I suspect stock design will influence
the handling as much as barrel length, if not more so.
Either way, there must be a sweetspot. Depending on your choice of stock maker, it might be neat to stock it a bit longer and slender-er up front to match a longer barrel. Just to confound the discussion 
The full-length schnabel forend on my carbine is a hoot, so to say.
Complete thread:
- On the horns of a "semi-dilemma"... -
Hoot,
2015-02-16, 10:58
![[*]](themes/default/images/complete_thread.png "Open whole thread")
- On the horns of a "semi-dilemma"... - Josh Maloley, 2015-02-16, 11:46
- On the horns of a "semi-dilemma"... - Paul, 2015-02-16, 12:21
- Since you have to refinish it anyway - cubrock, 2015-02-16, 14:31
- I suspect stock design will influence - BC, 2015-02-16, 14:48
- Look to the Pukka Sahib 'small-bore' African rifles ...... - John Meeker, 2015-02-16, 15:36
- refinished items are not in demand as collectors - bj, 2015-02-16, 19:43
- Thanks Gentlemen. - Hoot, 2015-02-16, 20:40