barrel question

[chuck-ia]

I have been comparing 42" swamped and 44" swamped barrels in B weight 45 cal. Looks like the 44" is actually lighter due to the profile of the barrel. On my last 42" barrel I have the rear sight at around 14" from the breech, if I remember right I had a bit of a problem finding the right sight , had to go with a higher rear sight than I planned on , with a shorter rear sight all I could see was the breech. The question is, with the profile of the 44" barrel, steeper taper, looks like I would have to go with an even higher rear sight, (and front). If my eyes were better I would not have to have the rear sight so far forward, and could probably use a shorter front sight. Am I looking at this right? Should I not be concerned about sight height? thanks, chuck

[rich pierce]

At 12" from the breech the surface of the barrel should be about .092 lower than at the breech, if I am calculating correctly looking at a 44" B weight barrel.  This may place it a little lower relative to the bore than the front sight.  So the rear sight would need to be even taller relative to the front than if you used a straight barrel.  The more forward you are with the rear sight on a swamped barrel, the higher it will need to be.  The trick is to use a low front sight.  Current popular front sights now are at least twice as tall as those we find on most originals.  Most were no higher than the bead on a shotgun.  So now, if we use sights 5/16" tall up front, the rear will have to be 3/8" tall.

[Mike Brooks]

You could always bend your barrel and have your sight as high or low as you want.

[Don Getz]

Chuck......I'm not sure I can follow your sighting.    I have been using a lot of 44" medium weight dickert barrels and have
been using Reaves Goehrings cast front sights.   Finished, they come out at about 1/8" high, which is still higher than most originals, and the rear sights are about 1/4" high......have no problem sighting them..............Don

[chuck-ia]

Probably just me over thinking how the sights will work on a 44" swamped barrel. Don how far from the breech do you put the rear sight on these 44" barrels? I still haven't decided on which barrel for my next gun, I have a couple 42" barreled guns, last weekend I shot my 44" fowler (smoothbore) and really like the longer barrel, totally different guns I know. Something about those longer barreled guns I seem to like. thanks, chuck

[Don Getz]

Chuck....normally I put the rear sight about 11" from the breech, unless the customer specifies otherwise......Don

[chuck-ia]

Don, Thanks. So, How would you guys compare the 44" to the 42", does one seem easier to shoot, more accurate, hold better offhand? I know, tough question, depends a lot on rifle style. chuck

[bama]

I think barrel length depends on the shooters size and how well the gun fits the shooter. I have held 38" barrels out to 48" barrels and if the architecture is right they all balanced and aimed well. If the stock profile ain't right the balance is not going to be there. Stay away from small bores in big barrels as this makes for to much weight. Big bores in small barrels make for light weight barrels but the felt recoil is much greater. So stay in the middle with your bore size to barrel size and you should have good barrel weight and balance regardless of length.