Bad Ass Wallace
04-09-2015, 05:49 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Ped%2086_71_zps5w3sjluj.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/Ped%2086_71_zps5w3sjluj.jpg.html)
Over Easter I had a chance to directly compare the Marlin "Cowboy" and a Pedersoli Model 86/71; both levers in that classic old cartridge 45/70
I looked closely at the Marlin about 2 years ago and found that COA was critical to proper feed and function. Any ammunition with a projectile over 350gns simply would not feed from the magazine.
The Pedersoli is a very solid outfit, almost a pound heavier than the Marlin, quite a high grade of walnut has been used and the colorcase hardened receiver finished surpurbly as late manufactured Pedersoli's have become renown for. The magazine and barrel had a rich blue/black finish. Side by side, the Pedersoli just oozed a high quality of workmanship, that the Marlin did not! The action and trigger were as smooth as silk and equal to a Browning 86 which I have handled in the past (but couldn't afford)
We tried some dummy rounds with a 520 gn Lyman Postell bullet seated in the crimp groove, through the Ped 86 and it passed with flying colours. Each cartridge had at least 5mm of clearance in the very generous magazine well. This Model features a 1:18" twist with the deep rifling featured on most of the Pedersoli match grade barrels and best suited to launching big 500gn + cast projectiles.
The only things I would change would be to drill and tap the generous tang for either Pedersoli's own lever tang sight or other quality outfit and that 3/4 magazine should be lengthened to full, after all with the bigger projectiles that will feed through the action, it will only hold 4 rounds and not 5.
Would I buy one, you betcha, just as soon as I can save the funds!
Over Easter I had a chance to directly compare the Marlin "Cowboy" and a Pedersoli Model 86/71; both levers in that classic old cartridge 45/70
I looked closely at the Marlin about 2 years ago and found that COA was critical to proper feed and function. Any ammunition with a projectile over 350gns simply would not feed from the magazine.
The Pedersoli is a very solid outfit, almost a pound heavier than the Marlin, quite a high grade of walnut has been used and the colorcase hardened receiver finished surpurbly as late manufactured Pedersoli's have become renown for. The magazine and barrel had a rich blue/black finish. Side by side, the Pedersoli just oozed a high quality of workmanship, that the Marlin did not! The action and trigger were as smooth as silk and equal to a Browning 86 which I have handled in the past (but couldn't afford)
We tried some dummy rounds with a 520 gn Lyman Postell bullet seated in the crimp groove, through the Ped 86 and it passed with flying colours. Each cartridge had at least 5mm of clearance in the very generous magazine well. This Model features a 1:18" twist with the deep rifling featured on most of the Pedersoli match grade barrels and best suited to launching big 500gn + cast projectiles.
The only things I would change would be to drill and tap the generous tang for either Pedersoli's own lever tang sight or other quality outfit and that 3/4 magazine should be lengthened to full, after all with the bigger projectiles that will feed through the action, it will only hold 4 rounds and not 5.
Would I buy one, you betcha, just as soon as I can save the funds!