Anyone Shot the 21 Inch Barrel?

[simonkenton]

I am thinking of getting the Green Mountain 21 inch barrel for my TC Hawken. Has anyone ever used one of these?
I am wondering what it is like to shoot such a short barrel? How is the recoil and accuracy?

[Trapper-Jack]

When my kids were small, I made each of them rifle that was proportionate to their size with a 21" barrel in a .45.  The recoil was nothing as I only loaded them with 25 grains of powder.  

As for accuracy, after the kids got a little time with them under their belts, they would make the grownups sit up and pay attention to what they were doing at the club shoots, or else the kids would score higher on the same targets.

[crow_feather]

I shoot a Mowrey with a 22 inch 58 cal barrel.  People say it's loud but I haven't heard anything since the fourth or fifth shot.  It is as accurate as I need to be and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

C F

[lostid]

I did a search for a GM 21" IBS and couldn't find anything. So I don't know the stats on it, I cain't tell ya about that barrel.
 but', I did try a Cabelas .54 "carbine" just a few years ago. that rifle had a shallow groove  barrel .004-.005 1-28 twist and was 21"s long. I tryed everything I had through that thing,prb, maxiball,minneball and several sabot/style projectiles with a varied amount of lubes and load volumes. In short I gave the barrel a work out. Now I'm a tech kinnda shooter, I enjoy accuracy,,I also hunt and I do some what well with my co-horts at vous'.
 That little 21" fast twist barrel seemed very forgiving. At 20yrds several combinations gave me 1" groups,at 25yrds they opened up a bit to 1.5"s...At 50 yrds,,everything I tried,,no matter what,, did no better than 3.5",,the prb was 10"'s! not suprising for that barrel. Anyways, the short barrel "carbine" lives up to it's word, good for short brush work, but beyound 30 steps,,?,,,,, imho,luck too ya.

[simonkenton]

lostid--What was your impression as to the amount of kick with the short barrel?
Would it give you a hard time making 20 shots at the range compared to the 28 inch barrel?

[lostid]

Oh theys a kicker alright,,the lost weight of the barrel,Newtons law of weight in motion and all, does applie. You know it, it's still the truth. I'm a seasoned shooter so it's hard for me to say,,but
 Now that I think of it, I do remeber a day my young son and I were at the range,,him just plinking and myself trying that cabelas carbine,,I think I had 25 rounds through it, the last 5 being max loads behind heavy t/c maxi-hunters. I decided to take a break and study the target/load patterns I had developed that day. After a bit Dustin said "dad?,Why aren't you shooting anymore?"?? "Uhmm,aw, well I,,uhmm." hhmmm.
 Anyway's I had really beat myself up that day trying to find something that would give decent 50yrd groups to no availe. Ya I hurt that week,(you know,,that "cheek" thing)but, I had max'd the gun out trying to find a load that worked.

 If your looking for a shorter barrel as less weight and easier hold for paper,,,well that fast twist barrel did still want more than a light load too give proper spin to a projectile. If it's fer you spend the extra money and go for a "swamper",,if it's fer youth or small ladies,,keep the long barrel and use sticks. it's a tough call,,but I'll never get a short one again. the minuses are more than the pluses