Swamped vs straight barrel on .40

[Hudson bay trapper]

Hey everyone this is my first post, I’m in the process of ordering my first muzzle loading firearm from Tennessee valley muzzleloaders, I’ve settled on the Natchez poor boy in .40, 36 inch barrel, but am undecided on if the swamped barrel is worth the extra $$ I don’t have a lot of cash but if it’s a huge difference then I might dig deep in my pocks haha. Any advice is welcome! Thanks in advance!

 

[tnlonghunter]

I think it all depends on what diameter the straight option is. If it's a 13/16" barrel, then a straight one in .40 would probably not be terribly heavy overall or too muzzle-heavy. But I'll say that once you hold a rifle with a good swamped barrel, it's awfully hard to go back. My .40 has an A profile swamped 34" barrel, and it's a really pleasant little rifle.

 

[Shooter1]

My first 40 has 7/8 straight oct. with 42". Muzzle heavy--you bet and now that I don't have the strength I used to, it's a bit hard to shoot.

 

[Hudson bay trapper]

Thanks tnlonghunter, I don’t see on the tvm order forum what the barrel thickness is on there rifles, you don’t happen to know what they generally use do you?

 

[Hudson bay trapper]

Thanks shooter1, good thoughts, I’m just trying to wrap my mind around a extra $300 for swamped

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Have a .40 swamp barrel and it's a joy to shoot and carry.

 

[LawrenceA]

See if you can handle a gun with a swamped barrel versus a straight barrel.
I do not have any real experience with swamped barrels having just got my first but it is a joy to hold versus the straight barrels.
Are you carrying it much or not? Shooting off hand or not? What drew you to the Poor boy?

• If you went Poor Boy on price then you have answered your own question.
• If you carry the gun and shoot off hand every fibre in my being says go swamped.
• If you drive to the range and shoot rocks then do whatever you want.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Hey everyone this is my first post, I’m in the process of ordering my first muzzle loading firearm from Tennessee valley muzzleloaders, I’ve settled on the Natchez poor boy in .40, 36 inch barrel, but am undecided on if the swamped barrel is worth the extra $$ I don’t have a lot of cash but if it’s a huge difference then I might dig deep in my pocks haha. Any advice is welcome! Thanks in advance!

The swamped barrel feel is way sweeter when toting in the field and shooting off hand. My second rifle build in the 70's was a 10 lb rifle with a 44" x 1" barrel and I could handle it just fine. You are young so don't sweat the stock barrel. If you want and can afford the Cadillac, get the swamp.
Flintlocklar

 

[Hudson bay trapper]

Thanks everyone, LawrenceA I do like the poor boy on price and looks, I’m not one for inlays and fancy odd ons, but do want a handy gun, for hunting and plinking. Larry that sounds like a beast of a rifle! I guess if you can handle that I can handle a little 36 inch haha

 

[Roughneck]

i have a .40 caliber SMR barn gun with a 36" Colerain 13/16" straight barrel, it is easy to hold on target and it balances very well. i much prefer a lighter rifle as well. i would not want one any longer than that though for a straight barrel. i have also had 2 rifles with swamped "A" weight Colerain barrels and the 42" .40 caliber balanced very well too but the 38" .40 was a bit too light too me.

 

[Hudson bay trapper]

I like the idea of a swamped barrel but I think on cost alone I will go with straight, I live in Canada and the rifle with exchange will be in the $1500 range a added 400 $ will be too much on this rifle, I just want to get the best I can afford. Thanks for the reply’s everyone! Greatly appreciated

 

[Daryl Crawford]

I think you'll be happy with that. I have an older southern mountain rifle with a straight 42 inch barrel. It is heavier, and muzzle heavy, but shoots fine off hand. Maybe 20 years from now it will be heavy for me, but for now it's good.

 

[EC121]

I gave away a nice 13/16" 42" .40. Too muzzle heavy. It was my last straight-sided rifle. But it all depends on the person. Have TVM ship the barrel and lock separate from the stock and tell customs it is just parts. No finished gun. The extra postage might be less than the tax. It's worth looking into.

 

[smoothshooter]

i have a .40 caliber SMR barn gun with a 36" Colerain 13/16" straight barrel, it is easy to hold on target and it balances very well. i much prefer a lighter rifle as well. i would not want one any longer than that though for a straight barrel. i have also had 2 rifles with swamped "A" weight Colerain barrels and the 42" .40 caliber balanced very well too but the 38" .40 was a bit too light too me.

What would you think about a “ B “ weight 38” barrel in a .40? Too heavy?

 

[Eric Krewson]

I built a .40 with a 42" 13/16 barrel, it doesn't feel muzzle heavy to me at all. I have a GM barrel on the gun, very, very accurate no matter what I stuff in it.

I have a .40 with a 44" A weight barrel and a Kibler in 32 with a 46" A weight barrel, all three of the these guns all ballace well.

 

[Beepy]

Well I’m in the process of starting on a rifle with a 15/16th 42” straight 40 cal. I’m planning on it being front heavy, though I kinda like them that way. I’m used to shooting 3 positon competition though so front heavy and small calibers tend to be my friend.... I’ve been told I’m weird. I hope that’s a good thing

 

[Bighorserider]

I built a poor boy 40 with 35 inch by 13/16 barrel for my wife and kids to shoot. It was very pleasant to shoot.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have a straight barreled 42" .50 caliber full octagon that is front heavy and holds like a rock in shooting competition. It is my go-to competition gun. But I only hunted it once. Too long and too heavy for hunting IMHO. I have a 38" .40 caliber with a swamped barrel that is a dream to carry and is fast to the shoulder for hunting shots. Alas, the .40 is not legal for deer in the Adirondacks.

Much depends on how the gun fits you, your strength, and your use. Only you can decide.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Art Caputo]

My squirrel rifle is a 40cal TVA SMR with a 42’ straight 13/16” barrel. Overall weight is about 7 1/2 pounds, and the balance feels quite nice., and I shoot it exceptionally well off-hand. If you preferred 1/4-1/2” pound lighter weight, and a balance point a bit further back a 38” barrel would do the trick. I was happy to save the $300.

 

[jcbooher]

My 40 cal with 38” straight barrel handles and shoots very well.