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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Muzzleloaders & Blackpowder
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NitroXAdministrator
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Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions
      #71331 - 13/02/07 12:14 AM

I'm brand new to shooting muzzle loader black powder rifles, and have a number of questions. Some pretty basic (most ).

First question:

Q1 When carrying the Kodiak dbl BP rifle with loaded barrels and caps on the nipples, should the rifle be carried with the hammers half cocked for safety, or uncocked?

ie if half-cocked, the caps may fall off?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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BlainSmipy
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: NitroX]
      #71379 - 13/02/07 11:24 AM

Half cocked, if you leave the hammers down with the caps on you could discharge the gun. The hammers will be resting on the caps, hitting or striking the hammers would cause them to hit the caps and fire. There are gizmos you can get that go over the nipples and caps that allow you to rest the hammers without half cocking them. They also protect the caps from getting wet. Get some HotShot nipples, the caps stay on better and they reduce miss-fires. Also, the caps will fall off eventually, so in rough terrain I sometimes put my thumb over the cap to keep it on. You can also try silicone tubing, the stuff the RC airplane guys use for they're fuel systems. Slip it over the cap and nipple leaving enough room for the cap head to be exposed. This will keep the cap on and water proof it. I had to poke a Black Bear in the nose with the muzzle of my Hawkins .50 this Elk season due to a wet cap and miss-fire. Fortunately it was a young bear and ran up away after a snort. So keep yer' powder dry.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: BlainSmipy]
      #71385 - 13/02/07 01:02 PM

I suppose another idea would be to not place the caps on, until one expects to shoot. But this would slow down the shot of course.

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Chasseur
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: NitroX]
      #71389 - 13/02/07 01:31 PM

I second Colorado's recomendations. I've had good luck with Thunderridge stainless replacement nipples, they hold #11 better than the originals. I tried musket caps for awhile on mine, but they are even more likely to fall off with the "top hat" brim they have... My .58 likes 100grs of FF with a patched round ball. I've not tried conicals yet, but I keep meaning too. I'm going to take the old girl out this September for feral goat and wild pigs I hope.

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In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
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butchloc
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: Chasseur]
      #71446 - 14/02/07 05:29 AM

hope i can help - i've had one of these for quite awhile, so long that its one of the original ones that was regulated with a single sight. i've never had the problem with caps falling off, but you do have to push them on firmly. For the last several years i've been useing pyrodex RS with a rather stout load of 140 grains with either a round ball or a 330 gr condical Lee REAL bullet (this is what they were originaly regulated with). carrying it with caps on and half cock isn't any differance between carrying any other hammer gun with a round in the chamber. herein the old thing about keeping the muzzle in a safe direction. Not knowing how new the piece is I can't comment on where your loads with be, but i would tend to believe that rather stout loads will be required. Fun gun, makes lots of smoke, and is great with watermelons as targets. Hope you enjoy it john

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: butchloc]
      #71607 - 16/02/07 04:03 AM

Caps come in different sizes. Original and replacement nipples come in different sizes - get the ones that fit properly and they won't fall off. I've never had a cap fall off when hunting.but then, I've only hunted with BP guns for 33 years. I dpomn't suppose it will every happen to me now. I'm impervious to caps falling off 'cause I shoot a flintlock now.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: DarylS]
      #71616 - 16/02/07 04:33 AM

I was riding a motor bike with the rifle in a handlebar Y rest when the cap came off. The vibrations might have been too much. The rifle had the hammers in half cock. Therefore my question about the safest way to have the hammers.


***


I've only tried one load so far. Using 80 grains of FFg with a minie (I think?). The dealer sold me some for the rifle. I will weigh them to ascertain weight.

Any suggestions for loads in the .58 Pedersoli BP Kodiak? I haven't played around with loads yet. These loads feel so light and don't recoil much at all.

I've had several misfires on the right hammer so far. Re-trying with a new cap worked once, and the second time, it required a third one to set the load off. Any reasons why this may be occurring? (note I checked it is clear before charging the barrel, by firing a cap off and checking grass blades moved when the cap was fired).

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BlainSmipy
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: NitroX]
      #71641 - 16/02/07 06:02 AM

Swap nipples.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: BlainSmipy]
      #71810 - 18/02/07 05:07 AM

OK next question.

What is the best way to carry ammunition components?

Powder - I have a metal powder flask and a small scaled measurer to "weigh" the appropriate charge by volume.

Caps? The original small plastic container.

Projectiles? Do you pre-lube your projectiles? How do you carry them?

What tips or tricks can be employed to carry this stuff so they are handy, easy to get to in a hurry etc?

Thanks.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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BlainSmipy
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: NitroX]
      #72324 - 23/02/07 09:57 AM

For powder I use the speed loaders. They are plastic tubes that can carry a pre-measured amount of powder with a cap on each end. You can carry just powder, or powder and a ball/bullet. To load you open the powder cap, pour it in, then open the bullet/ball cap place the tube over the muzzle and use the ram-rod to force the bullet down the barrel through the plastic speed loader. Its almost like an old paper cartridge. I carry about three to four of these in my pocket when I go out Elk/Deer hunting. Beats the old powder flask method. Purest would scoff, but were I hunt, anything I can do to lighten the load, I do. Also, I figure if I can't kill the thing in four shots, I shouldn't be out there. As far as the cap, I use a capper; which is a brass tube like geezmo that feeds the caps to holder on the end, which is used to cap the nipple. It holds about 10 caps fairly secure. I keep that in an easy to access pocket encase of miss fire.

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Some .58 Kodiak BP Double rifle questions [Re: BlainSmipy]
      #72391 - 24/02/07 06:49 AM

NITRO-X were you kidding when you said this? - "I was riding a motor bike with the rifle in a handlebar Y rest when the cap came off. The vibrations might have been too much. The rifle had the hammers in half cock. Therefore my question about the safest way to have the hammers."
: I can see having a load down both tubes, uncapped (no cap on nipple) or unprimed (frizzen open), riding a bike or resting in a vehicle, moving or stopped - such is allowed by the law here & is quite safe. Having a loaded gun on the bike, capped or primed is quite unsafe, I feel. The vibration could cause the knotch to break, hammers to drop, discharging the piece - worse case, senario, right into the guy or vehicle you were driving past.
: You cannot trust the 1/2 cock knotch, unless you are in control of the muzzle. When strapped to the bike, loaded and capped, you are not in control of the muzzles. Over the years, I have seen a good number of 'accidental discharges with production guns and 1/2 cock knotches breaking as well as one accidental discharge from a good custom lock's 1/2 cock knotch breaking - all shots went 'down range' so no safety concern - just rattles some people up a bit. 1/2 cock with a primed gun can only be trusted when walking and you are in control of the muzzle. That way, if one went, it is 'down range'. Down range is a safe direction of fire, not matter which direction it actually is.
: I'm sorry if this post seems rude - not meant that way. Be careful out there.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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