Barrel length decision help

[Comfortably_Numb]

Is there such a thing as too long?

 

[64Springer]

T.W.S.S...

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

T.W.S.S...

 

[64Springer]

That's What She S...

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

That's What She S...

Do you want an explanation for the gun historically or are you just yanking my chain?

 

[olskool]

like my daddy said, you tote one more than you shoot one, 38 and life is good,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[hanshi]

All but one of my flintlocks are 38" and I like that. I've owned a 42" flintlock before and had no problem with it. But kicking around in a woodlot is a lot different than climbing mountains. So 38".

 

[Timmit]

I think you will like the decision on the 38" barrel. I have a Kibler Colonial with a 43 1/4" barrel and a Woodsrunner with a 39" barrel and like the shorter barrel. Also have a Yorktown with a 38" barrel on the bench now. I do have two SMR's with 46" barrels and are a lot too long for me in the woods. They are alright on the range and for woodswalks.

 

[roedgecomb]

I’m ordering an Iron Pennsylvania from Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading. This will be used for hunting elk in the mountains of Colorado and western whitetail in timber. My only other flintlock is a Lyman GPR which has a short 32” barrel.
I need your assistance to help me make a decision between the 38” or 42” barrel. It will be swamped so those are my options. I want it to be reasonably easy to load and easy to handle in timber (38”) but I want the look of a long rifle and the extra length might be good for sites/accuracy (42”). TVM said it will be under my top end weight of 9.5lb no matter what. What say you on the barrel length? I’m 5’10” barefoot if that matters.

 

[roedgecomb]

I am 6’2” and ordered a TVM rifle with a 42” barrel because at the time I had read several articles stating that 42” was the proper length to achieve full power from Blackpowder. I have hunted in the Texas Piney Woods, West Texas Plains, and the mountains of Northern Arizona and my rifle has done everything I have asked it to do.

 

[tnlonghunter]

I've got both, and I prefer the 38" in every way. For me, that's due to the off-hand balance primarily. Making it easier to load, transport, and store (the 42" BARELY fits in my safe) are additional factors.