Author Topic: barrel length (Read 788 times)

hiram · « **on:** November 09, 2003, 08:02:01 AM »

I'll be seeing a smith in December to build a 45-70 for me. Spoke over the phone and he said he uses Douglas premium grade barrels. I have the 1901 rem rb action. The question is barrel length. I will be shooting black, but, in reloading smokeless, its a waste to use more powder than will be consumed in the barrrel. Is there a specified barrel length that 70gr of black will be burned in?? I'm not looking for the most common length barrel use, I'm looking for the most efficient or best length.

Thanks

Timberlake · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2003, 11:11:40 AM »

Hiram,

You can hardly go wrong at 30"

TL

Clarence · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2003, 04:31:07 PM »

Hiram,

For match shooting, you want more barrel length to get the front sight out where you can see it as much as for total powder burn.

I lean toward 32" barrels, but you can hardly go wrong with the 30" barrel.

Clarence

MikeT · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2003, 03:13:10 AM »

Hiram,
To speak directly to your question, it will depend on more factors than the amount of powder and barrel length. For example, BP burns cleanest when shooting a "heavy for the caliber" bullet. Velocity preference is going to point you at specific granulations of BP, which will burn differently depending on the bullet weight. BTW, barrel length does not always help velocity, and when it does help, the difference of two inches is a very small percentage. So in summary, get the barrel length you like and develop the load that shoots clean [which is usually the most accurate also].
Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT

Gunny · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2003, 10:21:17 AM »

Marsh,

I am going to have to disagree a little with statement about the 30" barrel length being standared and anything else being a special order. As almost all of these rifles we shoot are "Custom" built rifles I personally do not believe that thre is any standared. That is true of most of the rifles, however there are exceptions and that would be the Factory built guns the Uberti's, Pedersoli's, Browning's ( When they made them ) etc. however with the exception of the Browning all of these Factory rifles usually also come with at least a 32" as well and many of the Pedersoli's can be had with a 34" barrel.

When it comes to the Shiloh's, C.Sharps, Meachams, CPA's, Ballards etc. they are all built off of a blank. most of the above makers except for Shiloh use a Badger Blank barrel. Badger blanks are somewhere around 36" before the machine works start. The custom makers could care less how long a barrel a customer wants, they usually charge a little more for the longer barrel length but I am sure that is because of the labor involved in the polishing of the extra length.

Now having said all of that it does appear that most of the rifles we shoot do in fact have a 30" barrel. Now "IF" I am right and there is no standared why are there so many 30" barrels? Could it be that the 30" barrel is easier to clean and thre is not as much fouling in this length barrel? Maybe, however my match gun is a 34" Badger Barrel and I have never fouled out or had a lot of fouling problems even in the hottest weather and very low single digt humidity. Could it be becuase there is a weight limit in Silhouette and Long and Mid range shooting events? I think that this may be a big reason for the 30" barrel, to make weight. That and the fact tht a lot of folks just do not have the fouling management it takes to shoot a longer barrel. There also is the problem of off hand shooting---Damn i guess there is a lot of stuff and reasons.

I do know that a lot of the target shooters of a 120 or so years ago shot very long barrled guns some as long as 36 and 38". Maybe they knew something we don't.

Gunny

445supermag · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2003, 01:54:05 AM »

What are your uses for the 45/70? Bench, huntung. silowet? This will help your choice. Also the thickness. If you hunt and shoot a little a light gun will do . If you are going to shoot a lot you want weight. Silowet nra rules is 12lb 2oz. , long range i think is 15lb. In black powder loads it will be the amount of black that your barrel and bullet likes at what ever barrel lenth you choose. Smokless will depend on pressure for the strenth of the action not barrel lenth. Some guy,s seat thye bullet out to rifling and get 70 or more gr powder. Standerd seat bullets will be heard to get 70gr incase, but your rifle might not like 70 gr. itmight like 62gr. So what barrel you put on depends on what you are going to do with the rifle.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2003, 05:08:43 PM »

I have six .45-70 rifles with barrel lengths from 28" to 34". I see no difference in accuracy between them, but I do feel a difference in balance! The longest gun is a Ballard #4 Perfection, and the 34" half octagon #4 weight barrel, is really muzzle heavy. Not a problem with crosssticks, or from the bench, but offhand is another story!
The 28" is really a dream offhand, but actually looks a bit stubby when compared to the others.
I like 30"-32" for the right balance of feel and asthetics. The RB being a bit shorter, could use the 32" with no trouble.

Lead pot · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2003, 07:39:09 AM »

Hiram

I shoot black powder rifles from 28-42 inch.I shoot prone off cross sticks,with a new snow cover on the ground I find more unburned powder from the 30" barrel then from my 34" in the same caliber.I also see more ornge muzzel flash from the 30" I"m mot saying that is a good test,but it tells me that it's burning most of the powder.Down range on the paper boath 30"and 34" barrel lengths look good.I like the longer barrels better for the long range shooting were the weight is not a factor, because of the longer sight radius.
Lp.