Author Topic: Mortimer .54 flintlock by Pedersoli (Read 3010 times)

anweis · « **on:** June 22, 2004, 03:28:58 AM »

I really like the way this rifle shoulders, the balance, and the sights. It is my first muzzleloader (present from wife). Are these good quality rifles?
Any advice on powder charge for knocking deer at 100 yards?

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2004, 04:42:48 AM »

Start with 70 grains of ff then work up. Remember it will take a few rounds for the barrel to break in. You will have to experiment with ball and patch combinations. .530 or .535 balls and .05, .1, .15, .17 patches.

Good idea to start by run one wet and one dry cleaning patch after each shot. Do not try using a jag with a dry patch. It will get stuck. If this happens soak it in water for a few hours then try pulling it out.

70 grains of ff will harvest deer out to 100 yards. You don't really need more than that. But if you increase the loads by 5 grains you may be able to find a sweet spot for your gun.

Also remember that most new guns have a high front sight and will shoot low. After the barrel breaks in you can hand file the front sight down to bring the groups up. Before you start filing allow the barrel to break in. You also have to determine if you will be aim using the 6 o'clock hold or center hold. And if you want to set the sight up for point-blank range.

Good shooting.

anweis · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2004, 05:16:04 AM »

Thank you. That is very useful, considering my lack of experience.

filmokentucky · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2004, 06:49:42 AM »

anweis-welcome to the world of black powder shooting. For a good article
on the Mortimer pick up a copy the July issue of "Rifle-Sporting Firearms Journal". Ross Seyfried has an article about this fine rifle in this issue.

crow_feather · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2004, 08:42:14 AM »

anweis,

I have a 54 Pedersoli Tryon and I have found that 70-80 grs of 3f will go into one big hole at 50 yards. I use a thin patch where I can push the ball and patch into the bore without a short starter.

Now, that works for me and my rifle, but these rifles are unique and you will likely have to find the patch, powder combination that works best for your rifle. While you are doing this, you will get the loading and shooting practice that you need before going hunting.

If there is a range around where you live, go up to some of the traditional black powder shooters, introduce yourself and explain where you are at in the world of black powder shooting. Most will be glad to assist you with any problems.

Best of luck in your shooting, hope to hear how you are doing. You have an excellent rifle! Welcome to Greybeard!

C F

fffffg · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:08:23 PM »

accuracy with black powder is a very tough game, but of course it depends what you call accurate.. i get cussed out all the time for getting too tecknical scaring newbies off into under the bed or some such.but here goes.. take a scale with you to the range and push down on it with ramrod in gun when you load and see what pounds pressure your gun shoots best with. after this for a while it will become second nature and wont bve a big probleme but solve some problems for the beginner.. the next big erroor that new shooters get into is fandangels.. the market is full of them and they want you to buy them.. a ball patch and lube and powder is what you need, and claening equipment and such.. dont let fired black set in bore over night. lube is off primary importance.. the best ive found for year aroound shooting is pure neatsfoot oil..waxes act differnt in diffeent temperatures.. shoot the rifle in different temperatures and believe it or not humitity is a big deal.. load right after shooting and be sure not to get fouling build up at the muzzel when wipping get it out for accuracy. get a load that shoots well for 2 shots without wipping for hunting. use lots of neatsfoot oil on patch.. to get bore wipped when loading 2nd shot.. use less oil on first shot.. the amount of oil you use is a real key to accuracy.. the more powder you use the more fouling.. your going to need to wipe after x shots or you will at best will loss accuracy.. dont get wet powder in below the ball in wiping as this will blow back and plug up percussion,, flints tend to blow the crud by and work best for me.. keep at it and the 54 ill have lots of power at 100 yards.. if you know how to hit with it it will be a gut hunting gun for you.. .. good luck dave.

fffffg · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:13:22 PM »

woops, you may need of course , short starter, tools, spare flints/ caps and etc.. cleaning solution, oil, lube, pathces etc and what ever works, try it all, but bp is about huting the game on its terms, not sniping from hundreds of yards, and thats the real challange.. dave.

S.S. · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2004, 09:31:06 AM »

FFFFFG
Thats the sound my flintlock makes when the pan flashes and
doesn't ignite the main charge

That sound is normally
Proceeded by a click and it is followed by swear words :-D when it happens.

anweis · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2004, 12:28:11 PM »

"bp is about hunting the game on its terms, not sniping from hundreds of yards, and thats the real challenge"

Hey Dave, i thought hunting is something like driving an 8 mpg airconditioned SUV to a deerstand next to a feeder, spend 20 minutes in the airconditioned deer stand, and shoot the poor deer with a $5000 rifle chambered in some Super Short Super Fat Super Fast Ultra Magnum caliber. Hmmm...So you think that i should leave the ATV behind, and actually walk, and climb a ridge, pay attention to wind, and noises, and smells, and find tracks and follow game, and stalk, and get within 100 yards, and pass a shot if it is not appropriate....Hmmmm. You got me thinking. You mean that is what hunting is about? :shock: :lol:

By the way, i managed to take three shots with Mr. Mortimer. I LOVE it.
It did shoot 6 inches high, right above the bull's eye, but the shots were all in a 3 inch group (shot from about 100 yards). I did notice that ignition was slower than in a modern centerfire, so i guess i will need to learn to follow through on moving game just like bird shooting. Right?

"woops, you may need of course , short starter, tools, spare flints/ caps and etc.. cleaning solution, oil, lube, pathces etc and what ever works, try it all" ... yeah, and some appropriate clothing and boots and a nice leather bag, and a nicely engraved powder horn, i can't go hunting with a 19th century rifle dressed in pink Goretex and pretending to be J. F. Cooper's deerslayer. My wife will say that i went crazy again...But hey, she bought me the Mortimer.

Will these .54 caliber balls kill a bison? Say, with a maximum safe charge of powder? There's a ranch in New Mexico were i could get one, for about the price of a head of cattle.

Speaking of balls, i got a mold for them. Should i add a bit of antimony to make them harder (for better performance on game), or do they need to be soft? I have plenty of weel weights in my garage, left from casting for the 7.62x54 Russian.

Thank you and safe shooting.

filmokentucky · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2004, 02:13:55 PM »

You want the purest, softest lead you can find. You can always get it at plumbing supply houses, but the price will be highest there. Still, to get started, and for the relatively small amount you'll need, it might be the way to go.

crow_feather · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2004, 02:54:38 PM »

The July issue of RIFLE magazine has a nice article about the .54 Mortimer flint rifle. I read the article and found it quite favorable towards the rifle.
The author used the rifle to take deer and elk, all one shot kills with a 54 round ball.

C F

Naphtali · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2004, 06:06:30 AM »

Pedersoli's Mortimer lock is one of the two best Right-Hand production flintlocks available. It is also the only production flintlock having a safety. You can buy a smoothbore barrel assembly if you choose. Your wife is a peach.

fffffg · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2004, 01:54:33 PM »

i have the mortimer 12 guage shotgun, i havnt shot it for a long time.. but when i was using it regularly i had the lower rib taken off ( a big deal as its was put on in an oven) then i sent it to an expert machinest in ohio i think, and he put a .040 jug choke in it.. iv shot probably about 30 ducks with it.. if you want to see it its at http://home.netcom.com/~imcanal/photos/schlick-f.jpg ... i dont know if it will let you on.. its the picture forum for the mlml mailing list, the best black powder list on the net for muzzelloaders.. i now use a 16 gauge chambers 42 inch longstock and it shoots a 400 grain round ball or 1 1/8 or more shot lead, bismuth, etc.. it takes years to learn the creeks bends, binocular spots, hangouts where you can shoot the critters at 15-30 yards if your veeeery carfull.. great fun jump shooting with flinltock . the photo was on a day of 20 below.. at 10 degrees the muzzeloader lightweigts, like me now, start jumping like rats off the ship.. if you keep your hands out in 20 below on a barrel for more than aobut 15 seconds your toast or should i say ice cube.. dave..

fffffg · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2004, 01:56:33 PM »

no, you cant load a muzzeloader shot gun with gloves on...(:<> dave