1873 Questions. Somewhat related

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Orion8472

Orion8472

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Looking to maybe get [finally] a Taylors 1873, but not sure if I want 18" or 20". Two questions:

1. How many 38 Special rounds fit in the 18" and the 20" tubes?
2. Considering the use of 38 Special, what is the optimal barrel length for complete powder burn? I'm going to assume that the difference between 18" and 20" is negligible. What about 24"? Or is optimal even less than 18"?

Thanks. I've been pondering such a purchase, but since any of them are ~ $1200, it has kept me from purchasing.
 
You might consider contacting Taylor's and asking them about magazine capacity. Usual carbine length holds 10 rounds....20" barrel might go 11.
I have the saddle ring carbine but it's in .44-40 and I don't know how that compares in o.a.l. to .38sp.
I'm not sure what the optimal barrel length for a complete powder burn is but I think any barrel 18"+ will burn the powder pretty well.
I am a bit curious as to why you are concerned about powder burn in a replica of a 19th century rifle. I think .38sp is a great round for these types of carbines/rifles as it replicates the performance of those old cartridges fairly well, and yet it is much more available than 19th century rounds like .38-40, .44-40, .32-20, and others. Those are available to a degree but the only one that's common is .45 Colt.
 
The powder will "burn" before the bullet leaves the case. What is left are expanding gases. Those gases will expand over a certain length of barrel depending on their volume and pressure. Slower powders yield higher pressures and greater volume. People seem to think that muzzle flash is unburned powder but it is not.

That said, with the fast to medium burning powders appropriate to the .38Spl, it is going to peak rather quickly. Probably by the time it gets to 16". Between 18" and 20", it's really going to boil down to minute differences between two different rifles. The 24" isn't going to gain you anything without more powder. The revolver magnums will peak in longer barrels. They will all gain velocity. I gain as much as 300-400fps in the .44's and WCF's, even using medium powders like Unique. Ballistics by the inch is worth looking at, though their testing is usually pretty limited.
 
For 38 special, 16 is more than adequate, and I really wouldn't go any longer than 18. For me personally the same would apply to 357 Mag.
 
I don't think you will see much velocity gain over 18". If you look at Buffalo Bore's site they have some charts as to velocity and barrel length.

I will say this, I have an original '73 with a 24" octagonal barrel, and it's pretty heavy. if you intend to go afield with it, that might be a consideration.
 
According to Ballistics by the Inch, most pistol calibers have peaked out in velocity by the minimum legal 16".

According to the Taylor www catalog (what a novel concept) their 18, 19, and 20 inch guns hold 10 rounds of .38 or .357.
They say the 16 inch holds 9 rounds of .357 but will still take 10 .38s. The 24" holds 13.
 
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