Why were the barrels so long?

[montanadan]

Why did they generally build the Penn,Kentucky's,and Tennesse rifles with such long barrels? I read the smooth bore section and most of you are saying you need barrels 42" to 46"(I am being a little general here)and I do not really know that much about smooth bores.This is something I have always been curoius about,both long barrels for smooth bores as well as the rifled barrels...Respectfully Montanadan

 

[Stumpkiller]

Several possible reasons, not least of which may have been the "Cadillac" effect. Which is: "Why did a '48 Cadillac, and Cadillacs for the next twenty years, have fins?"
Answer: "Because people bought Cadillacs with fins."
:hmm:

Longer sight radius means greater accuracy.

Tighter patterns with shot from the smoothbores before chokes were developed.

Longer barreled muskets because the bayonet was as important as the bore.

I have also heard that the longer barrel was thought to increase the performance of poor grade powder. Doesn't matter if that is true if it was the conventional wisdom of the day.

 

[Horace]

The barrel was long so you didn't have to stand so close to the enemy when you swung it at him after your shot missed.

 

[musketman]

I too believe it was to compensate for poor powder making procedures, gives the powder ample time to be consumed...

As powder making techniques improved, barrels lengths shortened...

 

[gordy]

I have to agree that the poor grades of powder available had a lot to do with bbl.lgth.I've read that most modern BP will beconsumed in a bbl. of about 44 to 48" anything over this is counterproductive. :front:

 

[BrownBear]

I wouldna thought of this a few years ago, but recent experience makes me wonder:

As my eyes get oldernolder, that front sight is sure a lot easier to see on a long barrel. I can't imagine that many folks wore glasses back then, or that their eyes were any less prone to problems than ours today.

Let's see now, anyone got a 80" barrel I could try out?

 

[onefeather]

also so you didnt have to clean as often

 

[Cruzatte]

I have also heard that the longer barrel was thought to increase the performance of poor grade powder. Doesn't matter if that is true if it was the conventional wisdom of the day.

I think you're on to it here. Back in the 18th and early 19th century, the science of ballistics hadn't been thought of. So all gunsmiths or scientists for that matter, could do was speculate, with not much hard data to go on. That's all I know.

Cruzatte

 

[HistoryBuff]

Isaac Newton published Principia in 1687. I wonder how long it took for the theory to gain widespread acceptance in the scientific community and then be used by arms designers. I would think that it would be well known by the time of the American Revolution on both sides of the Atlantic.

HistoryBuff

 

[Mulebrain]

My vote: Among others is more rifling contact ads more stability to the ball at longer ranges.

 

[onefeather]

:front: