Barrel length

[BV]

I plan to build a either a fowler or trade gun of some sort next spring. While looking for a kit I noticed they all seem to come with barrels in excess of 40" standard or as an option. I've never handled one of these guns and probably won't have an opportunity to until I build one. A 40+" barrel seems ridiculously long and decidedly un-handy, but I don't imagine everyone would offer one if there wasn't a good reason for it. I don't foresee shooting anything flying with it, just rabbit and squirrel with shot and deer with RB's. Would the longer barrel be an advantage over a 30" or 36"?

 

[silverfox]

Keeping it short. You will find the long barrel(smoothbore) more accurate for most shooters. Without sights it is just easier to point the long barrel.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[rich pierce]

Long guns are not un-handy. That idea was just a sales gimmick for saddle guns, etc. and has carried over into ML circles. It is rare indeed to have to swing a gun in cover so thick that an extra foot of barrel makes a difference.

Copy the originals. They actually did know what they were doing.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I have upland hunted with flintlocks with barrels from 48" to 60". Nothing unhandy about them, if they are correctly made.

 

[Black Hand]

I built my trade gun with this idea in mind (36" barrel). I wanted a short barrel thinking that it would be easier to handle where I hunt. However, my rifle has a 42" barrel and is just as easy (if not easier) to use in the field. The only problem arises when I need to pack it in the truck.....

Keep in mind that the shorter barrels were also in the minority when it came to trade-guns (at least according to Hansen, if I am remembering correctly).

 

[tg]

I use a 44" barrel mostof the time in pretty thick stuff and have hasd no problems, it is mostlikely the mindset of being used to a barrel under 30" in modern guns that makes the long ones seem to be a possible problem, most get used to the short barrels rather quickly and a well made gun will balance and handle very well.

 

[piteruu]

What about clay shooting? I like early flintlock fowlers with long barrels (42-46") but ist't better something like this for clay (or any flying birds)?

 

[paulvallandigham]

What type of Clay target shooting are you speaking about? It makes a bit of difference.

For instance, in modern Trap shooting, Barrels tend to be "Long" at 30-34 inches. In modern Skeet shooting, barrels tend to be " short " at 24-26 inches. Sporting Clays courses have evolved, but in the early days, the shots were most fast and close, so the skeet shooters and their shorter guns, with the balance point closer to the hinge, did well. More recently, I see longer targets being thrown, and the barrel lengths of the top competitors are lengthening out towards the Trap barrels. But, good balance is still what you find, even in the " longer" barreled sporting clay guns.


I don't think the length of the barrel on any BP smoothbore is as important as the Balance is.

The nice thing about fowlers with their half octagon, half round barrels, is that they balance so much better than a full octagon barrel. Moving a 42" or longer barrel after clays is no problem with a fowler. The long sighting plane between the shooter's eye and the front bead is a help for hitting the targets. And, some believe that the shot loads fired from the longer barrels produces better patterns out of a cylinder bore gun.

Our Mr. Brooks makes some darn nice long barreled fowlers, and hunts with them. I don't know how much time he has to shoot clay targets, but I suspect he doesn't have much trouble hitting them, either. But the key to the quality of his guns, according to members who own them and write about them, is the fine balance he puts into them. When you swing one of his long barrels, it just doesn't FEEL like you are swinging a long barrel. :hatsoff:

 

[piteruu]

I am speaking about MLAIC Manton competition ( some rules here). Balance - yes you are right but the question is :
28-30" for faster draw or 44" for better (I hope) pattern?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

The longer barrel will tend to pattern better and, in a well balanced fowler, will swing quick enough too.

But that cased gun is a beauty....

 

[Mike Brooks]

I am speaking about MLAIC Manton competition ( some rules here). Balance - yes you are right but the question is :
28-30" for faster draw or 44" for better (I hope) pattern?

It all boils down to what you are used to. The game you intend to play seems to be almost identical to american trap. I've played trap with barrels as short as 24" and as long as 48". I've not noticed much difference in swing speed with short or long barrels when I shoot trap. I think a good pattern is far more important.

 

[piteruu]

Thank you. It is a good news for me. I like early english fowlers and I am going to build one.