I was hoping that someone with first, second, or even third-hand experience might chime in. I am looking at the Pedersoli Kodiak SxS Express Rifle in .72. I have a few decades of experience with big-bores in both precision rifles, as well as dangerous game rifles. I have been wanting to get a nice Merkel SxS in classic .470 or .500 NE. But I have also considered the aforementioned double BP model as well. I know that it will be more expense than others, and it will have its difficulties, as compared to lesser rifles. I am also sure that it will present its challenges in regulating its loads as well. I have no qualms with recoil, as I shoot several hard-hitters regularly for extended periods.
My question is: Does anyone have any experience with it, and if you do what are your thoughts? How does it perform on large game? And finally, does anyone know what the typical energy (I know it means little in terms of actual performance) of a heavy load? I am sure it has been covered here before, but my search-foo is weak.
I have also been working on a project, with my local gunsmith, in building a
British Nock Volley Gun. Ever since seeing them used in the short-lived TV series "The Young Riders" I have wanted one, and for little other reason than as a novelty gun. Anyone with info on them, or similar arms it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to any posts.
-PC-
No personal experience with them, so not much help there. I would doubt that recoil with patched round ball would be all that stout, you've got a lot of weight to soak it up, and powder charges aren't all that stout in the big bores.
What kind of large game are you contemplating hunting with it? I'd imagine you'd be fine up to and including elk. If you're talking a trip to Africa, back before the days of smokeless powder they were using 8, 6, and even 4 bores on the game over there.
And I think you'll find that when it comes to lead projectiles and black powder, ft/lbs of energy figures are fairly useless. That measure of performance simply doesn't convert well.
DeWitt Bailey and Howard Blackmore are the acknowledged experts on the British military flintlocks. Goggle their books.
The Nock Volkey gun was initially rifled and later versions were smoothbore (methinks without having to find my books). I also think Nelson proposed the multi barrel gun (but he didn't have his marines and sailors fighting from the ship's fighting tops for fear of setting the sails aflame). If you go to the Charleston (SC) city museum, they have a first model Nock on display.
