Range report on Pedersoli Kodiak 72 Double Rifle

[wellfedirishman]

Folks, here is a range report on this fun (and noisy) gun. I picked it up a while back off Gunbroker and this is the first time I have had it out at the range.

I am using .715 round balls cast with the Lyman mold, with commercial lubed patches (not sure of exact thickness).

Here is the gun itself. It is a very well made and heavy rifle. It must weigh north of 10lbs, with nice wood and deep-blued steel. It is wearing a thick LimbSaver butt recoil pad.





Here is the business end, with 2 round balls shown on a percussion cap tin.


It has two flip-up sights, I guess so you can regulate them for either each barrel, or for different distances. It is kind of hard to see here, but the rear flip sight is down and the forward one is up.


I shot it with 30 grains equivalent of Pyrodex P + a full 45-70 case of Pyrodex RS. This is approximately equivalent to 115-120 grains of Black Powder. I like the pistol powder first (next to the percussion cap) for good ignition in big caliber rifles. It is not necessary, just my preference. I do the same in my 54 cal Hawken.

[wellfedirishman]

Split into two parts due to number of pictures.

This gun make a serious boom and flash at the range. I had a few folks come up and admire the show.

First barrel:


Second barrel:


There is some muzzle rise as can be seen from these pictures. I am shooting a stout load, hence the rubber butt pad to reduce recoil as mentioned earlier. I wouldn't want to shoot this load with just the bare metal on the buttstock.

In terms of accuracy, the gun shoots both barrels parallel at 25 yards (i.e., 2 holes side by side as expected). It does shoot with a point of impact higher than the sights, so I just aimed my bead below the target circle to hit the center of the target approx.

25 yards: (first group 1, then group 2 with lower point of aim)


50 yards:


50 yards with more shots. The point of aim is marked by the red X.


I think I will spend some time working up an accurate load for this. So far it looks like a solid 50 yard gun with lots of punch and even more fun to shoot. I need to drift the sight slightly right, and lower the sight elevation also (it is set somewhat high on this gun and I have not adjusted it yet).

If I can get this to be pie-plate accurate with both barrels at 100 yards I would be quite happy.

[Fjold]

They are fun guns to shoot.

[a1c]

What a beast. Looks like a great pig/bear gun. A video of your next range session would be awesome.

[kurac]

thanks for having the guts to buy that thing and shoot it for us.

[plumbum]

I think it needs a flashlight rail mounted under the forend, perhaps a red dot for CQB?



Gotta love big boomers like that one, thanks for the pictures.
Blackpowder makes me think of fireworks - which makes me happy!

[6mmintl]

Nice range! where is it? Just started shooting a 20 gage flint fowler myself, Thjere is a two day BP rondevous event up at railroad flats this weekend.

I shoot manteca and red hills rondevoues 5-6 times a year.

[duckman1]

It's fun gun to shoot and use for hunting, I have a friend that hunts Browns in Alaska with his.

[24Sailor]

Think I'll put one of these under the Christmas tree. Even though it can't stabilize modern projectiles.....I like that....Most these new inline, fast twist, scoped muzzle loaders are cheating on the hunting front anyhowz IMHO

[wellfedirishman]

Frank, it is Dillman Range at Lincoln, CA. It is one of my favorite ranges in the Sac Area.

20 gauge fowler sounds like a lot of fun.

Nice range! where is it? Just started shooting a 20 gage flint fowler myself, Thjere is a two day BP rondevous event up at railroad flats this weekend.

I shoot manteca and red hills rondevoues 5-6 times a year.

[meltyman]

Saw you there, guess I should have said hi to a fellow calgunner. Was admiring your beast, and the boom definitely stood out at the pistol end of the range