Swamped or Straight barrel

[barebackjack]

Is there any advantage of the swamped other than reducing weight?

When building a rifle with a swamped barrel, does the wood fit tight to the barrel its whole length?

What would be easier to build, a rifle with straight or swamped barrel?

Thanks

Boone

 

[CoyoteJoe]

It's not just a matter of total weight but of balance, where the weight is located. In rifles of the same total weight a swamped barrel will not feel nearly so muzzle-heavy. Also the style, a rifle with a 13/16" straight octagon barrel looks too narrow at the lock area, almost toy-like. A swamped barrel of the same total weight will run one inch at the breech and the extra width makes a more pleasing contour across the lock and into the grip. Some styles of rifle just can't be built to look at all right with a straight barrel.
Swamped barrels are more difficult to inlet, but if you get a kit with barrel channel inletted then it's not a problem and that is the way I'd go. But be sure it is inletted for the barrel you intend to use. I hear that the various barrel makers have not exactly standardized on their contours. :grin:

 

[Tommy Bruce]

By all means get a swamped barrel. Once you handle a rifle with a swamped barrel you'll never want another straight one. I agree about going with a stock that has a pre inlet barrel channel. You'll still have to fit the barrel but much of the work has been done.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I have both, but the swamped bbl ones seem to have a life all of their own when it comes up on target with no forced moves on my part. The straight, heavier bbl ones do hang good for accurate offhand precision work. (I use the word precision loosely, others might laugh at my efforts)

 

[flashpanner]

Use the search tool bar and look up swamped barrels. Lots of prior discussion on this topic. Good stuff here.

 

[MSW]

ayup, what Coyote Joe said... i've built a srcatch from a blank with a straight bbl, and several pre inletted with swamped, and i will eventually screw my courage to the sticking point and hand inlet a swamped bbl channel. i am given to understand that this is quite a challenge. most folks prefer the feel of a rifle with a swamped bbl over that of a similar (i.e. same caliber and bbl length) straight sided barrel. The 'hang' is better and there is more weight toward the butt, so the whole deal comes to the shoulder better. check out Pete Alexander's explainations in his book and the whole deal will make sense.

good luck

MSW

 

[JeffinNZ]

Hi

For me a swamped hangs better than a straight. I guess 13/16 or 7/8 straights would be OK but I sure wouldn't want to have a straight 44 inch in 54 cal on a 1 - 1 1/8 tube!

Phewph.

J