Shotgun design

[Runner]

I am ordering a 38 inch long 12 guage barrel. It has a 15 inch tapered octagon section and then goes to round. It is 1 1/8th at the breech. Is this too much barrel to use on a half stock shotgun type gun? Am I better off using a full stock? Any suggestions on what books or websites to look at, or even who to talk to about such a project? Is there a specific group that length would put it in? Is walnut more appropriate? I need info! I don't mind basically copying my Trapper, except in flint, but I don't know how that will look with the heavier and longer barrel. The Trapper has about a 5 inch octagon breech area and this barrel has 15 inches. That would take the octagon portion past the end of the trapper stock a few inches. Longer half stock or full stock?

 

[Mike Brooks]

Half or full stock...... Are you going to have a hooked breech? If so than 1/2 stock is the ticket. If not I'd go full stock.
If you want some historical accuracy I'd go with an english gun and stock it in walnut. If PC isn't an issue , any wood will do. If you want to look at some english fowlers, let me know.

 

[Runner]

Mike, I don't know PC from Adam. Is a 38 incher long enough for a PC gun? Which is more appropriate, a hooked or a tang breech? Which is more PC, a full stock or a half? Is the 15 inches octagon too much for halfstock gun? Is the 1 1/8th breech too big for a halfstock gun?

The barrel looks good and the price is right. I figure for about 400$ in parts I can build a nice gun with a quality lock on it.

 

[Roy]

Great book called "Recreating the Double Barrel Muzzle-Loading Shotgun" by William R. Brockway published by George Shumway. Awesome books with a lot of detailed sketches and photos (for people like me who can't read :grin: ).

 

[Runner]

How much info on the longer single barrel guns?

 

[Roy]

Heres what it covers on doubles...Everything :grin:

For guns between 1780-1830 (classic English) it show barrels from 26"-32" Ofcoarse this could be all give or take, and I didn't memorize the whole book. :grin: I have yet to build a double, but I see one in the near future.

Sorry not anything on singles. Just everytime I think of shotguns I think of doubles. I have handled original singles with barrels from 36"-40"+, but that is only my limited experience.

 

[Runner]

Thanks for the try! Maybe I need to look at the trade gun type guns.