Slackdaddy: Shorten my barrell?

[Catshooter45]

I've some of your posts that you seem to like a shortened barrel for your Huntsman.

I have a '73 vintage .58 cal Huntsman with a 28 inch barrel.  Cutting eight inches off of it would sure make it handier in the woods, but do I loose power?

Did you chronograph yours before/after you cut it?


Cat

[Slackdaddy]

I'm not that high tech
But I did some online research, I think I googled "Muzzle loader barrel length"
found a write up about some one who did crono differant barrel lengths, no drop burning ~100 grains going from
~26" down to ~21".
Now take into account I am East coast (Maryland), I hunt from climbers in the woods, most shots are 20-60 yards, a few out to 90 yards, and the once in a couple years ~120 yard shot, and I am shooting with 80 grains of powder.

So for a tree stand gun shooting under 100 gr powder I see no problems, and I am getting 2" groups at 100 yards with only about 15 rounds through it in 1 range session(260 gr bullet, ~1" high at 50 yards).
I feel I can get 1" groups at 100yds with more range time and a trigger job.

BTW, 80gr powder in the 20" barrel has had 5 pass throughs so far this year, I am stepping up to a 300gr bullet, as I have excess energy so far.

Slack

[Catshooter45]

Very interesting Slack, thanks.  What caliber are you shooting?  Are you saboting?


Cat

[Slackdaddy]

It is 50 cal.
I shoot sabotted bullets fron prbullet.com
I was shooting the 260gr extreme elites  http://www.prbullet.com/ee.htm
with 80gr of BH209 powder but they where passing through.
previous in my T/C I was shooting 330gr elites with mega expansion, I talked to Cecil at prbullet and he said the 240-260 gr are .40 cal and the 300-360gr are .45 cal with a larger front hole, so I am going to 300gr.

I have also used Keith nosed from prbullet with great results http://www.prbullet.com/knhp.htm

Slack

[petemi]

I few years back, Patty (my wife) took a yearling 120 lb. doe with a 12 inch, .45 cal. Kentucky Pistol, 65 gr. Goex fffg and a PRB.  got a complete pass through at 54 paces from the bottom of her tree stand.  DRT.  With that in mind, I don't think I'd hesitate shortening a barrel even down to 16.5 inches in a 50 caliber shooting conical bullets.  I shoot my MLs over snow, and If I get excess unburned powder on the snow, I lighten the charge.

Pete

[snakeskinner]

I am interested in this too. My son can't shoot the thing offhand and carrying it on the shoulder is a pain. Can we get some more input?
I have someone that can cut the barrel. How did you cut the ramrod down?

[Slackdaddy]

I would not wait, the 20" barrel produces "to much" energy for a 260gr lead bullet, go to 300 gr.
The factory ram rod took about 15 min to modifiy.
I cut the wood part off where it meets the metal, then I cut the metal where the wood ended in it, that gave me a couple of inches to put the wood peice in the metal. stuck the wood peice in a drill and sanded it down (the part going into the metal) till it would "almost go in, then tapped it in with a hammer.
Collapsed and stored it is even with the end of the barrel, open it is about 3" longer than the barrel with a load in it,
works great, I see no need for a after market rod.
That said I bought a range rod and one of those rubber T/C handles, cut the rod so the T handle is about 1" out of the barrel with a load, it fits perfect in My knapsack, easier and quieter to grab that in the stand.

Slack

[Catshooter45]

petemi,

That was an interesting story.  I've wondered at the effectiveness of a BP short gun.  My interest is academic only as here in South Dakota the black powder pistol is specically prohibited.

The deer here must be really, really tough. 


Cat

[petemi]

It's legal here in MI to use .44 cap and ball revolvers on deer.  I would never try it with the 30 gr. load they carry.  Now the pistol is another story.  I carry a .50 kentucky loaded with a T/C Maxi and 75 gr. Goex fffg.  If it hits a deer half as hard as it hits your hand it'll bring him down

Pete

[jbtazgrabber]

my son is 20 in.long shot 50 gr..pistol with 200 gr xtp bullet kills as quick as my long ones.........have a trad 50 pistol shoot same load no lost deer yet............i have crony speeds of both but are long time ago ill see if i can find.........but as far as i can tell it kills deer great no matter the speed so thats what really counts plus if the gun is to heavy they ..kids ...wont be able to hold it steady......my son is 10 been killing deer with this short gun for four years now................hope it helps             jb

[PHATINJUN]

Cat we got them to tough for ML pistol deer here in IL also. Kurt