Pedersoli High Wall, Sporting and Classic guns
The single-shot rifle was born in 1885 after Winchester acquired the patents John Moses Browning registered two years before. The gun was produced until the 1920s in many configurations. It was available in most popular calibres, many different weights, barrel lengths and finishes, as well as variations to the triggerguard and buttplate. However, the most common difference is between the High Wall and Low Wall versions.
The ‘High Wall’ definition referred to the action frame and higher side walls, therefore much stronger for loading with more powerful cartridges. At the time, the .45-70-calibre was quite a popular choice, as was the .38-55WCF.
Davide Pedersoli company now offers the High Wall rifle model with the choice between the Classic version with the triggerguard of historical shape and the Sporting model with the more elaborate triggerguard design inspired by some custom versions of the time.
The most common use of this rifle, since it first appeared on the market, was and is for mid- and long-range target shooting. The shooters immediately favoured this rifle for its innovative mechanical features, unknown with rifles used previously. The simple and sturdy mechanism, with a smaller external hammer of reduced mechanical mass improved lock time. In the High Wall rifle, the hammer is central and of smaller dimension. The advantage is a faster linear action concentric with the boreline maximising accuracy when compared with contemporary side hammer designs.
The rifle has been produced and finished according to the standards of the Pedersoli company, with the aim to offer best accuracy with mechanical safety improvements compared to its progenitor model. To mention one example, the sear action and the breech block lowering do not fully cock the hammer on opening as in the original models. The hammer now sets to the half-cock or safety position for safety reasons. To shoot, it is always necessary to cock the hammer manually.
The barrel, with air-gauged broached rifling, is made of high-carbon steel and is blue-matte finished. It is equipped with a Winchester-type ramp rear-sight and the standard blade front-sight fits to a dovetail.
The tang is drilled and tapped to accept a Creedmoor sight, which is usually matched with a front tunnel sight with inserts, readily mounted into the barrel’s front dovetail. The frame is attractively color case-hardened. The trigger is fitted with an adjustable single-set mechanism. Adjustments can be made with the screw behind the trigger. The walnut stock with large steel buttplate has a cheekpiece and pistol grip with chequered side panels and a higher heel for comfortable use in the prone position. The fore-end, chequered too, provides a firm and safe grip.
The rifle is available in .45-70 and .38-55 calibres. The .45-70-calibre has a barrel length of 813mm (32") with six grooves and 460mm (one in 18") twist. The overall length is 1230mm (487/16"). Weight is 4.7kg (10.35lb). The .38-55-calibre has a barrel length of 762mm (30") with six grooves, but with 305mm (one in 12") fast twist. The overall length is 1180mm (46½"). Weight is 5kg (10.99lb).
For the reloading of the .38-55 cartridge, there will be available soon two bullets designs: one ideal for 300m target shooting and the other one specific for long-range target shooting.
In the suggested 20:5 lead: tin alloy, the bullets will have different weights - 355 grains for short-range target shooting and 370 grains for long-range target shooting. The cartridge cases we recommend are those of Starline manufacture with a length of 45.10mm (2.13"), which fits perfectly to the chamber of the Pedersoli High Wall rifle .38-55-calibre, as in the original rifles. We had best results loading with Swiss #3 black powder, slightly compressed using 40 to 45 grains for short range and 50 to 55 grains for longer range target shooting.
For information, visit www.davide-pedersoli.com or contact the Australian distributor Forbes Wholesale on 03 9439 6111, 0419 376 624 or forbes@forbesws.com.au
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