Bull barrel?

[Kevin Alexander]

This might be a stupid question, but enlighten a novice. What is the purpose or advantage with a bull barrel from Shiloh?

[Mike]

Kevin, Let me take a stab at this. If others add more reasons then we'll both be learning things. First, I must assume that a "bull barrel" is simply a rather heavy or very heavy barrel. The heavy barrels add a lot of weight to the rifles and that helps to soften their recoil. It doesn't eliminate the recoil but the punishment at the shoulder is reduced, quite nicely in some cases. Also, a heavy barrel will absorb more heat without getting truly hot while shooting. We can hope that the heavy barrels don't show as much sign of "wandering" as they get hot. Even at Quigley while shooting in the sun, my .44/90 with a #1 1/2 heavy barrel would feel almost too hot to hold comfortably after only 8 shots in a relay. That barrel is just a bit wider than 1 1/8" at the muzzle and the rifle weighs about 13 1/4 pounds. I also have a .50/90 with a #2 heavy barrel and that rifle weighs 14 pounds, my favorite Big .50. Another aspect of the heavy barrels that I appreciate is simply their appearance. I like my guns to look like "buffalo guns" and those were often made with heavy barrels, so the rifles might weigh 16 pounds or so. To me, getting a heavy barrel which will bring your rifle's weight up to 13 or 14 pounds is worth having. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Gunlaker]

I think Mike pretty much has it. I have a Shiloh #3 with a 16 lb bull barrel. It definitely tames the recoil and it looks beautiful. :-)

If you want to see what the 16 lb barrels look like then go to the classified section of this site and check out Rick Mulhern's two rifles.

Chris.

[Mike]

Let me show off! Here are pictures of my '74 in .44/90 with the #1 1/2 heavy barrel, 32-inches long and my .50/90 with the #2 barrel, 30-inches long, both by C. Sharps Arms. Shoot sharp, Mike

[powderburner]

gunlaker , Ricks rifles are or at least one of them is a 14# bull because I sold him the barrel.

the 16# sticks up from the action quite a bit more,
my 14 # bull at 30 inches weights right at 15# my 34 inch weights right at 17.
Mikes second picture looks a lot like my 14#er

[march41]

My #1 in 45/110 with the 16lb 30" barrel weighs in a bit above 17lb without sights.It is light shooting from the bench.The weight sure tames it.Bob.

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Dean I did not know that. Mine is a 16 lb 30" barrel but I've never weighed it on an accurate scale :-)

Chris.

[Kurt]

I have one very heavy Shiloh Rough Rider that weigh's just under 25#. It has a 35" round barrel with no taper 1.3" at the muzzle and it is chambered for the .44-100 st. The rifle shoots very good, recoil is very mild with a 100 gr load of 2 or 3F OE with a 505 gr bullet. The barrel stays on the sticks recoil is straight back, but that darned thing is a bear to shoot off hand at the Q

Kurt

[johnl]

Gents


I have a 16lb 50-90 just going into production with Shiloh, today was my last day to make any changes. Can't wait to get my meat hooks on it.