Dale - Thanks for touching on many of my questions! I can't say that the answers make me a happy man... but thanks for the info.
Dalee100 said:
Hey Lefty, I understand, being a southpaw myself. But I don't think anybody on that list is going to add any lefty versions any time soon. We are a niche market. Not enough of us to justify the added expense of the tooling to make something for us.
I agree that we are a niche market.. but I think almost all categories (especially related to hunting/guns/etc) cater to a niche category. Most of these companies rely on designs made 50-100 years ago. There are probably only a handful of parts that need to be 'reversed' to accomodate a left hand model... which with computers could be done with the touch of a button. I don't think it would be that much additional effort to change a die one or twice a year for a lefty production run. I agree that it would not be the most profitable niche.. but I think there are more lefties out there than they give us credit for.
That 3" barrel for your DeerSlayer won't fit. The recivers are different sizes. The 3" (or magnum) reciever is longer.
I could see how width (or diameter) would fit into the equation.. but how does length? I would think length would be irrelevant as a longer barrel would just extend further from the receiver?
I don't know much about the DeerSlayer 2. But I would think it is as good as the original.
Here are the specs from their website:
http://www.ithacagun.com/products/catal ... yer2.shtml
http://www.ithacagun.com/products/catal ... ayer.shtml
The differences I notice are (II vs I):
- fixed, free-floating rifled barrel (1" in 34 twist) vs Interchangeable, slug, vent rib, turkey
- non-engraved vs engraved
- Length of Pull: 14 1/8" vs 14''
- Drop at Comb: 1 3/8" by 1 3/8" vs 1 1/2"
- Drop at Heel: 2 1/8" vs 2 1/4"
- Stock Type: Walnut Monte Carlo vs Walnut
- Total Weight: not a valid comparison
The 870 Express won't match the WingMaster for fit, finish, or wood, but is still as good a functioning gun as the WingMaster.
Yes, the wood and finish lack the higher quality of the Wingmaster. I wonder if these are interchangable and can be purchased separately. Are they contoured differently for a right vs left hander? What is the difference in fit? Are the dimensions different?
A lefty barrel is different from a righty because the barrel extention, (the part that fits into the reciever) is on the opposite side. The parts are "mirrored". Hence the need for completely different tooling to make them. So you would need a left-hand barrel.
I still don't understand why? Why can't a barrel be put on the same way for either gun? What piece gets in the way causing it to have to go on one way or the other? If they put their notch on both sides of the barrel.. this seems that it would solve the problem. Is this the piece that attaches to the top of the magazine cap that is causing the problem? If anybody has pictures of the two barrels side by side.. I would love to see them. Such a simple design and they couldn't make it interchangable.
I'm personally unaware of any aftermarket barrels made as you want. Again, there just aren't enough of us to warrent it. Hopefully, someone else might know of one.
This amazes me. I would think Hastings would jump at the chance. Zero competition. They would own the market! If only I won the lottery...
A light contour vs. Standard, neither is better until you figure out how many miles you intend to carry it in a day. And again, barrels won't be interchangable. For slugs I would stick with the standard. It should be a bit heavier for recoil absorbtion and a little more ridged for accuracy with slugs.
So is a light contour have thinner walls (therefore lighter) than the standard countour? Are they made that way for a particular purpose (for light loads) or just to save money by not using as much raw material?
What rate of twist? Well that depends. What ammo will you want to use? Rule of thumb is the longer the projectile the faster the twist needed. So for the faster twist, those guns are going to probably work better with sabots vs. more tradtional designs.
It would be interesting to see an article that compares the rate of twist and charts the performance gain or loss. Your point on longer projectiles makes a logical point.. but I'm sure there is a breakpoint somewhere where performance is at its highest point after which it will start to decrease. I am sure each company did their own R&D comparisons when coming out with their rifled barrel. It is interesting that they all came out with different numbers. Perhaps the first one was able to patent a particular ROT and others had to make it slightly different in order to avoid lawsuits...?
jlptexashunter has an excellent suggestion. That H&R is a very good deer gun! If I still deer hunted with a shotgun (I'm strictly muzzleloader now) that would be the gun for me! I've looked a several and shot one. Well made, inexpensive, and a tack driver to boot! I think you'd have to buy a Tar-Hunt bolt action to surpass the accuracy of that H&R.
This doesn't really fit into my criteria of a pump or autoloader.. but it is something that I would certainly like to try. I haven't noticed them in any of my local shops.. but I will keep an eye out in the future.
