I agree with the longer sight radius, and it does make a difference, but there are limits when weight overcomes good handling. A musket with a 48" bl. is fine with me, just can't handle the extra weight out front with my back, the way it is. Maxiball has somewhat the same type of limitations & I know how he feels. Being in good shape like you other young'uns, I'd be clamoring all over a long gun like that.
: Long barrels in shotguns do help with the swing, something very much needed with slower ignition, or ignition that takes place slower than the instantaneous type with modern firearms.
: My double 10 bore AYA side by each was beautiful to shoot- weighing 10 lbs., I couldn't stop the swing if I'd wanted to and the resulting follow through, turned the gun into a most murderous weapon on ducks and geese. A bit of modification of the chokes,(grinding and patterning & I had it shootng 94% left and 96% with 2ounces of shot from #2's to #5's at over 1,300fps. A duck silouette received 184 hits at 40 yds. using the #5 shot, showing this was drastically too short a range for this gun, however that size shot was about done at 60yds. for pellet energy - lead, I'm referring to. With lead #2's, it was good right to around 80/90yds. but required 40 to 60ft. leads for that range - difficult to do without the weight maintaining the swing. Long or heavy barrels are a great help on running or flying game with muzzleloaders, especially with flint or that type of slower ignition. With the matchlock, there is the lag of pressing the trigger, bringing the match into contact with the pan- follow through will certainly be a help.