Barrel profile opinion

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   Here's a question I've been pondering. Just wondering what your opinions are. I'm not sure if I like the way the new barrels taper down from the receiver to the smaller barrel diameter. The abrupt taper vs the gradual taper of the older guns just seems a little off to me. I think I prefer the way the old barrels were tapered. I'm sure they changed this for ease of manufacturing, but it's the first difference I notice when I see one of the newer guns. I also liked the taller stanchions of the old gun too, instead of the low profile ones now. Again, I understand it's a manufacturing difference. But from an aesthetic view point it seems a bit too refined. But maybe I'm just nostalgic. What do you guys think / prefer?

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omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 635	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Barrel profile opinion Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 1:47pm
	Here's a question I've been pondering. Just wondering what your opinions are. I'm not sure if I like the way the new barrels taper down from the receiver to the smaller barrel diameter. The abrupt taper vs the gradual taper of the older guns just seems a little off to me. I think I prefer the way the old barrels were tapered. I'm sure they changed this for ease of manufacturing, but it's the first difference I notice when I see one of the newer guns. I also liked the taller stanchions of the old gun too, instead of the low profile ones now. Again, I understand it's a manufacturing difference. But from an aesthetic view point it seems a bit too refined. But maybe I'm just nostalgic. What do you guys think / prefer?

Luvz2Shoot Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 660	Post Options Post Reply Quote Luvz2Shoot Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 7:27pm
	I have to agree. I prefer the original taper over the new one. I also am not 100% keen on the Barbizewits profile either. (I killed the spelling on his name, but I hope guys know who I'm talking about).
	If you were happy and you knew it, would you clap your hands?

Rocketthon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 274	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rocketthon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 7:48pm
	I can see a reason for removing some weight from the 8 1/2 inch barrels as the extra length also means extra mass. Keeping a gun this finicky tuned is not easy and I bet that there was some of that in the decision to make them that way, I know the original 8 1/2 inch barrels were also tapered more.
	When you are up to your neck in alligators it is hard to remember your original intention was to drain the swamp

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 8:53pm
	That’s absolutely right. The gun relied upon a specific combined weight of the barrel and barrel extension combo to cycle. The 357 6.5 inch vented barrel had a much smaller outside diameter than the 44. This is because there is less total energy available to cycle the gun. The 8.5 inch 357 and 44 barrels had no ribs because they both needed to conserve weight. When Patrick was considering putting a 357 AMP barrel into production, he had me send him the weights of the original 6.5 44, 6.5 357 and 8.5 357 as a fundamental design consideration. I had volunteered to be the original Guinea pig/crash test dummy for the 357 barrel, but sadly it never came to be.

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Online Points: 1366	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 9:39pm
	I liked the profile of the old Auto Mags better than Auto Mag Ltd's from an appearance standpoint. But from an Engineering standpoint AMP Ltd'd rib and barrel being machined from a solid blank is a much better system than the welded on rib. Also, being threaded into the extension is also better. I welcomed the change. My favorite profile is the 8 1/2" 357 barrel on the Bicentenial AMP's. Also, the 8 1/2" 44 barrel on CLINT-1 is hard not to like.

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Online Points: 1366	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 9:48pm
	The original 8 1/2" barrels were brought up. Here is "THE" original 8 1/2" barrel along with an early 6 1/2" barrel. The is XP-007. This was Harry's first shooter and he loved it. It was lost in the Bankruptcy.

BEEMER1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Location: iowa Status: Online Points: 1366	Post Options Post Reply Quote BEEMER1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Feb 2026 at 10:39pm
	The New AMP's are still very good looking firearms. Brian Maynard's profiles were very attractive also in my opinion. Here is one of his 44's along with a Barbasiewicz 357 barrel

golden24 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Status: Offline Points: 505	Post Options Post Reply Quote golden24 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Feb 2026 at 3:15pm
	VERY YUMMY ! The New AMP's are still very good looking firearms. Brian Maynard's profiles were very attractive also in my opinion. Here is one of his 44's along with a Barbasiewicz 357 barrel [/QUOTE]

omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 635	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Feb 2026 at 2:11pm
	I never considered barrel weight from a functioning standpoint. that makes a lot of sense. And just for the record, I too still like the appearance of the new ones, but DO prefer the old look.