Smoothbores and Rifled Barrels

[rb8941]

This is probably the gazillionth time this question has been asked but here goes anyway...and pardon me if I'm opening up a "lead vs. leather" controversy here.

I'm a long time shooter, but new to flintlocks. I'm a target shooter, not a hunter. I had pretty much settled on a .40 cal. rifle...until I came across this absolutely gorgeous .54 cal. smoothbore which dimensionally seems custom made for me.

I think a rifle is more accurate at greater range than a flintlock. I believe a smoothbore is marginally easier to load and clean than a rifled barrel. But those can't be the only differences, can they?

I'd like to know from experienced shooters what the the trade-offs between the two types are to help me make my decision.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Many Klatch]

I recently competed at the NMLRA woodswalk range in Friendship IN. 5 of us were in a group 4 rifles and one .54 smoothbore. This is a tough 20 shot match with gongs at all distances, the farthest ones may be 80 or 90 yards. I managed to win 3rd place overall for the match with 13 hits. The guy shooting with us with the smoothbore got 12 hits. So if you are shooting a smoothbore you aren't giving up much.

The smaller caliber smoothrifles win a lot of rifle matches. My .60 smoothbores have won a number of rifle matches.

The biggest advantage to smoothbores over rifles is the variety of projectiles that they can shoot. Roundball, buckshot, buck and ball, bird shot. They need less cleaning during shooting and they are easier to clean. They are also easier to load if you are in a timed shoot.

I personally think that smoothbores are more fun.

Many Klatch

 

[jdstrang]

... I think a rifle is more accurate at greater range than a flintlock. ...
Thanks,
Rick

Rick:

The exact nature of your question is not quite clear here. "Smoothbore" vs. "rifle" has nothing to do with the ignition system (the lock). The powder charge in either bore configuration may be torched off by a lock utilizing a match, a wheel, a flint or a percussion cap.

If you ARE asking about "smoothbore" vs. "rifle," well, both have their excellent uses, their proponents and their bore-specific competitions. But all here will agree (I hope) that rifles are more accurate at longer ranges than are smoothbores.

If you are asking about LOCKS, well, percussion replaced flint because it works more dependably under varied weather coditions., etc. - although the rock-lock fans likely will argue that, if you do it right, their guns work just fine, thankyew.

Smoothbores, as you posit, are marginally easier to load and clean. Since your interest appears to be target shooting, you should know that many, if not most, measured-distance smoothbore competitions are held at shorter ranges - say 25 and 50 yards - rather than the more common 50- and 100-yard matches for rifles.

But as a competitor who LOVES his 1842 Armi Sport Springfield percussion musket, I can tell you a medal taken with a smoothie is just as rewarding, if not more so, as one taken with a rifled firearm! :thumbsup:

There is but one ultimate solution to your quandary, whatever it turns out to be: Get at least one of EACH! Lessee: That would be one each flintlock smoothie and rifle, and percussion smoothie and rifle. Only THEN will you obtain the answer that works for YOU!! :grin:

 

[roundball]

I think a rifle is more accurate at greater range than a flintlock.

(I assume instead of 'flintlock' you meant smoothbore)...No question about it.

I believe a smoothbore is marginally easier to load and clean than a rifled barrel.

Don't know that I'd say a smoothbore is 'easier to load' than a rifle but I've always found a smoothbore easier to clean...no places for stuff to hide, etc.
But having said that, the difference is hardly anything worth mentioning and IMO nothing worth making a puchasing decision over.

But those can't be the only differences, can they?

Correct...the versatility of a smoothbore open up all of the "shot load" activities not done with a rifle...trap targets, skeet targets...then if you should ever decide to do any hunting the benefits of a shotgun are pretty clear for certain types of game

 

[CoyoteJoe]

As a target shooter I would suggest your stick with your first choice of a .40 caliber rifle. While smoothbores CAN be surprisingly accurate it takes either a lot of work or a lot of luck or both to get 50 yard groups under 3" from a smoothbore, that's why better accuracy is surprising. From a rifle 3" groups at 100 would be just about average shooting, nothing to brag about. You'll also find .40 caliber a lot less expensive to shoot with considerably less recoil than a .54 caliber. Since you don't hunt the highly acclaimed versatility of the smoothbore won't be of much use to you, nor will you need a large caliber. You will enjoy a rifle which can put ball after ball exactly where aimed and not just "close enough". :wink:

 

[boar]

I will have to go along with coyote joe. :thumbsup: Dilly

 

[Stumpkiller]

My smoothbore Bess threw a round ball wonderfully to 60 yards and then it turned into a knuckle ball. At 50 yards I could keep in a 6" circle, some days a bit better. At 75 yards it had opened up to 12" or 14". Having nothing like a front sight except a big bayonet lug and no rear sight didn't help.

I have seen smoothies (smooth-rifles) that can hold their own to 80 or 90 yards.

 

[roundball]

"...until I came across this absolutely gorgeous .54 cal. smoothbore which dimensionally seems custom made for me..."

In spite of those who are not necessarily fond of smoothbores, I'd suggest you get that smoothbore just on the basis of your above statement alone. Plus, whether you ever hunt or not, there comes a point in time for many people where doing nothing but punching the same old holes in the same old paper targets at the range can get boring...not only can you continue to do that with a smoothbore, but it would give you the expanded opportunity for all the other targets I was referring to...trap and skeet "targets" with smoothbores are a lot of fun, which the versatility of the smoothbore would give you.

If that smoothbore you found made the impression on you that it seems to have made, you might be kicking youself in the butt later if you pass it up...you can always look for a .40cal rifle that fits you and buy it later.

 

[29caliber]

I'd say that you've already convinced yourself that you need that .54 and are "...singing to the choir"! If you can afford it, buy it. It won't loose its value like a 401(k), you won't be penalized for taking it out before you're 70 1/2, and you won't have to pay the government for any "interest" you have gained in it. At least, that's the thought pattern I've used lately and it's resulted in a couple of nice muzzleloaders. I try to set aside some mad money monthly and let it build up until something grabs me like that .54 has grabbed you. At that point, my own stimulus package kicks in and I do my part to help the economy. So far, I haven't needed to approach Uncle Sam for a bailout because I've used logic and reason in my purchases, but with big business' success in their business "plan", I may reconsider my frugal ways...NAW!

 

[renovato]

If you've found a gun that fits you that well, you could always get it and try it out. If smoothies aren't for you, you could either sell it or rebarrel it. Rebarreling can be pricey, depending on the gun, but it would give you a gun that fits you well and has the added versatility of multiple barrels.

Personally, I'm not much of a smoothbore fan except for shotguns, so I can understand your situation. I'm also an avid target shooter, though I also hunt.

 

[Galen Futtrell]

Buy the 54, if you don't like it sell it. I am sure you won't have a problem with selling it. :thumbsup:

 

[Chilidog]

I aggree - get it! Gun's that "fit" are hard enough to come by and besides being versatile, smoothies are alot of fun. Try it, you'll like it... :grin:

 

[PGTMG]

This is probably the gazillionth time this question has been asked but here goes anyway...and pardon me if I'm opening up a "lead vs. leather" controversy here.

I'm a long time shooter, but new to flintlocks. I'm a target shooter, not a hunter. I had pretty much settled on a .40 cal. rifle...until I came across this absolutely gorgeous .54 cal. smoothbore which dimensionally seems custom made for me.

I think a rifle is more accurate at greater range than a flintlock. I believe a smoothbore is marginally easier to load and clean than a rifled barrel. But those can't be the only differences, can they?

I'd like to know from experienced shooters what the the trade-offs between the two types are to help me make my decision.

Thanks,
Rick

Hi Rick a few questions back. Then my MHO

1) You mention you are a long time shooter. But do not mention of what type? (Modern, percussion BP, or in line BPS)

2) You mention you are a target shooter, are you a formal shooter or informal.

3) Do you have an existing collection of guns you like to shoot? Will a .40 rifle or a smoothbore going to compliment your collection or shooting taste better.

4) Would you like to try a shooting match which one is better suited?

You need to think above things through to get your answer.

The following is my opinion. I have a .40 percussion rifle. I love it. That half stock is what brought me to my current fascination of all things BP.

I am shooting my rifle I feel confident shooting targets against anyone. Not to say I will always win. But I always have faith the rifle will do its part if I do mine.

Now I just bought a 62/20 gauge fowler (flintlock) and am really coming to appreciate the versatility of the smoothbore.

Life is about choices please let us know yours.

If you make a mistake you can sell it in the classifieds.
:grin: