Barrel lenght

[southernhunter]

What's the shortest effective barrel length you could use on a flintlock with a 50/54 cal patched round ball? I love my Tennessee long rifle but it's a bit cumbersome in a shooting house or blind set up.

 

[TennesseeJed]

My flintlocks have 28" barrels and the .54 shoots really good. I've had two percussions with 21" barrels and neither of them were accurate enough that I would have felt comfortable hunting with them, no matter how handy they were.

A friend of mine had a 300 year old German jaeger .58 with an 18" barrel and he killed a hog with it, I don't know how far away it was though.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

My transitional style .58( transition from the European jeager to the American longrifle) has a 31" barrel and weighs 6 1/2 lbs. It's very handy and comes to the shoulder really nice. As a matter of fact, even though I probably won't use it, I popped up my blind in the backyard yesterday and climbed in it with this rifle. I don't think I'd have any trouble at all using it in this blind. The only down side is that it might be a little tight on the reload.......if you had to reload.

I have a roughly 26" long swamped barrel in .50 caliber and a Siler style lock in flint. One of these days, when I "get a round tuit", I'm going to build a short barreled jeager with these parts. I absolutely wouldn't hesitate taking it out "ahuntin" for deer.

 

[southernhunter]

What would the over all lenght be with a 26" barrel , I'd like to stay with a early America style. What ever that would be,

 

[Wobblyshot1]

I'd say with a 26" barrel about 42" total length would be about right. My short rifle is 47" long. Early American style is kind of a general statement. In my humble opinion and to be PC(period correct), one would have to go with something like a jeager or transitional gun. If I was just going for a easy handling rifle and wasn't as concerned about PC go with a build and make it look the way you wanted.

 

[southernhunter]

What's a transitional gun ? Sorry I am still a green horn to flintlocks but by early amercian I mean if I was to be able to travel back to flintlock era in Tennessee and east coast the Guns you'd see being used or made. I am guessing that ppl built their own design and to their own preference. so maybe there isn't one true model of gun to be had but if I am going to shoot a flintlock. I'd like it to be representative of something I might have used as a ( Southernhunter) in that time period. I know that's probably still to general.maybe as I learn more I can start to Narrow it down some.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

History lesson....When the early American immigration of Germans occurred back in the 1700s many settled in the Pennsylvania region. With them came many skills including gunsmiths who were building what has come to be called jeagers. In time this style of rifle "transitioned" into what is now called the American long rifle with their much longer barrels. These rifles during that time can be called transitionals with usually a shorter barrel with both European and American influence. I hope this helps but there is no absolutes in what may have been available to anyone during is time in American history. A southern gentleman of the time may have something like this:
http://www.caywoodguns.com/southern-mountain-rifle.html
Check out Caywood's David Crockett rifle. Old Davy always had fine rifles. He was said to have killed 125 bears with "Old Betsy" and it was only a .40 caliber.
http://www.caywoodguns.com/crocket-rifle2.html
A really well to do fella in middle Tennessee could and did have this. It was built by Jacob Young of Sumner County. I've seen this rifle and the photos do not do it justice. If you've got a little spare change then check out what they are asking for it. :shock:
http://www.kellykinzleantiques.com/long ... young.html
Here is a link to a supplier of parts including Jeagers;
http://www.longrifles-pr.com/jaeger.shtml

In short DP(Southernhunter) it's you choice if you want to go traditional flint. I know quite a few guys that regularly and successfully get their deer with a 40/44" long barreled rifle. There are commercial options available that would be much less expensive than a custom gun. You could always elect to try to build one yourself(still pricey) if you had a little patience and develop building skills. This, for the most part, is what I did. If you need any help or have questions just let me know. I like to promote traditional muzzle loading when I can.

 

[southernhunter]

Thanks,very good info. How would something like the poor boy I have now fit in with a shorter barrel in 50 or 54 ? With a slow twist round ball barrel would its till be a accurate enough for deer, I'd like a over all length of 40" inches. I also like the Hawkin style rifles.