24" vs 28" Barrel in a Lyman

[crghss]

I'm looking at getting a new smokepole(percussion), I've narrowed my choice between the Lyman Deerstalker and Trade Rifle. Like the idea of the 24" Deerstalker and will probably purchase this rifle since these days I'm all about going compact and light. BUT! I love the look of the Trade rifle and what do I give up with those 4"?

So what am I losing if I go with a shorter barrel by 4"? Does it really make that much of a difference? I think velocity loss would be minimal. How about accuracy? From what I've read the longer Great Plains barrel are more accurate. So it would stand to reason that the longer barrel would be better or is it all about twist rate?

Any ideas and experience would be greatly appreciated.

Also, going with 50 cal., any significant reason to look at 54 cal.? Shooting Florida Deer, hogs......and Targets.

 

[Chris Hayes]

I shoot a Great Plains Rifle in .54 and wouldn't trade it for the world. To me when the rifle comes to your shoulder it fits me perfect. My advice to you sir would be to shoulder both if not all three rifles. The shorter barrel will be faster to handle but freehand will wobble more. I am a big supporter of the GPR. It just "feels" good and i dont notice the 32" barrel at all. I hunt timber and do just fine with mine. And my GPR is a "1 in 66" twist(i think) and i like it better than the 1 in 48 twist. Good luck in your choices.

 

[mykeal]

I own two GPR's, and I think they're great rifles, but...

The question is between the Trade Rifle (28", 1:48, 10.8 lbs) and the Deerstalker (24", 1:48, 10.4 lbs). What does the extra 4" give you?

A slightly longer sight radius, a bit more stability in the round (since the round is in the barrel a bit longer) and a bit more stability in holding on target (due to the heavier weight).

Whether or not some of that matters to you depends on your personal traits, of course, so the only way to really answer the question is to try both.

Or, better yet, buy both.

For the game you mentioned, the .54 would be my preference, although that rifle is going to be a couple ounces lighter than the .50 (all Lyman barrels are 15/16" across the flats, so a .50 is a few ounces heavier than a .54). That matters to perceived recoil and again, the stability in holding on target.

So, I guess maybe you need to buy 4 rifles... :grin:

 

[sdhunter]

I personally would take the 54 over the 50 for the same reasons already given. :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

If you buy the Deerstalker you'll always be gawkin' at the Trade Rifles until you end up buying one of those. In the end those 4" of barrel are not going to make any difference to you or the critters you shoot at. Maybe a very slight difference on targets.
If you have any interest in rendezvous shooting the Trade Rifle will fit in better than the Deerstalker there.

The best thing you could do if at all possible is to handle both guns. Shoulder them and look down the sights. Shoot them if you can.

Try to get a feel of the GPR too, I agree with what was said earlier, you just might change your mind.

Again, if you ever want to get into the historical side of the sport, the GPR will fit in even better. It's a lot closer to what a Hawken rifle looked like back in the day.
If you're just into the sport for the shooting then that won't matter.


I'm a big fan of .54 calibers but the .50 is also very good. Either should work for your game animals. The .54 would have an edge on larger hogs. The .50 will probably save you a bit on lead and powder. There will be a difference in weight and balance so again try to handle both if you can.

 

[BrownBear]

One thing you might like about the 24" barrel is less muzzleweight. We've got all the Lyman's and my wife's consistent favorite is the 54 cal Deerstalker. She complains that everything else is too muzzleheavy, and shoots the Deerstalker well enough to prove that it suits her really well.

As for vel differences, I checked the Lyman ballistic tables and in going from 28" to 24" with an RB and 80 grains of 2f, a fairly typical load, you lose around 25 fps. Big whoopin deal!!!! :rotf:

The other points made about historical and other activities are right on the money, and I have to admit I prefer range shooting with a GPR. But every time we move off into the brush, I start coveting my wife's Deerstalker.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Something not considered by many is muzzle blast. The shorter barrel will have more unburned powder each shot and that seems to wait until it has exited muzzle. And then it is very loud and has flash that is not usually apparent with more popular barrel lengths. When my wife started shooting muzzle loaders I got her a short barreled rifle in .45 cal. On a covered range the blast was so loud it sent otherwise brave men under cover. Part of the effect was due to the muzzle not sticking beyond the edge of the roof. And, the muzzle is closer to your ears. Doesn't seem like much, just 4", but it does make a difference.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

My son & I own two Trade Rifles, both .50 cal. A friend shoots a Deerstalker next to us at one of the clubs that we both shoot at. Seems a bit louder than a Trade Rifle, but other than that, no difference. They're both 48" twist. We got the Trade Rifles due to the sight picture & slightly more weight which makes it easier for us to cut cards at a match.

Have fun with what ever you decide!

Dave

 

[BrownBear]

Something not considered by many is muzzle blast.

Huh? Whazat? Speak up galldangit and quit mumbling! :rotf:

Good point if you're talking larger charges of 2f. In addition to my wife's Deerstalker, I have a 58 cal with a 24" barrel. It's so loud with its favorite load (110 grains of 2f) that my hunting pards have named it Dang!!!

Kinda flaps your pant legs along with your ear lobes when you light it off, and in low light it leaves this orange spot the size of a beach ball on your retina for quite a while. Between that and the smoke, it takes a while to see enough to know if you dropped your game, much less do a little tracking.

But that's with 2f and a lot of it. With either gun shooting 80 grains or less of 3f, it's much less of an issue. In fact, I'd call it a non-issue.

 

[jamesthomas]

I think I would get a .50 cal. Those florida deer are'nt those monsters they have up north, as for hogs, I would'nt shoot one much over 200 lbs and the .50 should do just fine for those. Its all about bullet placement.

 

[nkbj]

I'd get the fifty with the longer barrel.
Economy and versatility.
Better sight radius.
Fine for round ball.
Fine for conicals.
Good choice.