Brent, I’m interested in the reasons for a longer barrel. I’ve been considering a Kibler Woodsrunner flintlock over their Colonial American because it has a shorter barrel, so it weighs less, would be easier to carry and maneuver than a longer barrel, and likely balances better. Also reduced Time in the barrel would hopefully improve my shots. Those were the positives I was thinking of, but why do you suggest longer barrels are better?
Thanks, Neil
Nothing that a Kibler sells would be considered short, as far as I know. I was referring to the inlines - all of which seem to have shorter barrels than the shortest common traditional rifles.
Advantages to the longer barrel are a longer sight radius and/or the ability to get the rear sight further away from your eye (as you get older, this will probably become more important).
Barrel time is certainly shorter with shorter barrels, but you will likely never be able to measure the difference. I would rate that and velocity differences as trivial and unimportant.
As for balance, that is a very personal thing, but my 42" flintlock .54 (swamped octagon) balances better than any of my shorter muzzleloaders. Yes, it is muzzle heavy. And because of that, I shoot it better. There are limits to how much more muzzleheavy is better, of course, but again, it's personal.
I do whack a lot of things with my flinter's barrel - but most of those things are in the basement, not in the woods. Overall, I do not find it hard or unpleasant to carry, even for a week in the North Woods chasing Bullwinkle.
You will love your gun. I've never heard anyone complain about a Kibler.
