Pedersoli Classic Side-by-Side Black Powder Shotgun 

I've been using the 10 gauge version of this as my primary hunting shotgun since the mid 1980's, so I was thrilled to run across this video and get Hickok's take on it. Myself, I cannot say enough about this shotgun - it has taken grouse, pheasant, ducks, and geese for me pretty much every year I've owned it. I think shotgunning is the one shooting sport wherein black powder has lost the least in terms of effectiveness when compared to modern, breach loading, smokeless powder arms. Granted, it's got a cylinder choke in the right barrel and a very slight improved cylinder in the left, simply because loading past chokes is so difficult. Even so, it gives up little in terms of effectiveness to more "modern" shotguns. Fun little secret - my 10 gauge is really an 11 gauge... The bores are actually the diameter of the INSIDE of a modern 10 gauge shotgun shell. Pedersoli does this so we can use modern plastic wads if we like, which can be used to tighten up patterns for waterfowling. Pretty clever... Oh, and one thing about Hickok's loading method - he doesn't emphasize it, but you will notice he uses the same measure for both powder and shot. Pretty handy. And yes, one of the nice quirks of these guns, is that doing so is absolutely the best way to do it. The VOLUME of powder and shot are identical. The WEIGHTS of the powder and shot charges are obviously going to be quite different, but VOLUMES should be the same for best results. Makes it easier in the field. Anyway, another fantastic video

Just bought my first black powder firearm today, and would have never considered owning one without seeing your videos! It's an 1851 Colt Navy .44. Real fun to shoot!

The official "get off my property" gun.

Classic gun for classic man.

Hi , I'm Gary, I enjoy bp so much , I stopped hunting with Morden style rifles and shotguns . Now I'm not a purest , my first Bp rifle I built from a kit by TC , 54 cal Hawkins . Oh she turned out beautiful shiny brass accoutrements, 12 coats and rubbed truoil . She shoots straight and true , with the added peep sites I'm good to 150 yards. But I didn't carry her for hunting . I bought a TC Inline 54 cal. I load all lead and 2f Like you hollow point hollow base bullets. That loaded with 85 grains , put wild boar 400 lb one shot thru both lungs and part of heart. Large corsacan ram on dead run thru one shoulder destroyed the heart and lodged in opposite shoulder. Many other deer and more . I love that thumbhole stocked composite 54 . I was looking to buy a double just like yours or a smaller 28 gauge but I've lost the use of my legs completely now. Bad enough using canes getting around the woods and fields . I to love all guns am an All American Trap shooter team member yes I'm that good in a wheelchair . I worked very hard to get there believe me it's practise at minimum 500 rounds a week year round. So I'm not trying to brag but even disabled I've accomplished more then I ever thought I could. Finally pain has sidelined me , into a bed for over a year trying to get help out of pure hell. God bless you , the videos help keep me sane and alive . THANK YOU AND YOUR SON ...HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO

Not being American, the history of the importance of the shotgun in "the west" would be an interesting video one day?

Always a good morning with the legend himself.

"I've got some big balls" - Hickok45 2017

Muzzle loading shotguns was my first introduction to the muzzle loading world way back when I was a boy scout. That led me into civil war reenacting and generally just loving all kinds of black powder firearms, especially the more oddball ones

Wonderfully made shotguns, I picked up a version with a pistol grip in a 12 gauge. Muzzleloaders are really good to learn how ammunition works, require even more safety mindset and they have this something that makes (me at least) enjoy every shot more, or make it count more. Because it takes while to load and clean afterwards it's also rewarding. By the way, you sir made everything regarding guns so clear when I started watching you years ago and kinda infected me with that hobby. I'm in the process of making a license for cartridge guns now. Greetings from Poland

Honestly that's one of the most beautiful guns ever made.

Goodness, black powder like this is seriously the art of reloading.

Every time I watch your videos I am blown away at how much they make me smile.... Just that beginning with the clay pigeons.....lol....just gold.

Nothing like waking up to the man, the myth, the legend of guns...my 2 yr old granddaughter loves him!!!

If using a patched round ball, the over powder wad keeps the patch from catching an ember and lighting the woods on fire. At every german black powder range you have to use a "Zwischenmittel", a felt wad that keeps you from burning down the house. Great video, please show us more of them smoke poles!

when people say the constitution is outdated and should be abandoned they mainly talk about the second amendment but if we replace the constitution your not just giving up your right to bear arms your giving up your right to free speech your freedom of religion your right to unreasonable search and seizure and your right to not be enslaved if we dont uphold the Constitution this country will be in one big hell we must maintain and protect all of our constitutional rights and never abandon it

I think a black powder shotgun will be my next buy thanks to these videos. I was gonna buy a newer muzzle loading rifle, but you changed my mind. Thank you for the videos

You looked awful close to that skeet thrower, don't get hit, it really effing hurts.

Hard to beat the smell of black powder in the morning..

I woke up at 4 am to watch Hickok best way to start off my day

Wow ! Thanks . Way back in the early 50s I was out wandering the Mojave desert like I often did.I was around 8 years old and lived near what is now Calico Ghost Town,Calif . I was out with my cousins and saw something sticking out of the sand . When I pulled it out it happened to be what I believe was this gun.Everything worked and the stock was nearly white and cracked.In the 80s I took it to a place in Anaheim called "the Musket & Saber" They told me it was made around the mid 1850s.I gave it to my friend ,my friend passed in 1990 ,when I asked his son about it he said that it was gone ,he didn't know anything about it.Thanks for the video.

I have a '62 caliber smooth rifle, made by Brad Fountain. It's similar to plate number 40, Vol 1, Rifles of Colonial America. I dearly love it. Now I know how to load shot in it. THANK YOU. My buddies are buying stuff from Bud's Gun Shop to support your channel. We love this stuff exactly the way you present it. Never Say Die!

Gong out to work and Hickok45 just made my day. Thank you for your great videos.

I wish every bullet Hickok fired put a year on his life,then he could entertain us for ever lol

I am with you, anything that shoots burns or blows up I love. I was infantry with a demolition training and later a 19D20 cavalry Scout. Great video like always thank you.

I've owned a 12ga Pedersoli double since the early '80s. Love it.

This video was mesmerizing! Like listening to grandpa's stories on a summer afternoon

Hicock45, i love it when you show the old guns of the West. It reminds me of my Dad and how he showed me how to handle Firearms and be safe with them. He also was a Big Roy Rogers fan and the Duke. You and your family have a Happy New Years.

I recently inherited one of these guns in 12 ga. I thought I'd mention how nice they are to carry while hunting. I never carried a lighter double. It has to be somewhere around 5 lbs. I load mine with powder then a simple homemade wad cut from corrugated cardboard; I trace around a 12 ga shell then cut them out. Then shot, then another cardboard wad. THX hickok keep those black powder vids coming!

Great fun watching a real teacher explaining great guns Someone who loves what he dose thank you

Beautiful old shotgun. Thanks for the demo Hickock 45

I have this in 12 gauge. Many bird hunts, turkey hunts and some of the longest sessions of clays ever. Thoroughly love this firearm even with the dropping powder measures in the grass, wads falling out of the field bag and caps popping off un-noticed until you pull a trigger. I've still had a blast with it. Fun story: got a bird with the right barrel. Kept hunting with just the left. Put one up, missed watched it land in a tree. Worked my way over and there he was, fully waited there for the 10min (ok...maybe less) it takes to load a couple more charges. Threw a stick at him and wingshot! Almost felt bad, until I ate him with some white wine sauce.

Always great guns, and a lot of information about theme. Great stuff.

Great video! High-speed photography will show you what cushion wads ( over the powder ) do to shot patterns. At the muzzle, the wad is flying much faster than the shot, for a very short distance ( 2-3 feet )Shot cups greatly aid the shot pattern. If using an inert product to make the shot cups help prevent embers from causing problems. You won't believe the difference in shot patterns using shot cups.

Thank you Hickok45 for an excellent coachgun tutorial!!! I bought my first muzzleloader back in January, and it looks very similar to that Perdersoli, except mine was made 1840-45 in Birmingham, England by J.Bourne & Son. It's a 12 gauge SXS English Coach gun with 22 inch barrels that is in very good condition and fully functional. I can't help but wonder where my coach gun has been during its 180+ year life. I only know, who built it, where it was built, and approximately when it was built, thanks to the engraved makers name and address I was able to narrow it down to 1840-45. Stay safe & Thanks again Hickok45!

I will be 56 on Jan. 22nd 2022. Im watching a 4 year old video , but anyway, Im still learning important tips and have shot n traded for 45 years. THANKS hickok 45

I’ve seen leather covers over the percussion caps and also seen the same kinda covers on flintlocks, but in this case it’s a good buffer/safety of sorts, for when having to carry loaded..Buck and balls are your best loads. You can easily load your ingredients into a fine paper 🧻 tube and just tear the paper tip off, pour the powder, then the paper that used to surround the powder part gets pushed in, then the little lead balls and light sized and lubed pellet or round ball atop, so it could all be readily available in an easier accessible way, especially useful in a hunting situation and in bad weather conditions where pulling out all those components, where just paper, power and lead is basically all that’s required, even newspaper 🗞 would work and that cover to prevent the caps or flintpan from getting wet. Have no fear and keep your powder dry.

I bought a CVA double barrel 12ga last year, but it went straight into the safe and I haven’t ever shot it. Thanks for this video, it encourages me to finally get mine out and enjoy it

Love the sound of that shot going down that barrel when being loaded

At one time I had a beautiful Pedersoli Pennsylvania rifle that shot so very well. I also had an old Parker Brothers double barrel shotgun from 1876 which I never shot. Due to some hospital costs I had to sell both, and I really miss them, but alas, I can no longer afford to replace them. I love watching you shoot black powder. It is such a great sport.

Hickok truly is the ultimate war machine, not even flinching at how close those clays are

I just ordered a 10 ga. Pedersoli sxs. I'm new to black powder. Very informative,thank you. Subscribed and liked.

Can't imagine myself having to reload this thing or any muzzle loader for that matter during situations. Can't believe people did that during battle and gun fights in the day.

Not a huge gun nut, I love and respect firearms but any time I watch this guy I listen he can tell a story about a gun, sounds and looks like my uncle so I appreciate hickock45 your a good man

I have the 10 with screw in chokes. I ordered extra chokes at the time so I could custom load the firearm to include the use of 10 gauge slugs. I ordered a mould for a slug from a Russian guy. The slug resembles an oversize pellet rifle pellet. Such versatility in a finely made firearm and it is the pride of my cabinet.

not reading through almost 700 comments and i know it's a video from 2017... beautiful gun and i love black powder guns myself and have been shooting them for the last 3 decades. shot competition with an 1890s .50 cal when i was 16 and was hooked ever since. but the problem i have the most while watching this video is the fact that the powder box was left open the entire time including while shooting. no matter how much experience you have with black powder firearms, that is one of the things that should never be done. all it would take is one of those caps to be a hot load and fire out of the side and go right in the powder in the box. plus the powder can take on moisture making the loads and accuracy inconsistent. anyway, best of luck to you :D

I had this exact gun. I loved it. Great little shooter.

Looking at some of the old videos really enjoyed keep it up.

I loved this video have owned several muzzle loading firearms including a twenty gauge side by side and a 12 gauge double also. As a young man in Arkansas when in the field I often just measured powder into my hand and then poured it into the barrels and used newspaper for wadding. I do know that powder grain size is important muzzleloaders bouth shotguns and rifles. I would like to a Hickok45 video showing the effect on patterns using paper wadding, and various over shot wadding.

Crushed up walnut shells( almost dust) work great for yellow jackets. Even used in black powder hand guns.

Jak zwykle. Najlepsza recenzja tej strzelby na you-tube

I like BP shotguns. My first was a old brown bess as an introduction & a 45cal hawking. But have had several Dbl muzzel loaders precussion 10 & 12 gauges over the year's. Used to make paper cartridges which were convenient. Ya gotta love that sweet smell of gun powder. Fun shooters on all winged game

Nice shotgun! Pedersoli builds quality pieces. This gun is pretty well inletted but I know that if you compare it to your old shotguns you will see the difference, the old pieces are very well inletted. The furniture on this might benefit from a little tung oil rubbed on it, maybe just furniture wax. The wood looks a bit dull.

Best way to wake the rest of the family up, good morning Hickok!

Now I know I want & need 1. I'm glad I watched because I really like how it's possible to swap with pistol 🔫 ..thanks for the information👍

I am Dutch, and i absolutly love your video,s they are very instructing and allways with some humor!! All the best wishes, and good health for 2018 for you guys!!

Wonderful firearm. Great outro. Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee

Much love from Houston, Texas Hickok45. Love your black powder vids.

That buckshot fired on the steel looks very powerful. I can imagine this to be quite effective within 25 yards or so!

A great many thanks for all your videos in 2017 Hickok45. Always enjoyable. One of the best channels on RU-vid! God Bless the USA

Hickok45 is the Betty White of the gun world

happy Xmas hickok45 always enjoy your videos and have a great new year from the UK

do a video on brass cased shotgun shells

I've NEVER seen a front loading shotgun! Thanks Hickock!

Loved your show today. WV state junior champion 1980 Mussel loader Riffle. 1980.

Awesome video, thank you for the information!

I was absolutely cracking up while that skeet machine kept flinging after you shot your two off. Great video.

Great video. I own a Pedersoli 10 ga.Waterfowler blackpowder double. What a fun gun! Going after pheasants in a few weeks with mine.. Enjoy your program Mr. Hickock. Bill from KENTUCKY

When I was 4 yo, my grandpa had the same exact one and I used to drag with me everywhere I go, it used to be my soulmate object when I was a kid, it was rusty but I got connected to it as little child for whatever reason. I wish I still have it

Caught my attention when you noted that they sometimes used the old single barreled muzzle loaders like shotguns. I remember my father telling me that when he was a little boy his father would use my great grandpas old civil war muzzleloader to hunt with filling it up with birdshot or with creek bed gravel if he was out of lead shot. He used it until the nipple got so burnt out that it backfired one morning and burned his face.

You can load black powder in a shotgun shell too. For frontier cartridge in a double barrel, I use a 2.75” hull with 4.3cc black powder equivalent (or roughly 65 grains if using a black powder measure), a 1/8” nitro wad over powder, a 1/2” fiber wad, 1 oz shot, and an over powder card (cut from empty cereal box with 3/4” paper punch, about 7 bucks on Amazon). Then I just star crimp the hull, and color the primer with a black sharpie, so that I know it is loaded with black powder. Duelist1954 also has a great video on cleaning a double barrel shotgun after shooting black powder.

Always enjoy this show

Amazing video (as always)

Hey Hickock, hope y'all had a Merry Christmas. Keep up the good work and stay kind :)

After I saw this video I had to break down and buy one. It's more than just a gun, it's a work of art.

I have the same shotgun but in 10 ga, wife bought it for me in 1993. Its a great gun very elegant , prices on them today such as from Cabela's is around a $1000.00. To load a BP shotgun use a square load, meaning equal volume of powder to shot.

That is a beautiful gun. Love all the videos

You can't beat a Pedersoli. Beautiful guns

Há uns 25 anos li na revista Magnum sobre espingardas de ante carga (carregar pela boca), me faz lembrar minha infância na década de 60 no interior. Gostaria de adquirir um exemplar novo hoje. Muita saudade!

I got to get one, I have about every kind of black powder rifle but still no shotgun. I got to fix that! Really, really enjoyed the video, thanks David

Mine is a 10 ga Pedersoli from Dixie G.W., with chromed bores. The left is a modified choke and the right is cylinder bore. So it’s a combination of a 10 bore shot gun and a 75 caliber musket. The price is now about eleven or twelve hundred but I bought mine in kit form and saved a couple hundred and all the parts fit like a glove. All I had to do was sand and oil the stock. I cast my own balls, make my own powder and primers. Back to basics. Economical and fun.

I really like the idea of muzzle loading for idle shooting, I'm sure its satisfying to "compose your own loads" Haha, also, this is the first time that I noticed the gravel under your feet...... the amount of brass and shot shells, love it!

Love making the trip to Dixie gun works. Besides all the black powder goodies they got a pretty nice collection on display as well.

You are dangerous! Dangerous to my bank account. You have to stop showing me such cool guns. 🤗

Oh No Wheelie Birds been hacked!......John Ya messin with pop??s!!!! Funny! , Happy New years Hickock n John..God bless

looks like gunporn and that's a beauty hickock45 thanks for sharing

I'm sorry you won't be able to respond, but thanks to you I picked up a beat'n up sidelock muzzle loader (CVA Plainsman) at an NRA auction at Bud's eGunner site. About half way through restoring it... got the stock about there and now am finishing the barrel of rust and dings. Can't wait to shoot it. So thanks again for all you do.

About 30 years ago we plowed one up in one of our feilds in west texas, it is in great condition and still fires on one side, it has proof marks from about 3 different countrys and dates back to 1801, we dont know how much its worth but it is still cool as hell. The land we found it on used to be a war ground for the mexicans and it even has a bunker made by them back in the war, we have foud cannon balls and found this beutiful gun.

More than 30 years ago I forget the outfit's name but they advertised in shotgun news and they offered a kit gun for $200. It was to comemmorate the founding of Beretta firearms and it was amuzzleloader 12 guage over/under with exposed hammers. I took it quail hunting once and shot it eight times and got six birds. To clean, get gallon jug with hot soapy water and take barrel/barrels off then put barrel nipple side down into soapy water. Run a mop down muzzle and work slowly up and down barrel. The mop will pull soapy water with it and instantly clean out fouling. Follow with plain hot water until clean, clear water comes out. Dry with patch and spray barrel with lube of choice. A lot easier to do than explain it. Be safe and have fun.

I just picked up my first, an old CVA 12ga. My guess is after shooting it the first time I'll be looking for a Pedersoli. The Lyman Black Powder Handbook has info and loads in it for rifle, pistol, and shotgun. I highly recommend picking up one of each, the shotgun and the handbook!

Just luv'in it! :) Thanks for sharing

Dag gone it, now i want one. That is a very beautiful shotgun & should make anyone proud to own & shoot.

planning to get one of these for my dad for his birthday. Theyre awesome looking rifles

And I thought there was going to be a stagecoach intro, not clay pigeons. Oh well. Keep up the good work, you continue to have one of the best channels on youtube for any category.

I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Your love of firearms is evident and you seem like a guy I would love to share a campfire or day at the range with. Notice how I ended my sentence? I am a career Soldier, having retired from the Army as a CSM. I shot competitively as a member of a number of Army Combat Rifle teams. I was a long time member of the NRA when it was an organization dedicated to firearms education, safety, and rifle marksmanship. I quit the NRA after the hostile "takeover" in 1977 and have never looked back. That being said your channel is one of the few shooting channels to which I keep returning. (Is that better?) You are not only knowledgeable; you also are very naturally entertaining.

hey camera guy! I can tell your dad REALLY loves black powder!............ thats awesome!

Reminds me of that gun from Lock Stock and Two Smoking barrels

I'm glad this video was made a few months ago because where I live you couldn't prime it for shivering today

Beautiful weapon👍🏻

lovely looking and sounding gun. love it 👌