Hi, thanks guys for the kind comments. I patterned the Pedersoli 12ga shotgun kit @30yds this morning. A couple of dozen rounds were fired. The load was 75gr Black Mz, followed with an over power wad, followed with a fiber cushioning wad, followed by 1-1/4oz #7.5 shot, and followed by an over the shot wad. The cylinder bore shot pattern covered the whole width of the 48" paper, the modified bore produced a tighter pattern. I had an issue using the 1/2" cushion wad causing the center of the pattern to be light with shot holes. Cutting the cushion wad in half closed the center of the pattern. I have seen internet references were other people report the center of the pattern to be light with thick cushion wads. The conjecture is that the wad overtakes the shot column causing it to blow open.
I was waiting for my order of a large Pachmayr Decelerator to arrive in the mail. Wouldn't you know it that a sub is delivering the mail today and the Decelerator has not yet arrived. I have a small Decelerator that I managed to slip over the butt. It sure helped taming the recoil which was very stiff, much more than experienced with the Pedersoli flintlock 12ga shotgun. However, the loading used with the flintlock was much lighter than what I was using today. BTW, I began to really feel the recoil in my shoulder at the end of the shooting today. The recoil from the muzzleloading shotgun is much more intense that what experience when shooting my Mossberg 500 shotgun. In the future I intend on using a lighter loading with the BP muzzleloading shotguns.
Bottom line, the Pedersoli 12ga percussion shotgun is a keeper, it is beautiful and I am very proud to own it.
This post competes the building and shooting of the Pedersoli 12ga percussion kit.
Regards,
Richard
