i have 3 southern rifles with .40 cal A weights all 44 inches long,,they hold and shoot a lot better than im able to hold...the balance is just wonderful,,and any of them are a pleasure to carry all day..i like a .40 for 1 reason is you can use a 3/8ths rod,, but i use tapered rods anyway so proably dont make that much of a difference,,dont ask why i have 3,,,