Does anybody have one of these? Can they be converted to 209 primers? What do you think of the rifle in general?

Try this link

http://www.marstar.ca/gf-peder...-Kodiak-Express.shtm

I had one of the older Kodiaks, which looks the same. I liked it; mine was a .58 caliber. 209s? probably not, but Dixie used to sell a conversion for a regular rifle cartridge primer.

Just bought a Pedersoli .58 caliber double rifle. I have shot it 14 times, 7 from each barrel.

The manual says it was regulated for 100 gr IIIF, max load 110 IIIF. I first tried 100 gr IIf and it shot at leat 14" high. After several tries, I reduced the loads to 85fr IIF and it is shooting about 2" high at 50 yards and with only a 1" cross of the barrels. I can live with that in a $1000 double rifle.

I've had some troubles with the rear trigger, and I'll try to give an update tomorrow after I have played with it a bit.

My overall impression after 14 rounds is very favorable if I can get this trigger issue straightened out.

Mike

Mike, you've had much better luck with your rifle than many I've heard about over the years. Some folks resorted to using different loads in each bbl. to get 2 shots reasonably close together. Others just put separate sights on each bbl.
Sounds like you got the "pick of the litter"..!!
Congratulations.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Edwards:
Mike, you've had much better luck with your rifle than many I've heard about over the years. Some folks resorted to using different loads in each bbl. to get 2 shots reasonably close together. Others just put separate sights on each bbl.
Sounds like you got the "pick of the litter"..!!
Congratulations.

So, I took the locks off the gun yesterday. Now I don't claim to be a gunsmith of any sorts, but this is a very simply made rifle, and after tinkering a few minutes, I discovered why the trigger was not engaging properly, and fixed it myself. Works great now.

I'll be back to the range on Tuesday to throw some more lead downrange. I am a little disappointed that it does not shoot well with 110gr of IIF, but then again, it is a cheap double rifle, and 85gr is sufficient to take down anything in North America with a .58cal round ball at 50 yards.

I plan to use it primarily for whitetail here in the South.

I'll post some pictures next week of the gun and the targets.

Mike

If you want improved ignition, replacement nipples are commonly available that take musket caps instead of those little pistol caps most percussion rifles use. MUCH larger/longer flame.

Tom

I have considered picking one up but here in CO., they are not legal to use during ML season because they are not a single shot.
True, they are very simple and robust and shoot OK from what I have heared. Also true that yours sounds like it shoots better than most.

Mike, I've had several of the Kodiaks in .58 and .72. I did what Sgt. Brown suggested: switched to musket caps. I also shot the .58s with both round ball and conicals, finding the conicals pretty easy to regulate. You might PM Jeffe here, as he and I have traded Kodiaks a couple of times, and he really put his through its paces!