Straight vs swamp?

I’m looking to build a Bedford flinter and I’m having a hard time deciding if I should use a straight or a swamped barrel…. Does anyone have any thoughts in this regard?

I cant speak to straight barrel on a long gun. I only have experience with straight barrels on half stock style rifles. My Woodsrunner has a swamped 39.75" barrel that sits absolutely dead still when shooting off hand. Amazing balance and a very light rifle with the bore at .54.

Depends on what your planning to do with it. If off hand target shooting I prefer a straight barrel as its muzzle heavy and hangs better for me. Some will say a swamped barrel is easier for them to shoot off-hand though too.
If hunting, I prefer swamped as it balances and carries better for me, and lighter. If building to resell swamped fetches a premium price point over straight. Its all to me in usage or plans for the gun.

If you're going to hunt, swamped, no questions. A straight barrel will feel as nimble as a sledgehammer...

The only use I see for a straight barrel is added stability when shooting from a fixed position, due to the weight forward.

For handling, swamped or tapered really beat a straight barrel, no comparison.

A straight barrel would work fine with a Bedford style rifle, a barrel with a very slight swamp would be better. Seems Rice barrel company had one like that.
Robin

My thoughts i have an Under-Hammer with a straight 32" barrel at 7/8" in diameter in a .40 cal. It's at the point of weight i would not want anymore length because of the weight while i hunt. Either a Swamped or a Taper would be better if your barrel is going to be very long & thick. I have a T/C Hawken .45 15/16" & 28" in length & it's all i can handle

Bedford County Doc said:

I’m looking to build a Bedford flinter and I’m having a hard time deciding if I should use a straight or a swamped barrel…. Does anyone have any thoughts in this regard?

Click to expand...

Swamped barrels are alot more attractive and do hold better. I have both and prefer the looks of a swamp. They are a bit more expensive but in an offhand situation you wont tell a difference for accuracy. The swamped barrel also helps create the architectural flare at the lock panels naturally.

according to the caliber would also make a difference. for me i like swamped barrels. i do have a SMR straight but it is in 40cal. and 3/4 cross the flats so it is light. like my daddy said, you tote one more than shoot one,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I agree with swamped for offhand shooting. Gets that balance point closer to your body, and the less you have to extend your support arm the easier it is to hold it steady. Simple physics.

The 18th century parameter for a long rifle barrel is between 38" and 42" or longer. In the late 18th century and beyond , m/l gun barrels became straight octagon. About 1974 , I began shooting competition w/a 44" Getz barreled .50 in "C" wt.. It was a 9+ lb. longrifle for a young strong guy. The distance between the front and rear sight was good for accuracy , (long sighting plane) , but my height being only 5' 7" , I had to find a hole to put the butt down in to make the muzzle easy to see and load the rifle. Almost 50 yrs. later , I'm using 38" straight Oct barrels on longrifles , to save weight for my target practice barrels , and hunting guns. My favorite target practice and small game longrifle has a 40" by 3/4" Straight Oct. barrel , in .40 cal.. Gun weighs around 6 Lb. A joy to use and carry. And also , my deer rifle is a 38" .50 cal. w/a 7/8" straight Oct. profile. Again , the weight is around 6 Lb.. I now put a modified Johnson tang peep sight on them due to poor eye sight. I'm an old scratch builder , and have built and tried just about every configuration of barrel length and caliber , especially for hunting. I've used Jager rifles in many different cal.'s , but the long sight plain of a long rifle is far better for deer beyond 60 yds.. Short barrel rifles are handy , but not accurate enough in the woods to make the long shots. Written from experience......oldwood ............The Johnson tang peep sight is from Track's catalog , or MLBuilder Supply. It's intended to be a barrel mtd. sight , but I cut it in half on an angle , and mount it on top of the tang with one screw from the bottom. Works for me , I can see the front sight , and the target. The Johnson uses Lyman inserts.

There is only one case where I would choose a straight barrel rather than a swamped barrel; and that is for a dedicated offhand match rifle. For a rifle that may get used for targets, plinking and hunting nothing beats a good swamped barrel.

Bedford County Doc said:

I’m looking to build a Bedford flinter and I’m having a hard time deciding if I should use a straight or a swamped barrel…. Does anyone have any thoughts in this regard?

Click to expand...

I have 3 swamped barreled guns and will buy nothing else.
The only advantage a straight barrel has going for it is that it is MUCH easier to inlet.
I frankly don’t see how anyone can inlet a swamped barrel.
Magic, maybe?

Flexible steel guides matching the barrel contour screwed to the stock. Screw holes are cut off when the stock is thinned