Pedersoli Kentucky Pistol

[Gunor]

I have a cap and flint pistol - both about the same vintage.
Using 429 balls and .005 patch. Little less than 20 gr of 3F

Patch - see photo
Attachment 231417

Swab about every 3 shoots.

What accuracy should I have at 25 yards - if I was decent shot (not saying I am).

Shooting the cap gun.

Getting about 6 inch groups.

Tighter patch?

Sights suck - shoots highs with a big fat brass triangle front sight.

[bedbugbilly]

Sooooooooob. . . . what caliber is your pistol? I'll go out on a limb here and guess they are .45? caliber If so, why are you using a .429 ball and expecting good accuracy? If they are .45 caliber, then you need to try a .440 round ball in it with the correct thickness patch. My guess is that a lot of your accuracy issue isn't entirely to be blamed on your sights. A loose fitting ball, even with a patch is akin to shooting any undersize projectile down a barrel - if you were shooting undersize conicals out of them I'm betting that you would have a lot of nice "keyholes" in your target. Try googling Pedersoli and see if you can't download a manual and see what they recommend.

[mazo kid]

For starters, your patch is much too thin. It is burning through.

[Gunor]

For both:

.440 between lands so a .429 ball. Measured with a small bore gauge and a micrometer.

And patch is in fine shape - no holes, and not burned or etc. Just dirty.

Might have to try a thicker patch.

[DIRT Farmer]

for 440 between the lands no smaller than a 437, I would [and have] use a 440 ball in the 45 pedersoli pistol with pocket drill patching. Most of these guns will easily hold the x ring at 25 yards, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches

[arcticap]

The Pedersoli manual recommends a .445 ball and a .010 patch for their .45 Kentucky pistol.

That would seem to indicate that you should try a .015 patch with the .429 ball in your .44 caliber pistol.

You can also use a slightly larger ball with a .010 patch.

There will probably be incremental differences in accuracy and loading difficulty depending on your loading method, whether you use a loading stand or not.
and how much patch lube that you have on your patches.

Many factors can affect your accuracy.

You may also see an accuracy improvement by simply using a .010 patch, and/or by using a wad of some sort underneath the patched ball on top of the powder.
That's something to experiment with along with the amount of your powder charges and swabbing at regular intervals between shots.

It's often said to only change one variable or loading factor at a time, but in your case a thicker patch is clearly indicated.
Then afterward you can experiment with increasing the size of the ball.
Expecting match type accuracy by using both a larger ball and thicker patch may lead to somewhat more loading difficulty and require more experimentation.

Simply using a thicker patch and/or wads may help before you switch ball size.
Accuracy can often be elusive considering all of the possible loading variables and the sights.

I would recommend a .433 ball next because they are available as factory swagged from both Hornady and Speer, and then start with a .010 patch.

[Gunor]

Arcticap,
Thanks for the info.

I bought a mold from a fellow Oregon member. So when I have daylight - I’ll try the thicker patches. And build a loading stand.

[Gunor]

Attachment 231626

Results today - dry weather and cool 40’s.

Upped the charge to 40 grains.

About 6” high - center of mass hold @ 27 yards.

Groups size - 4 shots - 2” plus. Not many shots, but better.

Patch- I had some pre-lubed at about .010 thickness (compressed with micrometer).

Tried some .433 and the same patch - could not get it started - no stand and I am uncoordinated.

I tried some pillow ticking lubed with Balistrol/water.

Sights still suck for me.

Attachment 231627

Thanks for any help

Geoff in Oregon