Thoughts on Barrel Length

[DJH]

I have really been wanting a fowler, likely 62 bore, for quite some time. I figure I'm not getting any younger and am thinking strongly of purchasing a flintlock fowler in the near future.

One of my considerations is how long a barrel to have on the gun. Toward that end, can any of you share what the barrel lengths are on your guns and what it is that you do or don't like about them? Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated.

Jeff H

 

[Rat]

How the gun balances, is probably the best measure for barrel length.,,,not too muzzle heavy, or light. My Brown Bess Carbine is around 32", but if I could change it I'd go with 35". My Jeager is 33", swamped barrel, and that's the best handling long gun I have, or have ever had. I can close my eyes, shoulder the rifle, and when I open them, the sights are lined up. But that's a rifle, and as far as rifles go I like something around 31-33".

For a fowler you probably want a longer, rather than shorter barrel, but again it depends on what kind of barrel, or type of barrel, for the piece to balance/handle right. I'm guessing that most 20 gauge fowlers have around a 38-40" barrel. I can't imagine one with less than a 36" barrel, and there's probably a reason for that. However, others will soon chime in with much more knowledge of fowlers than I.

 

[Rat]

You know, that was kind of a lame response. I don't know much about 20 gauge fowlers. Certainly don't be afraid of a long barrel, and I would guess makers of such guns know what's best. As long as it does not make a gun too heavy, I like long barrels best.

 

[Le Loup]

I have really been wanting a fowler, likely 62 bore, for quite some time. I figure I'm not getting any younger and am thinking strongly of purchasing a flintlock fowler in the near future.

One of my considerations is how long a barrel to have on the gun. Toward that end, can any of you share what the barrel lengths are on your guns and what it is that you do or don't like about them? Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated.

Jeff H

The barrel length on my fusil is 42 inches Jeff, I have used a shorter barrel but it did not feel right. Here is some info I have scanned for you Jeff from original 18th century writings. If you want more, just say & I will scan some more pages for you.
Regards, Keith.

An Essay On Shooting 1789. Bare in mind that this English version was as far as I know basically copied from a much earlier French version & edited to suit English conditions.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Length also depends on what style you are going for, and what date.
Early 19th century British are often shorter than the previous century.
I have a double made about1815 with 32" barrels and it handles very nicely, but late 18th C with 40-odd inch barrels can also handle beautifully.
Myself I think I the most elegant/graceful sporting guns are British from the mid to late 18th Century. (Think Griffin, Twigg, Bailes, and Barbar, (bit earlier )) That's just me though!

 

[tenngun]

I just sold off a NWG with a 36 inch barrel, and a few years ago a Lyman with a 35. I just find a longer barrel more comfortable to load shootand carry. I live in the ozarks with lots of brush and I never found that extra few inches to be a problem. Short guns have been popular since the first guns on and off. I think even the Hudson valley fowlers with very long barrels were any thing more then style. The switch from jagers to American long rifles I THINK was also just style.
To be hc for a style may require a longer gun, but it’s your gun and you can have a style made longer or shorter then was seen in the old days as you wish, and what’s more comfortable for you.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm by no means an expert, but if you're intent on lots of shot use and good patterns without choking, you might look closely at the experience of serious black powder trap shooters. In the strong accounts I've read, they get better patterns from longer barrels.

 

[earlwb]

As I understand it, they didn't use chokes on their fowling pieces at the time like we have on more modern shotguns. Thus longer range meant you needed a longer barrel. The longer barrel length helped to keep the shot pattern together for a little more distance. So having a short barrel in dense cover versus a long barrel when in the open would make sense too.

 

[Rifleman1776]

My 20 ga. fowler has a 31" barrel. It is functional but I would still prefer a bit longer, like 36" which would still handle very well.

 

[DJH]

Thanks to you all for your thoughtful replies. Historically, for me at least, I have always leaned toward shorter barrels for their added maneuverability in thick brush. However, I have never handled a long barreled gun and now I feel perhaps that I should. I have been thinking seriously about a TVM fowler. From what I understand, this gun is not representative of any particular style specifically, but may be representative of an 18th century fowler in the general sense. They offer barrel lengths up to 42 inches. My main hunting these days revolves around squirrels, deer and turkey with the occasional rabbit that I may kick up. I rarely do any pass shooting as those opportunities for me at least are not readily available. I'm beginning to think that a fowler with a 42 inch barrel may be a sensible option. I live in Middle TN and am fairly close to Tip Curtis' shop and have visited him a few times. I may go over and see him again and handle a few of his guns. I may even purchase one of his fowlers if one strikes my fancy and budget. Thanks Again.

Jeff H

 

[Eric Krewson]

Both my fowlers have 38" barrels, one is a 12ga turkey gun so I went short for maneuverability, the other is a Gustomsky trade gun in 20ga. Looking back, I wish I had gone with a 42" barrel on the turkey gun, my light barrel is hard to holds still off hand.

 

[jackley]

I shoot mainly smoothbores anymore, in gauges from 28 to 9. Bbl lengths from 28" to 42", flint and percussion. I shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays and wing shooting. I like all the bbl. lengths. Take the time to pattern the gun. That is most important.
I have a 24 ga. tradegun with a 30" bbl. that is one of my favorites on blue grouse and pheasants. A 42" English fowler that shoots just as well.
The only smoothbore that I can't get along with is a 36" fusill its shoots a ball fine but I can't hit any thing with shot with it. Maybe more practice.
So get what you want in the bbl length you want, pattern it practice and have fun.

Jerry

 

[Dave Orchard]

I had a 26" barreled 24 ga. Built with an early style club butt (because they look neat!
Idea was that barrel could have been damaged and shortened.
Balance was poor until I poacher-stocked it ( see old illustrations and THE PACKINGHAM GUNS for documentation)
Skeletonizing the buttstock has vastly improved the balance.
I now have a great little canoe gun, but one that is a little awkward to load if I am standing on my hind feet

Balance is the most important thing I could suggest with comfortable-to-load barrel length being an appreciated convenience, say from 32" to 36" barrel.

Modern barrels are made half-again thicker than most original fowler s or fusil s, so THAT is going to effect balance as well.
Dave

 

[Capt. Jas.]

38-42 in 28 to 16 bore if you want a rough shooting birding piece and not a waterfowling piece.

Since you mention 42", if you are buying a barrel off the peg I would recommend the Colerain "Griffin" barrel in either 16 or 12 bore. Don't get the 20 as its too heavy and thick ( built on the same OD as the 16)
Another nice option is a Rice "Dolep" pattern barrel in 20. It is just over 40" , very light, can be had with a jug, made of 4140.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Capt. Jas,

Your recommendations re. the Colerain barrels are dead on.
I think the lightest barrel they have is the 16 gauge "Griffin".
I have one in the eaves to stock up one day.
I will look up the Rice Andrew Dolep barrel. It sounds interesting , but I wouldn't want any form of choke.
Thanks for this insight Jas.

Richard.

 

[hanshi]

All but one of my flintlock rifles, including my fowler, are 38". The .45 is 36". All handle wonderfully. I've owned a couple of 42" and really like that barrel length; but had to sell them out of necessary. As long as they feel right, length doesn't matter much to me.

 

[rick1964]

Most guys around me and me included are using a Fowler just as you are thinking. For me 42” is the shortest I would go. And I would look to rice barrel for the closest production barrel with any suitable weight or balance. 20 gauge or 16 oct. round 46” long. Any thing tip has with colerain barrels will be meaty at the muzzle. Rayle barrels will be great at the balance but you’ll have to wait on your order. Also I get down cross plains Springfield way every couple months. Rick

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

My fowlers in 62-cal (20) are 44-1/2" and 48" in length. The barrel make and profile can mean a lot to the handling and balance, as the longer one is lighter/thinner in the barrel at the muzzle, so this musket weighs less than the other.

As someone above said with Colrain's 16 or 12, where the 20 is thick walled (all built off same profile blank) ... I've seen this too in 20 to 28s, where the 28 ended up with a thick wall.

Now my other fowlers are larger, 66-cal (16) at 54" and 75-cal at 60", but both have custom barrels, so they are lighter in handling that they appear. Custom barrels will be thinner!

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have really been wanting a fowler, likely 62 bore, for quite some time. I figure I'm not getting any younger and am thinking strongly of purchasing a flintlock fowler in the near future.

One of my considerations is how long a barrel to have on the gun. Toward that end, can any of you share what the barrel lengths are on your guns and what it is that you do or don't like about them? Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated.

Jeff H

I don't care much for the 60" or even 50" lengths. So I went for a carbine length 42" barrel on my upland fowler. Seems a good length for me.

Mine is a swamped 16 bore - which is a drilled out 20 bore blank. So it is lighter than either the 12 or 20 gauge (at least from Colerain). That was on purpose. I asked for a seven pound gun and that is what was delivered.

 

[Artificer]

38-42 in 28 to 16 bore if you want a rough shooting birding piece and not a waterfowling piece.

Since you mention 42", if you are buying a barrel off the peg I would recommend the Colerain "Griffin" barrel in either 16 or 12 bore. Don't get the 20 as its too heavy and thick ( built on the same OD as the 16)
Another nice option is a Rice "Dolep" pattern barrel in 20. It is just over 40" , very light, can be had with a jug, made of 4140.

James,

Since I consider you and Dave Person as our Forum's "E.F. Huttons" on Fowlers, a couple of questions if I may, even if one admittedly is going to sound stupid.

Let me get the stupid question out of the way first. Never having owned/used a jug choked barrel, is my assumption correct one should not shoot a full size round ball in that barrel?

Does the Colerain "Griffin" Barrel in 16 bore make a good barrel to occasionally shoot full size round balls? I have an interest in that bore size as it was the standard British "Carbine Bore" since around 1756. I'm wondering about using this barrel for a "long barrel" Light Infantry Carbine? (I'm not referring to the 37 inch barrel Artillery/Sergeants/Highlander Carbine.)

Gus