Help me decide on my next build

[Tennessee.45]

I'm starting to plan my next build and I'm stuck which I should build first, I was thinking about a 38" or shorter .40 A weight Tennessee or North Carolina, a smooth bore Virginia, or a pistol (any suggestions as to style/model?)

Please help me choose

 

[Larry Akers]

If you have already several builds of each under your belt, I suggest stretching your talent and try a double-barrel flint shotgun in the style of Manton or Purdey.

 

[Vaino]

Personally....I'd pick 2 and work on both alternatively. I've done that quite often and it works out well...nice change of pace.....Fred

 

[Pete G]

Personally I would not put a 38" barrel on ANY longrifle. Most Southern rifles carried a barrel closer to 46" or so. If you want a shorter barrel build a plains rifle or trade rifle of some sort.

 

[Swamp Rat]

I like Fred Idea of building two at a time. Makes more since than first glance. Question is what don't you have or what challenge you need to conquer? If you don't have a smoothbore I would build that.

 

[Tennessee.45]

Right now I just have the one Virginia rifle.

 

[Don Steele]

IMHO... A 38" 40 cal in an "A" wt swamped profile is too light out front, and may be difficult to hold well on target.
For my taste, a "B" profile, 38" 40 cal is marginal.
For comparison, the two rifles that come to mind in an "A" profile, that I really like the "feel" of for offhand shooting are a 42in 32 cal, and a 46 " 40 cal. That's just me.

 

[Tennessee.45]

The reason I'm looking for a lighter barrel is the C weight .58 I have on my Va rifle tends to hurt my left shoulder (torn rotator) not opposed to a longer barrel just needs to be lighter

 

[Swamp Rat]

I would defiantly go with the smooth bore then. 20-24ga...heck ya. I would do that one first and work on your 40cal also but fancy it up since you will be all practiced up doing the smooth bore work.

 

[Tennessee.45]

I'm really leaning towards a smoothie either a 24 or 20...

Fred I would love to build 2 at the same time but funds are limited.

 

[MSW]

I would go with a 42" 'A' weight in .40 cal on a Southern Mountain. ... some may find this too light, but I really like mine.

Good luck with your build!

 

[Captjoel]

I stocked up a 38" A weight Green Mtn. barrel in 40 caliber a few years ago. It has been my favorite for target work and squirrel hunts. That Green Mtn. had me fooled for a short time as it first shot all over the place. After about 50 rounds or so it straightened out and now is the ultimate in accuracy.

The older I get the more I have come to appreciate a light weight rifle.

 

[wattlebuster]

I had Mike Brooks build me a 38 inch A weight 40 cal. Its a joy to shoot an the accuracy is tack driving. I dont have a bit of problem with it being too light or too short or any of the such. I cant tell you what to build an would'nt begin to try but if you do build one like mine I can tell you that you will not regret it one little bit :thumbsup:

 

[Tennessee.45]

What are the weight on ya'lls smoothbores and .40's?

 

[Treestalker]

How about a long barreled full stock .40 cal. pistol? I recently repaired a home grown .40 pistol for a friend that sported a 14 1/2"x7/8ths" barrel with a walnut stock and it was interesting. It had a percussion lock marked 'Belgium' and had one of the old round brass bowl flash hiders. Simple trigger with no half cock on the lock. I didn't care for it at first, but after shooting it, the darned thing grew on me. Now I'm collecting parts for my .36 FCI 12" barreled Kentucky pistol. Just ordered a Lehigh Valley precarve from Knob Mountain. Good luck on your choice, George.