Which barrel for hunting fowler?

[jstamper]

I have built one somewhat Dickert-esque rifle before, and, having been bitten by the bug, I’m now looking to build a fowler.

This gun will be expressly for hunting (squirrel, rabbit, dove, duck, occasional grouse and goose), so good handling qualities are paramount...I want a very lively-handling gun.

Which barrel would you guys recommend? I’d really like a 16 or 12 gauge, but I can’t find much info online about actual weights. I’m thinking of going with a 38” barrel, but would consider others. I definitely want a half-round barrel.

Does anyone have a 16 or 12 gauge build they are particularly pleased with, and do you happen to have the barrel weight for it?

Are 16 gauge ML barrels often bored from the 20 gauge profile (I.e. sort of like 16 gauge cartridge guns that are built on 20 gauge frames, with sweet results)?

Thanks!

 

[Feltwad]

For hunting wing and ground game I use both a 12 and 16 bore the best been a 12
Feltwad

 

[Eric Krewson]

I made this 12 ga for turkeys with a 38" barrel, overall it is very light. The barrel is so light it is hard to hold on for shooting round balls. I wish it had a little more heft in the front end. The barrel is a D weight colerain.

 

[jstamper]

I made this 12 ga for turkeys with a 38" barrel, overall it is very light. The barrel is so light it is hard to hold on for shooting round balls. I wish it had a little more heft in the front end. The barrel is a D weight colerain.

View attachment 11911

Very nice!

Did you happen to weigh the barrel?

 

[hanshi]

I have a 20ga but a 16 would be sweet.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Rice 4140 fowling barrel. I think its 40" most have been 20 but I think he's made them in 16

 

[Sidney Smith]

I've got a 36 inch Colerain smooth bore on my poor boy. It's a 20 gauge. Wanted it light and handy to swing on upland game and short for turkey hunting.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I went with a swamped 16 bore (Colerain Griffin) octagon-to-round because it was lighter than equal length 12 and 20 bores. They use the 20 size blank and open the bore to make the 16. Don't know if all barrel makers do the same.

Mine is 42" so it would be heavier; but it is 3.0 lbs. The 12 is 3.6 lbs and the 20 3.7 lbs.

My 42" fowler ended up at 7.0 lbs even.

 

[jstamper]

I went with a swamped 16 bore (Colerain Griffin) octagon-to-round because it was lighter than equal length 12 and 20 bores. They use the 20 size blank and open the bore to make the 16. Don't know if all barrel makers do the same.

Mine is 42" so it would be heavier; but it is 3.0 lbs. The 12 is 3.6 lbs and the 20 3.7 lbs.

My 42" fowler ended up at 7.0 lbs even.

After talking with Scott at Colerain, this is exactly what I am looking at going with.

It looks like Rice’s Dolep barrel is another option, but I might have a lead on the Colerain second-hand, unfired.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Not familiar with a "Dolep" but I have an L.C. Rice rifle barrel (44" C profile Lancaster, medium radius crown in .54) and you can't make a poor decision with either of those manufacturers.

 

[Lobo]

I have two 20ga, two 12ga and a 16ga, also another 20 in the works. I love em all

This is Matilda, my 16ga with a 46" Colrain barrel. Very light and well balanced

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Stumpkiller above said exactly what I was going to say.
I too got this barrel because it was the lightest of the three, (Lighter in 16 than either the 12 or 20).
I also have an old Don Getz 16, and it is 44" but So light it's like it's not there. Ideal and V traditional for a decent fowling piece.

Here before I got it finish'd.

 

[Feltwad]

If not using an original I prefer this 12 bore which I built in the 70,s using a sitting fox barrel
Feltwad
Pest Control

 

[Darkgael]

I have a 16 gauge fowler made for me by Mike Brooks. It has a 42 inch barrel and weighs six pounds four. It was patterned after the New England fowler #9 in Grinslade's book. It points like a wand.
Don't have the barrel weight. Sorry.