Smoothbore vs Rifling

[Seth Isaacson]

Why do smoothbore guns typically cost more than rifled guns? The factory guns are especially more expensive. It seems like there would be a higher demand from reenactors and that the barrels would be less expensive to make. What am I missing?

[Longknife]

I have found that ANY gun is extremely expensive when I want to buy it but not worth squat when I want to SELL!!!!!!!

[hanshi]

I'm able to to help you get most any gun (factory) at a huge discount.  If you're interested let me know and I'll buy one at full price; right after that they will go on sale and you can buy yours for a pittance. 

[thecapgunkid]

Because people are willing to pay for them...

[WadePatton]

Why do smoothbore guns typically cost more than rifled guns? The factory guns are especially more expensive. It seems like there would be a higher demand from reenactors and that the barrels would be less expensive to make. What am I missing?

As CGK indicates, There's your huckleberry. 

[oldtravler61]

  Rambling it's all about who wants it an how much they will spend. Anything of value you have to sell it where the serious buyer's are to get a fair price. IMHO  Oldtravler

[oldtravler61]

  Last note is that a smooth bore is far more versatile than a rifle for a lot of people.   Oldtravler

[smart dog]

Hi RH,
To what are you specifically referring?  Military musket repros?  Custom rifles and fowlers?  I am not aware that smoothbores are more expensive, certainly not in the case of custom guns.  I do a lot of work for re-enactors and am asked to build both rifles and smoothbores.  Indeed, I have 2 fowlers and a long rifle in works for re-enactors as I write, and recently built a fowler, a rifle and refurbished 3 Pedersoli Brown Besses. The smoothbored guns are no more expensive for me to make than rifles depending on the style and decoration of the gun.  Smooth musket barrels are expensive but they constitute a lot of steel because of the thickness at the breech and the long length.  Octagon to round fowler barrels must require quite a bit of machining, which could add cost.  But again, I don't really see any big difference in cost at least with custom guns.

dave   

[Seth Isaacson]

Thanks for the responses guys. I was mostly wondering about reproductions by companies (not the Indians/Pakistanis), but I also noticed smootbore custom and semi-custom guns are often as pricey as rifles and sometimes more with the exceptions of Northwest guns which are sometimes pretty affordable. A Pedersoli rifle starts around $500-650 depending on specials and what not but the cheapest smoothbore they make is about $1,000. Similar thing also for the "Dixie" branded guns.

I am guessing you guys are right that it is mostly supply and demand for those companies, but it can't be that there is more demand for muskets which allows for higher prices. I imagine there is a huge demand from hunters for decent muzzle loading rifles and Civil War guns have a lot of demand but tend to be less expensive than flintlock smooth bores. There is of course more competition for the NSSA market and only a few companies making decent flintlock muskets outside of custom builders.

Once you get into semi-custom and custom guns, rifling a barrel must be no more expensive than shaping a smoothbore once all the work and materials are included from what Smart Dog noted.

[Dphariss]

  Last note is that a smooth bore is far more versatile than a rifle for a lot of people.   Oldtravler

This is true with modern hunting regulations. Back in the day not so much unless the shooter had vision problems. Where I live one must hunt turkeys in the spring with a SB for example. In some populated areas a rifle is maybe not the best for squirrels where high angle shots might be made. Though a RB is very range limited compared to a 22 LR.
The shotgun is generally far less efficient,  the weight of lead needed to kill a squirrel with small shot, for example, is far greater than that needed with even a 50 caliber rifle (ball about .42 oz) and off the scale for 32-40 cal.
So far as cost? Depending on how it rifled the rifle barrel may require no more time than a quality smooth interior finish SB barrel does.

Dan

[Bob Roller]

  Rambling it's all about who wants it an how much they will spend. Anything of value you have to sell it where the serious buyer's are to get a fair price. IMHO  Oldtravler

And again,the willing buyer and the willing seller must AGREE.

Bob Roller

[g2608671@verizon.net]

I have found that ANY gun is extremely expensive when I want to buy it but not worth squat when I want to SELL!!!!!!!

I thought this was just me.  My brother!

[Mick C]

I have found that ANY gun is extremely expensive when I want to buy it but not worth squat when I want to SELL!!!!!!!

AMEN!!!