Which Huntsman barrel to buy?

[WhiteKnight]

Which Huntsman barrel should I buy? I want to try muzzleloading for the first time this year, but I've never shot one.

Would a Stainless steel barrel for $30 more be worth the money? Would a 26" barrel be better than a 24" one? How accurate do these barrels tend to be? Would I be better off just buying a cheap muzzleloading package from Walmart?

Part #     Description     Price
50M    50 Cal., 26" (1 in 28" twist)    $85.00
50MS    50 Cal., 24" Stainless Steel (1 in 28" twist)    $113.00
(Includes Williams fire sights, ramrod, forearm, breech plug wrench and five primer carriers.)
M03451    50 Cal. 26" Stainless Steel (1 in 28" twist)    $113.00
(Includes Williams fire sights, ramrod, forearm, breech plug wrench and five primer carriers.)

[stimpylu32]

WhiteKnight

I too have just got into MLs this year , i was able to pick up a used 24" blue 50 cal. huntsman barrel in a trade . so far it likes just about anything that i feed it with 3 shots in under 2" at 100 yards .

I topped mine with a Bushnell Banner 3x9 scope as i was having problems seeing with the factory sights . The best load so far has been with the TC Cheap Shot Sabots over 70 gr. Pyrodex Select loose @ 1 1/2" @ 100 .

Recoil is on par with a 20 ga. and clean up is a snap .  I also like the 209 primer holders , so much nicer to use with gloves than just the primer itself .

stimpy

[PHATINJUN]

If you were going to get a bbl fit at the factory you better call them as I think they are out of stock right now on ML bbl. Kurt

[glwenzl]

I haven't been ML in several years however done a bunch prior and my thoughts are the blued barrel will work just fine if you are good about cleaning it where as the SS barrel does not seem to pit out like the blued ones...

I think the 24" barrel will be just as good as the 26" but sometimes the longer barrel heavier riffles seem to hold steadier for me when I bring em up to shoot off hand.

50 cal is a good one to have, I have had smaller and larger (still have the 45 handgun) and the 50 is my favorite.

MLs have come a long way and you probably would not go wrong with any of em however I like the looks of the ones NEF is putting out and am considering getting a couple for some young deer hunters. Right now I have a T/C Hawkins 1-48 twist blued and a Rem ML 700 1-28 twist SS and a 45 handgun. I tried pyrodex but went back to BP.

[LHitchcox]

You will have to be lucky to get a factory barrel fitted before season starts. Are you buying a barrel from someone on the board?  Personally I would just buy a Sidekick and be done with it. They do not have to be registered, so you could buy on-line with no hassles. My Sidekick cost me $140 OTD and it shoots as well as my Omega which cost twice as much.

Leon