Octagon to Round

[Cattywompuss]

A very long octagon to round barrel can be to muzzle heavy for my taste although it is more common for a straight octagon barrel to be to muzzle heavy.

There have been many arguments over why older octagon barrels were swamped but I believe it was done on purpose to achieve balance. The same can be done with a tapered octagon or a shorter octagon to round than what I referenced above.

FOR ME! I prefer the center of balance to be just forward of the trigger guard by 3-4 inches and behind my forward hand, that is where I do my best off hand work...at least it was when I could see.

A good octagon to round will have a little longer barrel than a full octagon with the same balance point, this may have been an advantage back in the day if the older powders needed a little more room for expansion. Drawbacks are they are easier to bend (lets not go there) and you can not dovetail a front sight if the barrel is thin so no additional windage available with a fixed/soldered front sight.

Their all good, some better than others.

Anyone ever taper and flare an octagon to round?

 

[Rudyard]

Rudyard Didnt 'Prattle on' Ide have to conclude your dim & yes Iv'e made Barrels to be taper Oct to round with a swamp. What you know youle soon forget
Rudyard

 

[RonT]

"Anyone ever taper and flare an octagon to round? " Yes, I built and later sold a .45 cal. Oct. to Round (Siler) flinter ~1980 on a Gostomski Chiefs grade stock. It started as a salvaged Dixie bbl., that was turned by a friend. I sectioned the Dragon to fit the lock bolts. Could be in the mid Ohio area, sure would like to locate it.
Cheers,
R

 

[excess650]

I have seen numerous originals, octagon-round, some rifled, some smooth. At a recent show there was a long barreled, early Reading with sliding wood patchbox, a post-1800 Reading style with brass patchbox, an early Chambersburg Abraham Schweitzer with daisy patchbox, and a John Noll.

Octagon to round makes long barreled guns less muzzle heavy. If they have thick muzzle and smooth, call it a "smooth rifle".

I have one in the works with a 38" rifled Colerain in a walnut stock, and its tapered and flared.

 

[Cattywompuss]

Rudyard Didnt 'Prattle on' Ide have to conclude your dim & yes Iv'e made Barrels to be taper Oct to round with a swamp. What you know youle soon forget
Rudyard

I look forward to my imminent downfall

Do come back when you've looked a mere iota beyond your own sense of self-importance.

 

[Cpt Flint]

Rudyard Didnt 'Prattle on' Ide have to conclude your dim & yes Iv'e made Barrels to be taper Oct to round with a swamp. What you know youle soon forget
Rudyard

Could someone translate this to the English language please.

 

[tenngun]

A smooth rifle from the day half round, this gun is smooth but came from a rifle maker.