Barrel Advice for Longrifle?

[Marcruger]

Hi Folks,  Yes, I know, there are as many opinions about barrels as there are unique snowflakes.    That said, I could use some advice and opinions. 

My current flintlock longrifle has a .45 caliber barrel that is about 7/8" across the flats and 42" long.  It is straight.  It shoots well, but is a touch heavy.  It was made by a fellow named Troup in 1983, but no maker's name on the barrel.  Square cut grooves.  Will put three shots touching at 50 yards. 

I talked with Ed Wenger at the Williamsburg Longrifle show last month, and he graciously let me handle one of his beauties with a swamped barrel.  It balanced great and felt lively and almost "springy".  I really liked it.  Now I see why folks liked swamped barrels in the old days. 

I am plotting a Salem, NC-style longrifle build, and am pondering the barrel options.  I plan to use it for mainly target and plinking, with hunting as an option.  My vastly wise friend (who brings home medals from Friendship) loves Green Mountain barrels.  He prefers straight profile for more weight out front.  I have searched a few barrel websites. 

Who would you recommend as a barrel maker for a swamped barrel, 40"-42", preferably .45 caliber?  I could be talked into .50, or even a .40.  I see only a .50 listed as swamped from Green Mountain.  Do they make other barrels swamped?  For accuracy, and quality, who else should be on the short list?  Rice?  Colerain?  Should I consider a straight GM barrel? 

Thinking the other hardware should be Davis double sets with a Siler lock (I like my current Siler). 

Many thanks in advance.  God Bless,   Marc

[Dennis Glazener]

Who would you recommend as a barrel maker for a swamped barrel, 40"-42", preferably .45 caliber?  I could be talked into .50, or even a .40.  I see only a .50 listed as swamped from Green Mountain.  Do they make other barrels swamped?  For accuracy, and quality, who else should be on the short list?  Rice?  Colerain?  Should I consider a straight GM barrel?

I would personally pick a B profile swamped barrel from any of the major barrel makers (or maybe the Rice Southern Profile or the Getz light barrel that has the almost exact same dimensions, these are patterned after light weight originals and have less prominent swamp), never had a bad shooting one from any of them. I choose the B profile because I am old and too lazy to carry the heavier one's. I have owned 38 inch C profile 45 and 50's that had enough muzzle weight that maybe an off hand shooter could shoot better with it than with a B profile. I used to use straight sided barrels but NO MORE after using swamped barrels I am sold on them.

One thing that you should consider is the type of gun you are building and whether you want it close to the original you pattern it after. Almost all of the early guns had swamped barrels.

Just my two cents worth.
Dennis

[galamb]

If you have a straight barrel now and prefer the "experience" you found with a swamp, then another straight barrel will not do it for you - so throw that idea out even if it's what works for "your buddy".

I will second Dennis's vote for the Southern Classic (Rice) or the Getz version of (essentially) the same barrel.

I am building with a 45 cal Rice SC at the moment and am already actively looking for other rifle designs to use this profile in - it's that nice.

Although called an "A" weight if kinda falls between an A and a B (specifically in the waist) so that it is not as severely swamped as most of the (Pennsylvania named) swamp patterns.

The 45 cal @ 42" came in at 4lbs 3oz without a plug installed.

I also wouldn't rule out tapered barrels which reduce a bunch of weight "out front".

I still believe straight barrels have their place, but personally wouldn't use one longer than 36" and then, kinda restrict their application to later percussion period half-stock rifles, for which they are suited and correct.

[stuart cee dub]

 Hi Marc ,
A ''B'' weight barrel is a delight in 45 caliber at 42'' and a perfect barrel making a dynamic rifle .I concur with the above advise.It will look and feel right and look like a longrifle .Use 4 pins or keys .The sight will not end up at the balance point either at (least for my eyes ).The round groove rifling cleans quicker that the square cut rifling. I like .45 caliber a lot and use it more than either my bigger or smaller calibers rifles for general off hand match use.
 
I have tried to get 7/8''straight barrels to work in a long rifle.You end up having to cut them down to no more than 37'' to get the balance right ,35'' with an underrib in a halfstock works even better,at which point it isn't a long rifle .
Shorter barrels certainly load easier over the course of a long day unless you have really long arms .
So it goes .
Stuart 

[WKevinD]

I'd also recommend the Rice Southern Classic. I'm currently using a .50 - 42" It feels light and balanced, similar to a Getz .50 B weight or a straight taper Getz .45. If it were possible to order and get a Getz that would be my recommendation but Rice seems to have stock on hand and their round bottom rifling is another plus.

[Long John]

Once you shoot a rifle with a swamped barrel you will NEVER go back to a straight barrel for a hunting/plinking gun.  Some folks find the weight distribution of the straight barrel a help in serious target work.  But for a rifle that is pleasant to shoot and carry, I would choose the swamped barrel.

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[Marcruger]

My sincere thanks to all. I now feel a lot better about making a selection. I sampled a couple of straight barreled longrifles at this weekend's show (no swamped barreled guns were there) and yes they felt heavy and slow. Ed Wenger ruined me with his swamped beauty! ;-) Sounds like a Rice Southern profile barrel might be quite appropriate on a Salem NC style longrifle. Best wishes to all and God Bless, Marc

[Bible Totin Gun Slinger]

My two cents , What folks have said here probably good, all I can add is my experience, Gain Twist is a different animal.
My old barrel was a straight 1 in 66 twist, and I could shoot it with different charges and get fairly accurate results.
This Gain Twist is like stuck on one charge, if I go up or down it shoots poorly, but with a 80 grns of fffg its a real tack driver, if I can see it, I can shoot it.
Up to a distance.
Also I have read that Gain Twist has been around for a couple centuries.
Mines a Colerain GT50 and the bore is nice, but the outside is ruff looking, took lots of work, I figure for the price its a good value.
As far as different weights and designs, that strictly personal, I am a big guy, and I love the balance of my oversize 1 inch across the flats all the way.

[kaintuck]

My sincere thanks to all. I now feel a lot better about making a selection. I sampled a couple of straight barreled longrifles at this weekend's show (no swamped barreled guns were there) and yes they felt heavy and slow. Ed Wenger ruined me with his swamped beauty! ;-) Sounds like a Rice Southern profile barrel might be quite appropriate on a Salem NC style longrifle. Best wishes to all and God Bless, Marc

Marc, and others have just abount convenced me to try a rice southern swamp on one of my next builds......been a 'B' man for years.......
let us know and see your build!
marc

[PPatch]

GM makes an "A"weight 42 inch swamped .45 caliber,  have one in the shop awaiting a stock. I am currently working a Colerain .45 with the same profile. The rifle is balanced extremely well and points like it is meant to when shouldered. Very happy with it, it is oing to be used for whitetails.

dp

[Vomitus]

  I like the idea of the .45 "B" weight. I have a "B" weight in a fifty and an "A" weight .40.,both Rice Gunmaker barrels.(sq.bttm)@44". Both these rifles tip the scales at 7 pounds...with a flint.

 I posted this pic to show how I hold a light rifle. Left hand holding just afront of the lock. Helps make this light barreled beauty "hang" a little nicer. Taken at Heffley Cr.,B.C. in 2010. builder: D.Taylor Sapergia
ps. added: lots of times I suck my left elbow in tighter to my body but Daryls rags on me that I shoot like a girl. So when he's in my group, to avoid another fist fight on the line, I give in to the spoiled brat! That's him with that double barreled jack-handle.

[Marcruger]

Thank you for the additional input on barrels.  I enjoyed the photo above as well.  Great shot.  :-) 
A thought occurs to me: at what point caliber-wise and profile-wise does a barrel become a problem for building a slim longrifle? 

You folks who have built these will have some stories I am sure.  I am wanting to have built a slender Salem, NC style rifle, and don't want to back a builder into a corner by asking for a barrel that will be too fat for the rifle. 

Ed Wenger's Winchester style beauty is apparently wearing a Rice Southern Classic profile in .50.  I handled the gun, and it is pretty much the slender architecture I am after.  So I am figuring a .50 is safe to request in that profile. 

Best wishes, and many thanks again for all y'all have shared.   Marc