swamped vs straight............

[bob1961]

what are the weight savings of a 42" barrel of each....i hear everyone talking bout it....is it that much of a weight difference....looking for ideas on what to build.............bob

 

[fatboy]

Bob not sure how much is saved but a rifle built using a swamped barrel feels nice its a nicer carry in the woods balance and so on I want a 45 flinter with a nice swamped barrel some day

 

[BLAHMAN]

I have built several rifles most using a tapered barrel. I like the tapered barrel becuase it reduces some wieght and allows the wrist area to be easier to profile and shape. I have one swamped barrel that I am hoping to build a rifle from.
As far as wieght is concerned, I am going to presume that you are looking to build a rifle designed to hunt, am I correct? I have found that using a short barrel (in the 30-33 inch range) greatly reduces wieght, is easier to carry, points very well,is easy to manuver through thick brush/trees/saplings and is very accurate between 50 to 70 yards. Those fabled 100 + yard shots are more difficult to make with a short barreled gun. Those small barreled jobs I make for a great hunting gun.

 

[RMillet]

It just so happens I've been comparing what weights I could find on Track's site. Here's what I've found in my quest to figure out how to build a nice light rifle.

Green Mt. straight octagon 7/8" .50 42" 5.05
Colerain Golden Age B profile .50 42" 4.50
Colerain Golden Age C profile .54 42" 5.00
Colerain American Heritage B profile .50 44" 4.20
Colerain American Heritage C profile .54 44" 4.44

The 7/8" GM is the lightest straight octagon, 42", .50 caliber barrel I could find. Drop down to 38" and the weight savings become even more impressive. An Issac Haines 38" B profile Colerain barrel in .50 caliber comes in at 3.70 lbs. Knocking nearly a pound or more off a 5 lb. barrel is pretty significant.

Dick

 

[bob1961]

thanks guys....i'm not sure what i'm going with yet....most likely 36" - 38" length in a lancaster style with a 1" .54 straight so far in a g4 maple stock....keep tuned........................bob

 

[Darkhorse]

The weight difference between swamped and straight is very misleading. With the straight barrel its all out front. They feel like they are going to fall out of your hands in a tree stand.
With a swamped barrel the weight is distributed between front and back and the whole gun balances better. It feels pounds lighter. And once you shoulder one you won't care for a straight barrel again.
If all you are going to do is offhand match shoot then the straight barrel might be fine. But if carrying and hunting with the gun is the idea then you won't go wrong with the swamped barrel.
Consider the 38" swamped barrel, a good handy length for hunting and toting.

 

[Birddog6]

If you are looking for balance, go with a 38" swamped barrel in a Lancaster...

 

What is really important is balance, not weight. A swamped barrel gives balance with a bit of hang at the muzzle. Don't get the lightest possible combination. A barell to light is whippy. An M-1 Garand isw well over 9 lbs. Good combos on the light side- Golden age B in .40 and .45. .50 is a poor choice. Golden age C in .50 and.54. Larger a poor chioice. By the way, I don't shoot a .32. I like .54. Ilike to knock down what I hit. Even a .32 chews up a squirrel. Bark'em or nick'em with a .54. Boy, my spelling is getting really bad. one to many Manhattans tonight. 1 part Canuck whiskey 1/8 part sweet vermouth dash of cherry juice, dash of water. Heaven.

 

thanks guys....i'm not sure what i'm going with yet....most likely 36" - 38" length in a lancaster style with a 1" .54 straight so far in a g4 maple stock....keep tuned........................bob

Bob ,
No matter what style gun you build I would invest in the best wood you can possiably buy for the stock. So many build or have a gun built and then later wish they would have spent the extra $$'s and got the extra fancy very dense wood. You will be glad you did in the long run. :thumbsup: Fancy wood looks great even with out fancy relief carveing IMHO
I have seen where ( I believe it was Birddog6 mention the same thing in the thread "Which Kit??")
When you think about it, It is an investment ,and so what if it takes a couple paydays to scrape the difference up...well worth it in the end. :imo: