Choosing barrel length for a 50-90 Sharps

[wolfkiller]

Hello Lads,
I am getting ready to place my order for a 50-90 sharps, but I am stuck on barrel length for this beast.
I have a 45/110 Quigley which of course is 34" and a 45-90 with a 32" barrel. The 45-90 has a Malcolm scope and shoots better than I can.
I thought I would check with you 50 Caliber shooters for input.

This is a fun gun, shooting for personal best and for postal matches, as I am a bit disabled and can't shoot off hand, and I hope to take a buffalo with it next year if my health holds up.

Do you see any accuracy or long range advantage with the extra 2" of barrel? I am also looking at long range shooting in windy conditions, so the heavy bullet choices will hopefully make a difference

Thanks,

Donald Bowman

[Bogue]

A number of years ago I had a Hartford Model with a 30" barrel - shot well with it and actually took a buffalo. Unfortunately, to finance other projects I sold it. Recently I acquired another Hartford Model with a 32" barrel. So far I haven't shot it much, but from the feel of it I don't think the 32" inch is of any disadvantage over the 30" .......So if I were ordering a new one today, personally I would stick with a 32".

[battleship gunner]

Wolf,
I don't know if this helps at all but I have a .50-140 (3.25") with a 32" barrel and it's so accurate it's actually scary, whether at 100 yds. or 1,000 yds. I shoot a PJ 650 gr. creedmoor. My .45-100 has a 30" barrel which is almost as good. Either 30,32 or 34 will do just fine once you find the proper load your gun likes.

Frank

My long distance provider is Sharps.

[battleship gunner]

Wolf,
I don't know if this helps at all but I have a .50-140 (3.25") with a 32" barrel and it's so accurate it's actually scary, whether at 100 yds. or 1,000 yds. I shoot a PJ 650 gr. creedmoor. My .45-100 has a 30" barrel which is almost as good. Either 30,32 or 34 will do just fine once you find the proper load your gun likes.

Frank

My long distance provider is Sharps.

[buffalocannon]

If you are not going to shoot it offhand, I would get the 34"; reportedly, better sight picture, more efficient powder burn, higher velocity, report more distant from ears, higher coolness factor coefficient etc. Longer barrel makes for better fencepost after you burn out the bore.

[johnl]

I just ordered a saddle rifle in 50-90 with a 30" through Mr. Goodman. Most, ok all my shooting will be offhand, however if I had health issues I would get a heavy 25lb bull barrel.

[BDixon]

I've been shooting the 50/90 since 1979. It came with a STD barrel 30". I was finally able to send it back for a 34" HB. The longer sight radius is always a plus. I do have a 30" HB 50/90 that I bought for hunting. I also have a 45/90 with a 30" HB that will put 5 shots in one ragged hole at 100 yards.

[58limited]

Last February I ordered a Montana Roughrider in 50-90, paper patch chamber and 1:36 twist. I plan to use it strictly as a hunting rifle in the field and ordered it with a 28" barrel, the goal is for it to be under 10 lbs.. I am having the stock pre-drilled for a mercury recoil reducer, just in case.

[newshooter]

What was the most common length for the original Sharps?
If I had a 50-90 I would be shooting it off sticks, not offhand, so if 32" or 34" is better for sighting I'd consider that even if it was a rare length in the 1870's.

[bobw]

Last February I ordered a Montana Roughrider in 50-90, paper patch chamber and 1:36 twist. I plan to use it strictly as a hunting rifle in the field and ordered it with a 28" barrel, the goal is for it to be under 10 lbs.. I am having the stock pre-drilled for a mercury recoil reducer, just in case.

Best advice yet and this set up won't kick any more than a 7.5# 20 ga shooting 1 -1 1/8 oz loads, no guess I have one like it and no need for more than a 30" barrel length. The longer sight radius of the 34" is a poor trade off for the better balance on offhand hunting use. A 30" barrel may even have the velocity edge also. good luck . bobw

[MikeT]

A 34" barrel is great for a LR target rifle, but the pain of getting it into and out of the safe is the issue for me.
So my 77 is going to have a 32" barrel.

Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT

[bobw]

Yup a pain in the ass on the safe thing too. bobw

[Kurt]

I shoot rifles from 22" to 35" and they all shoot well. My .50-2.5 has a 34" and it has put more dust collectors on the wall then the rest of my rifles.
But the last 4 rifles have been 32" and I think for me they are just about ideal.

Kurt

[axman]

I've got a26'' bbl and its great for hunting.

[WHO CARES]

My 2 1/2" 50 with a 36" twist is in production now. It's to be a Hartford model and will have a 28" octagon with a pp chamber. I will try to let you know how it shoots come next summer.

ward