Is it just my imagination, or does there seem to be an absence of tapered barrels on modern muzzle loaders. Why is that? Couldn't the muzzle loading crowd also benefit from a lighter barrel in a "sporter" contour?
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Tapered barrels on modern muzzle loaders
- Thread starter Grizzlypeg
- Start date
Dunno. The Flinter guys at least have the option of a taper and flared barrel, to lighten up the load.
I suppose that it boils down to that the straight barrels come cheaper than the ones that have the extra work into them.
Most of the M/L rifles of modern make, feel a little like they have a crowbar for a barrel, for sure.
Cheers
Trev
I suppose that it boils down to that the straight barrels come cheaper than the ones that have the extra work into them.
Most of the M/L rifles of modern make, feel a little like they have a crowbar for a barrel, for sure.
Cheers
Trev
I think it's an economic factor. The tapered or swamped barrels are added to hand made guns simply because the blackpowder market is pretty cheap as it is, and those that spend the money tend to have them custom made.
As it stands I'm looking for a light barrelled gun for the gf -almost have to go down to a squirrel gun caliber before getting anything light enough. Have been shown some beautiful 40 and 45 cal guns, but they're custom done. I'm thinking I'll have to build my own in .45 and maybe even go as far as swamping the barrel to reduce weight. Migh try my luck with a musketoon or carbine of some manner too if it'll help.
As it stands I'm looking for a light barrelled gun for the gf -almost have to go down to a squirrel gun caliber before getting anything light enough. Have been shown some beautiful 40 and 45 cal guns, but they're custom done. I'm thinking I'll have to build my own in .45 and maybe even go as far as swamping the barrel to reduce weight. Migh try my luck with a musketoon or carbine of some manner too if it'll help.
I think it is a question of cost. Tapered and swamped barrels cost $50 or so for each feature and production line guns are aimed at putting the cheapest version possible on the market. Tapered and/or swamped barrels are certainly available on and for custom guns but if complete those guns cost from 2 to 4 times as much as a production line gun. A good portion of that extra cost is in the quality of the materials and components and styling of the custom guns.
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
Maybe there isn't as much to taper on a muzzle loader as it doesn't have the chamber, which is typically of a much larger diameter than the bore. Tapering a typical centre fire shaves a lot of weight off. Maybe not worth while in a muzzle loader?
Are you referring to modern styled muzzleloaders, inlines, etc, or reproductions?
Many originals had tapered barrels, round or octagon. Most modern reproductions have parallel barrels, primarily for ease and economy of manufacture. The exceptions to this are round barrelled repro. rifled muskets and shotguns. Most originals have heavier breeches than reproductions do. Not unusual for a repro. .45 caliber octagon barrelled rifle to have a barrel 13/16ths across the flats. Few originals would be that slender at the breech. This does affect the balance of the rifle.
Many originals had tapered barrels, round or octagon. Most modern reproductions have parallel barrels, primarily for ease and economy of manufacture. The exceptions to this are round barrelled repro. rifled muskets and shotguns. Most originals have heavier breeches than reproductions do. Not unusual for a repro. .45 caliber octagon barrelled rifle to have a barrel 13/16ths across the flats. Few originals would be that slender at the breech. This does affect the balance of the rifle.
Modern inlines. In particular, I find my Savage 10MLII to be on the barrel heavy side. Wondering why they didn't taper the barrel. How thick does it need to be at the muzzle?
It is very much worth it in my opinion. The gun that I shoot normally is both tapered and swamped and that shaves about 2 pounds off of the gun. I have not weighed it but would guess it to be around 7 lbs perhaps a bit lighter vs I am guessing around 9 lbs with a straight barrel (42" long)
cheers mooncoon
Swamped means that he barrel is tapered to a point then thickens back to near the original size.
Saves some weight, looks good.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartList.aspx?catID=14&subID=142&styleID=506
The long tapered end is the breech eend, the short taper, the muzzle.
Cheers
Trev
Saves some weight, looks good.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartList.aspx?catID=14&subID=142&styleID=506
The long tapered end is the breech eend, the short taper, the muzzle.
Cheers
Trev
