Is a 54 cal 47" swamped barrel too much of a good thing?

I have a New England fowler with a 72" barrel, in 20 ga. (.62 caliber). It is a full stock flint and weighs in at an even 11 pounds and is 7'4" long. If you hold it right it isn't too difficult to load, the butt is in one county and the muzzle is in the next. It is shootable from an offhand position, but a shooting stick does help. It's fun, but obviously not practical, and I love it.
Mark

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Right below my post would be a great spot for some photographs! Lots of them!

 

[Marlan]

Russ, this is a smoothbore, not a rifle, but it's got a 48 inch barrel, and I'm 5'3"....
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff77/LongBarrel62/31410012.jpg

 

[Mike Brooks]

Russ, this is a smoothbore, not a rifle, but it's got a 48 inch barrel, and I'm 5'3"....
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff77/LongBarrel62/31410012.jpg[/quote]
Nice gun, who built it? Nice outfit too I might add. :thumbsup:

 

[hanshi]

The important thing is to get what you like and want and what feels right. Really long barrels do look good and I like them. But I learned long ago that the prettiest girl at the dance doesn't necessarily make the best wife.

But she sure looks good hangin' on your arm!

Whew! I'm glad you said "arm" and not "wall". That would put a whole new spin on the term "trophy wife".

 

[hanshi]

Someone mentioned (correctly) the height of 18th. century people, vs. the barrel lengths of their longguns. For example, the Long Land Pattern Brown Bess (standard throughout the Revolution) sported a 46 inch barrel. The Charleville sported a 44+ inch. barrel. Many original examples of those eras, both smoothbore and rifle, are those lengths and longer.

I'm 5'3", and my smoothbore flintlock has a 48 inch barrel. It's easy for me to load...I simply tilt the barrel. My flintlock rifle has a 42 barrel......

The fact that the bayonet was a major weapon influenced the length of muskets; otherwise they would have been much better served with something a bit more manageable.

 

[hanshi]

Russ, this is a smoothbore, not a rifle, but it's got a 48 inch barrel, and I'm 5'3"....
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff77/LongBarrel62/31410012.jpg[/quote]

Great picture and a very nice gun. I'm an inch & a half taller..ahem...than you (don't know why I said "taller" cause tall doesn't start till way past where our heads reach) and would have problems with that length. It's sorta like me carrying around a full length 2x4.

 

Russ,
I'd be glad to send some pics of the loooong gun if you want to post them, I don't know how.
Mark

 

[jimmytheshank]

Sweeeeeet! :bow:
Need more pics of long guns!

 

[rf50cal]

jimmytheshank

You can see my rifle on Track. It was built for me last year by a famous author. The fact it's for sale six months later may tell you my opinion of his work.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Papa, I don't know how to post pictures either. Maybe someone with tech savvy will help us out.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Excellent! Do you have more photos? I'd really like to see a lot more of your fowler. Dan

 

[Marlan]

Mike, I bought the gun several years ago at Friendship, but the gun is not marked, so I don't know who made it. The funny thing is, the length of pull is quite short on the gun....it would be difficult and quite uncomfortable for someone 'tall' to shoot this gun...they would be setting the flash off under their nostrils..

The gun fits me VERY WELL...almost like someone custom made it for me. It's light weight, and extremely comfortable for me to tote and shoot. Off-hand at 25 yards, I can put 10 shots into one ragged whole......(usually)..

 

Jimmy,
If you know how to post pics I will send you some of my New England fowler, 7'4" with a 72" barrel.
Mark

 

[single shot]

i sure do love them long guns...

 

[jimmytheshank]

Ah, so thats the one. Thats a pretty sweet rifle. I'm almost afraid to ask about it though, considering what you said about it.
I asked oldarmy to make one for me, based on the LOTM rifle. It's got a 50" barrel,and is also gonna be a Rupp-style too.
Papa,thats a BIG gun ya got. I'd like to see some pics. You basically need a photobucket account to do it so If you wanna e-mail them to me I'll post 'em here for ya. PM me.

 

[Dave K]

I was looking to find it, but which one is yours on TOW?

 

[jimmytheshank]

Look under "flint rifles for sale" and go to the 3rd page. It's the red/brown RUPP Rifle with brass trim on the very top of the page.