Standard oct. vs. Heavy oct.

[Schuetzum Phast]

I did a quick search on this subject but couldn't find anything specific to my question, so I apologize if this has been hashed here before. I have been debating between a standard octagon or a heavy octagon barrel for my new Sharps. The rifle will be a dedicated bp rifle in .45-2.1. I would be interested in hearing from folks with experience with one or the other, or both. Good or bad. All opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

~SP

[losttrail]

Would weight be a consideration for any match shooting?

[Schuetzum Phast]

Would weight be a consideration for any match shooting?

No. Not for me. Not at this point in the type of shooting I'm doing. I did consider the weight and heat dissapation of the heavier barrel. I'm just wondering if one has an advantage over the other or if it's more of personal preference. Thnx.

SP

[Gussy]

The main difference is recoil. Heavier is better in that regards.

[Kodiak]

Some shooting matches have a max. wt. requirement that all rifles used must not exceed. Having said that, a 34" heavy wt. (13#) .45 caliber rifle sure shots fine off a rest or x-stixs, but can be a bugger to handle in off-hand events..

If the intent is to HUNT with a rifle, you just might get by with a 26-28" standard wt. barrel, with a carrying weight of 9.5-11#, as a lot of folks don't "feel" the recoil of a hunting rifle when its fired at a game animal.

Just saying, ya know,

[lrb]

I have #3 sporting rifle with the standard 30" heavy barrel. I've hunted with it for many years now. It is on the heavy side, but not too bad really. I have walked miles with it, and not found it too much of a burden. I find the extra weight helps me hold more steady, and felt recoil is insignificant whether hunting or target shooting. The heavier barrel is slower to heat up, and more ridged than the slim barrels which gives at least a tiny bit more accuracy.

[Kurt]

I have one Shiloh, bottom rifle, that has a standard oct barrel on it, but I only had tang sights on it for about a weeks time to see just how well it shoots. I found that I shoot this rifle just as well with either sights on it.
This rifle has a 30" barrel and it weighs in at 10# It is a .44-77 and I can not tell any difference in the felt recoil as the heavy 30" barrel .45-70.
Yes the barrel warms up faster than the HVY but it also cools off faster. I shot this rifle on the Raton Whittington Center Silhouette range and shot all banks of the iron critters with out a problem using the barrel sights and it took only three shots getting on that Buffalo on top of the hill and finished with the last three shots I had left with out a miss. But the range flag was limp the day I shot.
Light or heavy is a choice you will have to make, but I see no difference how it performs accuracy wise.

[Marathonman]

This has been a long debated topic on this forum. Here's the highlights of what comes to mind:

Stick with a 30 inch barrel no matter what weight. Shorter barrels heighten the sensitivity of changes in sight settings. Most people firing at live game barely hear the gun go off let alone notice recoil. Consider the business rifle barrel on your hunting rifle as it balances the best with most of it's weight distributed towards the center line of the shooter. Longer barrels are harder to hold steady off hand and add no appreciable difference in hunting accuracy or capability. Stick with documented easy to load calibers the best known of which is the 45-70. Pick the configuration that appeals to you personally and is atheistically pleasing as that is the rifle you will practice with the most. If you want to use paper patched versus grease groove bullets post a question specific to that topic as there are varying opinions all worth hearing.

[Marathonman]

Everything I said was my personal opinion which is fine but plenty of other people might disagree. I didn't answer your question so I'll try again. As far as I know there's not a great advantage to having either the standard or heavy barrel, it's a matter of personal preference. I really like my business rifle for hunting but I've taken deer, antelope, elk, and moose with very heavy rifles in 14 and 16 pounds.

[gunlaker]

I like heavy barrels and wouldn't order a standard weight barrel. However I do own a Long Range Express in .45-70 with a standard weight 34" barrel. I found it on consignment at a local gun shop and couldn't pass it up. I find it balances surprisingly well for offhand and makes a decent silhouette rifle. My preference is still for a heavy barrel though.

Chris.