Full Octagon or Half Octagon

N

NDSingleShot

Inactive
I'm getting ready to order a barrel for a Ruger #1 I'm building, but I'm having trouble deciding between a full octagon barrel or a half octagon to round barrel. It's very hard to find decent pictures of either online. All the pictures I can find are lever actions or very heavy bull barrels on Sharps and the like. I want a lighter sporter weight barrel. I know where to get the work done, just need to decide which to get. Any input would be appreciated, and if you know of some pictures online I can compare, or if you have a rifle that fits my description and you're willing to provide pics, even better.
 
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Half octagon usually on the older rifles was the rarest barrel type. Why it was I don't know. Many times octagon was most common but sometimes that was optional and round was standard. Depends on the gun...I would go octagon most likely since on single shot rifles, that is much more the norm. Half octagon are typically seen on old lever action Winchesters. Here is a pic:

http://picturearchive.auctionarms.com/6560112026/8244745/3a58e293ea7b46fc17a0cef5ffec6e0e.jpg
 
The half oct barrel's must have been rare for a reason. If there were any benefit you'd think they would have been more popular.
 
To my knowledge the Trappers rifle (Winchester) had a short magazine half round barrel just to cut down on weight but still have a rifle.
 
The half oct barrel's must have been rare for a reason. If there were any benefit you'd think they would have been more popular.
Click to expand...

The only advantage I can think of for a half octagon is it would be easier to install a barrel band style sling swivel and front sight. Not sure if I'm gonna do that, but they still look pretty decent. I have a buddy with a custom mauser with a half octagon to round that I like.

And Nathaniel, yes, that's very similar to what I'm thinking of doing. Thanks for the link.
 
Just a wild guess,I'm not an authority.I the era of the single shot
Folks were less into their benchrest groups and more into what they could do standing on their hind legs;rifles were made for offhand.
They also were burning black powder.Longer barrels were the norm for burning the BP.
For a given weight,an octagon is stiffer than a round.It is also easier to mill a forend to fit an octagon.At the end of the forend,weight could be removed to the muzzle for a better offhand hang.To much weight,too much muscle.
Also,as the forends were attached to the barrel,they didn't have free float,the extra rigidity in the forend section was an advantage.
There would be more cost in the extra operations .Seems like you would find the 1/2 octagon on the upper level rifles ,like Hepburns,Creedmore rifles,etc.
 
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