Best Smooth Bore Barrel

[CavSoldier3ACR]

Gentlemen,

I realized my question is probably a matter of personal opinion, but I am building my son a flintlock while I am on my military deployment and I was considering a smoothbore barrel.  He is only ten years old and I think it would be more practical for him.  In the opinion of you all, who have vast experience in these matters, what manufacturer would you suggest I use for a 37 inch smoothbore? or does it really matter that much with a smoothbore?

Ed

[Daryl]

Ed- I would build him a little .40 to .45 cal smoothie, with a 30" bl., something like this, proportioned, of course.



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[Mike Brooks]

I built a 10 year old boys gun with a 20 bore 41" Curly Gostomsky barrel 25 years ago. had an 11" pull. I had him load it light (40gr 2ff or so), it shot quite well and he had a ball with it.  probably weighed 5lbs and all the weight balanced right in front of the lock.

[tallbear]

I would contact Rice barrels and ask them about the new fowler barrel they just introduced.it's copied from a 1740's English fowler barrel.It's 20 gauge and light as a feather.He's making it out of 4140 as he copied the thin dimensions of the original.He had one at dixons and it's a sweet barrel,perfect for a light upland gun!!.He can also jug choke them if interested!!!


Mitch

[WKevinD]

I picked up one of those Rice fowler barrels while at Dixons, it's just a tad over 2lbs. I'm a sucker for light barrel with a thin muzzle and have been planning an early fowler for a while so those two thoughts collided while standing in front of Jason's display and out came the wallet.
Should be a fun project.

Kevin 

[utseabee]

Can't go wrong with Rice or Bobby Hoyt

[Turtle]

I have built and/or own 5  .62 fowlers made with tvm (jack garner) barrels. they work great and are very reasonable.

[Mike Brooks]

I have built and/or own 5  .62 fowlers made with tvm (jack garner) barrels. they work great and are very reasonable.

There would be no comparison to the way a gun built from that Rice barrel would handle and the way a tvm barreled gun would handle. It's all about weight and balance for a shooting flying gun.