A couple of years back, I purchased a 26" heavy tapered 45-70 Encore barrel from Thompson Centers Custom Shop. What makes this barrel different is that I had it fitted with sights and I had it fitted with a Williams Firesight Front and a Williams Foolproof rear. I find that the balance and steadiness of the 26 inch barrel is far superior to the 24 inch barrel. I can just run the 100 yard plates with this barrel. It is not too heavy to carry hunting and I find it a great confidence builder. This barrel prefers 405 grain Remington bullets with IMR 3031 in Marlin loadings (per Lyman Reloading Handbook).
I also own a 24 inch 45-70 barrel, which has similar sights. While I have gotten excellent accuracy from this barrel, particularly with 300 grain Remingtons driven at Trapdoor Velocities, I find it whippy and unsgteady. When I started shooting 405 grain Remiingtons at Marlin loadings, the front sight started backing out, stripping the threads and requiring a gunsmith to replace it. Overall, I am finding that the 24 inch carbine barrel prefers 300 grains Remington with IMR 4198 at Trapdoor loadings.
I am finding that I use the 24 inch barrel less and less, prefering the 26 inch medium taper barrel. If I had known what an excellent combinatioin this barrel is before I purchased several 24 inch barrels, it would be the only barrel length I would own.
