or Bass Pro a really big bore double muzzleloader rifle. Has anyone out there tried it? I am checking into the legality of using it during blackpowder season. I used to also see swivel barrel guns where it was an over-under and after one barrel was fired, it could be manually turned over and the other barrel shot, do these still exist?
I'd love some info on any of these. Also, does anyone know of something like this:
side or flint lock
stainless barrel with removable breechplug
and preferrably a synthetic stock.
I like the extra challenge of flint and sidelocks, but I have such a hard time keeping them clean and rust free -- no matter how much time (it seems) that I spend on them.
I'd love some info on any of these. Also, does anyone know of something like this:
side or flint lock
stainless barrel with removable breechplug
and preferrably a synthetic stock.
I like the extra challenge of flint and sidelocks, but I have such a hard time keeping them clean and rust free -- no matter how much time (it seems) that I spend on them.
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I have never tried the double rifle that you mention. However, I own several of the original turn barrel, side hammer rifles as they were quite popular here in the Northeast at one time. Usually, one barrel is rifled and anywhere from .38 to .45 caliber while the other barrel is a .410 smooth bore. Most were made in small shops by the local gunsmith and had only a small distribution area. Interestingly, many of the barrels were made by Remington. The 'smith usually also bought patch boxes, locks, buttplates and inlays and then put everything together with a stock that he had made. Stocks were usually made from Maple, Walnut or Cherry, but I have also seen them made from Beech and Poplar. These rifles date anywhere from about 1860 to about 1900 and some old timers used them long after that. I remember that when I started deer hunting in the 1940's that there was an old man who was in his 80's at that time who used one of these rifles made by W.R. Robbins. Robbins' shop was about 30 miles from where I live now. I also remember that the old man usually got a deer. 0 -
Thanks scout... I didn't know the turn styles had been around that long. I remember seeing in the past 10 years some current blackpowder maker offering the revolving barrel guns, and one still offers the Kodiak .72 caliber double rifle. I still wonder if the 3/4" ball will shoot well, or fall like a brick.
Thanks.
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
If memory serves me 71 caliber is the same diameter as a 12 guage shotgun. Not sure this helps but it may give you something to compare to. 0 -
i haven't shot the .72 but i do have a kodiac .58 dbl. that shoots well to 75 yrds w r.b. haven't found a good load for the mini bullet yet. 0 -
Pedersoli makes a double that looks pretty nice. It comes in .50, .54, and .58. The .50 and .58 have 1:48 twist. The .54 has a 1:60 twist. You could load that .54 bad boy up with round ball and 100 gr of ffg and you would be loaded for bear, at least black bear. They cost $750. Dixie sells them. If you will clean the bore with apple cider vinegar patches, oil it with LPS 2 from Ace Hardware, and clean the bore with brake clean just before you load it you won't have much trouble keeping it clean. 0 -
The Cabela's brand side-by-side is the Pedersoli.
Dennis McCandless of Las Cruces, NM, used to make swivel breech guns -- rifle-rifle and rifle-shotgun. He stopped making them because they were difficult to make rigid enough to be accurate. And once made rigid, they didn't stay that way if you actually used yours.
Several custom gunmakers offer side-by-side flintlocks, some with interchangeable sets of barrels. These are works of art. I can furnish gunmakers if you need.
In the limited production area, October Country offers an ungraceful but very well made double rifle. I believe they offer an 8-bore. The hunting term for this is MAD, as in "mutual assured destruction" for shooter and target.
Unless things have changed, Idaho allows double-barrelled rifles in their muzzleloading big game seasons. And Montana allow doubles because it has no muzzleloading big game seasons.
Regarding maintenance, gimme a jingle.0 -
Yeah, I found the .72 in Cabelas (I couldn't remember where I'd seen it - thanks for the reminder). I can't find any info anywhere else on the gun. I am especially interested in powder limits and whether a .72 caliber will even fly to the point of aim for the 2 barrels (75 yards)...
Has anyone shot a blackpowder rifle that shoots a nearly 3/4" chunk of lead? How's the recoil?
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
I did find out a few things for those that are interested...
This gun has been made in various twist rates and they GREATLY affect the overall accuracy. Oh, sealy... 72 is nearly the same as 10 gauge (learned something new myself) [:)] I was kind of disappointed by the maximum overall powder capacity.
PR0916 Pedersoli Kodiak Express Double Rifle 72 Caliber
A hunter's dream come true. Features European walnut halfstock with checkered wrist and forearm, satin finish, 2" drop and 14 1/4" front trigger pull and 13 1/2" rear trigger pull. Barrel is 72 caliber, blued, tapered round 1.140" at breech to .935" at muzzle. Broached rifling .004" deep with 1-86" twist, 6 lands measure .724" and 6 grooves measure .732". Front sight is 3/8" dovetail, steel ramp with brass bead. Rear sight is twin flip-up open sights adjustable for windage and elevation. Steel furniture, color casehardened lock and tang. Single set triggers. Sling swivels. .360" fiberglass ramrod with brass tip threaded 10x32. Nipple is 1/4 x 28 and uses #11 caps. Load with 80 grains of FFG black powder and patched .710 round ball. Overall length is 42 inches and total weight is 10 1/2 lbs. Made by Pedersoli in Italy.
It doesn't matter what you shoot, just shoot it well...0 -
A 10 1/2 pound rifle shooting 80 grains of powder and patched round ball is not going to kick much. I am sure you could safely go up to 100 grains with no trouble, I bought a Pedersoli Civil War rifle and I went 20 and 30 grains above recommended with no ill effect. As to accuracy I don't know. Go over to this site http://talk.blackpowdershooters.com and go to the "implements" section and then to "blackpowder" and ask those maniacs. I am sure some of those guys are familiar. 0 -
You can safely go ALOT higher than 80 grains in these rifles. My favorite load is 150 in my .72. 0
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