cabelas blue ridge 54 CAL. pecussion handle balls or sabbots

[arkansas toothpick]

I am seriously thinking of purchasing a cabelas blue ridge 54 Cal. percussion made by Pedrosoli, and Im wondering if it handles balls good,
or how it handles sabbots? Im am also wondering how the sights are on it









Arkansas Toothpick :-)

[lostid]

it'll shoot a patched round ball just fine,,but it won't shoot sabots fer hoot!

 alot can be learned by even the most experianced shooters by reading the "archives" or the past posts by members here on gb's from years back.
 good luck to ya

[Slamfire]

I'm not familiar with the twist rate. Some 1 in 66" barrels will shoot the shorter conicals pretty good. 1 in 48" barrels will shoot just about all the available conicals ok.

[arkansas toothpick]

thanks for givin me tha advice about the sabbots, this gun is for elk and mules in the rockys, so how do you think it will handle 100 yard shots with sabbots, or should i get a difernt gun? :?

[Slamfire]

Foget the sabots, they hold pistol bullets which work just fine on deer. For elk get some big ol' chunks of lead, without the plastic and get in close.

[sabotloader]

arkansas toothpick,

Rifle
Blue Ridge™ Percussion Rifles feature a drum and bolster system. These precision-rifled 39" browned octagonal barrels with 1 turn in 48" twist deliver exceptional precision with patched round balls, plus the .45 and .50 caliber will handle conical bullets surprisingly well. 8 lands and grooves (7 in .32 and .36 caliber). Locks are color case-hardened. Adjustable double-set, double-phase triggers. Buttplate and trigger guard are polished brass.
Overall length: 55".
Weight:
.32 and .36 calibers: 7-3/4 lb.
.45, .50 and .54 calibers: 7-1/4 lb.
 

Since it is a 1/48 twist - it is really versitile. Secondly since Idaho does allow sabots - It should shoot them just fine.  I shoot a lyman 54 trade rifle and several TC 50's with sabots and they work great.  I use Nosler 300 grain partitions for elk and they will do the work at hand.  For target practice and plinking I drop back to the XTP bullets.  On the other hand if you want to shoot conicals the 460 No Excuse is a great bullet.

I am kind a curious why the "Blue Ridge?"

Good luck

[alpini]

I'd go for the different gun if you wanted to use conicals. In my eyes, the Blue Ridge .54 looks a little light weight with heavy charges. The Lyman Great Plains .54 seems like it might handle conicals better.

With the Blue Ridge, I'd use round ball. I don't know, but the thin wrist and short tangs might  bother me some in the strength area. Just my 2 cent opinion.

I do like the way the Blue Ridge looks, I allways wanted the .45 flint. Very graceful looking rifle.