Smoothbore Barrel Length

[lonedave]

I've been having such a great time with my T/C New Englander the last two years that that I've begun thinking about taking the plunge with a flint fowler. I would mainly use it for upland birds, but would like the option of using round ball for deer or elk too. What barrel length would you recommend? I've swung a 36" barrel and it seems like it would work just fine. I'm sure a 30" barrel would be great for birds, but I wonder if it would be too short for accurate sighting with a roundball? On the other hand, a 42" barrel seems too long for easy swinging on quick birds like quail and chukar? I'm using these lengths as they seem to be the most often used for assembled guns, but maybe something in between would be better? Also, any thoughts on a larger bore size, 12 or 16 -vs- 20? I would probably stick with a 20, but I'd appreciate your feedback.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

My .62 and .69 caliber smoothbores both have 42" barrels and neither is unwieldy in the slightest. My new 10 bore will have a 48" barrel and I've no qualms at all regarding barrel length. Many people whose experience is with modern firearms fall into the trap of thinking that barrel length is a problem but it just isn't so.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

My fusil de chasse has a 46 inch barrel, light as a feather & swings on target like a dream.

 

[Mike Brooks]

If you're going to mainly hunt birds, bigger is better...I'd go with a 12 or 10. As long as the gun fits barrel length is not an issue. I've taken pheasants with a 60" barreled gun in the past.
If I had to do it now I'd build a 12 or 10 with a 46" to 48" barrel and a little jug choke in it.

 

[ffffg]

swing with a long barrel is a matter of finesse'... when skeet shooting with 42 inch barrel or longer you start by stepping towards well ahead of the bird enough so your in the correct possition when you shoot, with the barrel up at about a 45 degree angel or little less, and the end of (the barrel) in sight with the clay, as you swing your in a much tighter circle and its easy, as you approach the bird you extend the gun with it finnaly (gun up) at or just past the bird, your swing naturally slows due to the extended circle of your body and gun, and if done correctly your ahead of the target, and swing speed is correct or close..of course in a second the bird will be past your hold and out of range.. sounds like a nightmare but with a few hundred rounds at the skeet range over a month youll have the hang of it and double your shotgun awareness/skills...and those close shots at birds will be toast.. ive always felt that if you miss the close ones your really penelizing yourself..dave

 

[Mad Irish Jack]

I have a Center/Mark Tulle de chase in .62 cal/20ga. :thumbsup: It handles great. The shooting part of hunting small or big game is easy if you've practiced properly and learn your weapon. :winking:

 

[juancho]

I dont have much experience, but I do remember that as kids, my brothers and I, used to mesure ALL ML guns in "calibers of barrel length" and found to be a good way to compare completly diferenty guns.We are all familiar with a 40" fifty cal.. Acording to my calculations it would equal a .62 cal of 49.6" in length or a bess .75 cal. 60" barrel.
Anyhow we used to use "calibers" to messure everything from min load (1/2 calliber) to absolute max load (5 calibers,asuming a chamber of at least 1/2 calliber thick, 4 being the ideal max), to penetration in wood.
Regardless of barrel length your wad plays an all too important role that I am only now starting to learn with my bess. :hmm:

 

[paulvallandigham]

Barrel length if what you like, and only you can know that.

Years ago, I had the privilege of examining an original Tower Flintlock Double Barreled Shotgun, circa 1775, that had 36 inch barrels, about a 12 LOP, and a buttplate made of brass that was just short of 3 inches wide. I don't recall the overall weight. What I do recall was that the gun balanced perfectly exactly where the forward hand would hold the gun on the forestock, and that it came to my shoulder easily, and my eye was looking right down the center at the front site. I even closed my eyes and mounted the gun with my eyes closed, and then opened them to find that I was again looking down the center of the barrels at the front sight! I tried the gun to feel how well it swung, and it was just fine. Not too muzzle heavy, and not too light. It was a 12 gauge gun, and was in the private collection of a Doctor living in St. Louis. The gun has a sling swivel mounted on a ferrel in front of the forestock, and another swivel for a sling mounted to the front of the trigger guard. This we expected as its origins were military as the Tower Armory made or at least put together thousands of Brown Besses for the British Armory, and kept other weapons over the centuries it was in business.

I think you could do worse than to have a gun with 356 inch barrels. If you like them longer than that, then go for it. I am shooting a Fowler in 20 ga. that has a 30 inch barrel, and it feels fine shooting both shot, and round ball. The gun was a gift. If I had ordered it, I probably would have asked for a 36 inch barrel. I am not hunting Waterfowl, or trying to take long range shots at turkeys. The deer I see will be within 50 yds, and a 75 yd. shot would be considered long enough that I would have to have a very good reason to take it. The shorter barrel works fine for my hunting needs, as does the lighter gauge.

 

[chuck-ia]

Didn't you buy that gun from me? I have an american fowler in 20 guage with a 44" barrel, if I build another I don't think I would go under 42", might even go with a 24 or 28 guage. Seems all I hunt anymore is deer and rabbits and squirrels. If I hunted pheasants a lot would probably go with 16 or 12 guage. I hope you know if you get a flintlock fowler, the new englander will begin to gather dust. chuck-ia

 

[Roy]

I am starting a build on a 50" barreled fowler for myself, but I guess it all depends on where and what type of upland game you hunt. My intentions for this gun is for snipe, dove, pheasants and quail (when I go to Iowa) basically open areas. When I hunt ruffed grouse here it is hard enough to swing a 20" barrel, so I doubt that I will use it in the brush.

 

[lonedave]

Chuck

Yep! I managed another chukar and a couple of misses last weekend. Thanks all for the replies. I agree that stock fit is probably more of a factor than barrel length. Thinking about it, I'd probably use it for birds almost exclusively, so a larger bore would probably be better too. The only other thing with a shorter barrel would be weight. Getting up, down and through the canyons and cliffs of the Snake and Columbia River breaks is work and the slightly shorter barrel with a few less ounces may win out. Oh well, I'm in the thinking mode now anyway. Thanks again guys.

Dave

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

My 10 bore will weigh in at well under 8 pounds, but due to the balance of these guns they tend to carry nicely. I've carried my 20 gauge for hours with no discomfort at all--it weighs a little over 7 pounds.

 

[xxgrampa]

greetings lonesome dave,

got a pair of manton dbbl 12ga perc. the barrels are 28"s, with a load of 70gr shot and powder ( one oz shot and 70gr 2F ) they shoot and handle like i dream. but like you, i'm getting the urge for a flint fowler. thinking about a 20ga (.62 cal)canoe gun..

think long bbls are great. but, for grouse in heavy brush or drifting a small river, in a small boat, taking shots of oportunity, think a 28 or 30" would be greater.. :winking:


..ttfn..grampa..

 

[Rebel]

There is a Canoe gun for sale here in the classifieds.

 

[lonedave]

Reb

Saw it and it does look interesting. Thanks for the heads up.

Dave :thumbsup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Never shot a canoe before but sounds interesting!

 

[Hoyt]

I just had Scott at Colerain build me an oct/rd 34" smoothbore 20ga. with a turkey choke...it goes from .62cal to .58cal. at the muzzle. That's as short as I could talk myself into. Hopefully the gun won't look like a club. However..if it does and handles good I'll be happy..it's to hunt with.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Hoyt: HOw many modern shotguns have you fired using a batrel that is 30 inches long? Had any trouble hitting a target? Even on a " short " action like an O/U shotgun?

I don't think your 30 inch barrel is too short, nor is it going to give you problems aiming and hitting game. Turkeys, in particular, are taken at extremely short ranges, and your 30 inch gun will be just fine.

I have a 20 ga. fowler with a 30 inch barrel, and it compares well with the 22 inch barrels I now shoot on an old S x S double 12. And, the 27 inch barrels on my CVA 12 ga. double have never seemed too short, either.

The great part of the " shorter " barrel( only shorter when compared to the 42, 44, and 48 inch barrels other talk about using) is that I don't have to lug all that additional weight around, or deal with the muzzle heavy balance of some of those guns.

I do drool over the guns in the racks at friendship, and am always looking for that long barreled gun I just have to have, but so far my wallet has remained closed.

 

[Mike Brooks]

The great part of the " shorter " barrel( only shorter when compared to the 42, 44, and 48 inch barrels other talk about using) is that I don't have to lug all that additional weight around, or deal with the muzzle heavy balance of some of those guns.

I do drool over the guns in the racks at friendship, and am always looking for that long barreled gun I just have to have, but so far my wallet has remained closed.

Paul, barrel length doesn't mean a heavier gun if the barrel is profiled properly. Stop by my boooth at F-ship and try some on...I don't expect you to buy anything , just chat about guns.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Thank you for the invitation, Mike. I will try to do so.