Long Range Muzzle Loader

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Long Range Shooting with the Percussion Small-Bore Muzzle Loading Target Rifle >> Target Rifles & Accessories >> custom long range rifles
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Message started by Greenmtnboy on Aug 7^th, 2007, 5:43pm

Title: custom long range rifles
Post by Greenmtnboy on Aug 7^th, 2007, 5:43pm

Howdy all,
I am a avid round ball hucker but am thinking about a long range gun, what are your opinions on the pedersoli Gibbs rifle and who are the custom long range rifle builders
thanks

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by decapper on Aug 7^th, 2007, 6:03pm

Hello, 8-)

In my opioion the .45 caliber Pedersoli Gibbs rifle is the best "store bought" long range muzzle loader on the market. The sights have received some bad comments but they are capable of match winning scores. The front sight is rather fragile and you have to be careful with it but, with care, it is very capable of delivering good scores.

As for custom long range gun builders I could recomend one. Bob Woodfil from Indiana has built several Rigby style rifles that have performed very well. Several were used in the 2003 World matches held at Camp Butner North Carolina.

Welcome to the sport.

Colin :D

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by David on Aug 7^th, 2007, 7:54pm

The Pedersoli Gibbs has a good track record now of medal winning performances. There are no other readily available rifles to compete with it.... it would be nice to see some though as pretty soon we'll all be shooting them! Maybe that will be a truer test of the rifleman though when we are all using the same equipment... :)

Can't answer for the US, but in the UK Dave Eden makes an exact reproduction of a Rigby match rifle. These are high quality rifles and only a couple or so are made a year. In the UK though in general it appears to be more of a cottage industry with several people able to produce different parts, rather than a custom gunsmith offering a one stop service.

David

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by Greenmtnboy on Aug 8^th, 2007, 6:34pm

thanks guys,
How do the barrels on the Pedersolie's look? are they button or cut rifling? I am not to worried about sites I may change them any way.
I noticed that Pedersolie offers a mold for the gibbs does it fit to the barrel or should I slug the barrel and order a custom mold. And if that's the case who makes custom molds for long range gibbs style rifles and what is the winning bullet?
Lots of questions but I am ether going to stick to muzzlestuffing for long range or get a Shiloh 45-70. I kinda want to stick to muzzlestuffing

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by decapper on Aug 8^th, 2007, 8:53pm

Hello, ;)

I do not know which method is used to rifle the Gibbs brrel but it is probably buttom rifling. I have seen notes on other sites that indicate the bullet mould made by Pedersoli actually does not fit the Gibbs rifle and bullets from it have to be sized.

With regard to custom bullet mould makers, there are two in the United States that most folks discuss. They are Paul Jones and Fred Leeth. Both make excellent moulds that turn out match quality bullets. If you go with a custom mould you definitely need to slug the barrel. The Gibbs bore is slightly smaller in diameter than a standard .451 bore.

I believe the last 1000 yard match winner at Oak Ridge was shooting a Creedmoor style grease groove bullet from a Fred Leeth mould. I think the weight was in the 540 grain range.

Another consideration for you is that many of the long range Gibbs shooters are shooting paper patch bullets in the 540 to 560 grain range. These bullets do perform very well at long range but there is more cost for a swage and dies and more effort involved in making them. They do make a neat looking bullet.

Hope this gives you something to think about.

Colin 8-)

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by David on Aug 9^th, 2007, 6:42am

Have a look at Joe Hepsworth's site www.jcunard.com (http://www.jcunard.com/). Joe has Gibbs rifles in stock, plus all the accessories you will need. He is also an excellent shot with LRML and is captain of the US Team to South Africa for the upcoming World Championships. If you speak to him he will be able to advise on what you need and how/where to get it in the US.

David

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by Illinewek on Aug 9^th, 2007, 6:58pm

The Pedersoli Gibbs is broach rifled and the bore is iniformly tapered from breech to muzzle using a proprietary process. �This often leads to problems when slugging the barrel.

Their mold for the .451 was slightly oversized and required swaging, however there is a running production change to correct this. �They have also recently introduced a .40 cal Gibbs and a mold is under development for it.

Everyone shooting the Gibbs in competition uses a paper patched bullet.

Here in the USA, only Don Brown supplies a high quality component kit based on an Alex Henry target rifle. �It runs around $1200 and is not a gun that a novice builder could successfully put together. �There are several advanced operations required for completion. �I am currently building one for a client.

Dave

Title: Re: custom long range rifles
Post by Greenmtnboy on Aug 13^th, 2007, 3:16pm

Thank you every body this is a huge help!!
Greenmtnboy