Barrel Length

[GulfCoast]

You can lead a horse to water....

[Squealer]

I shoot both a 26" and 28" with the same success. I personally wouldn't go shorter than 26" though.

[Double R 2]

Its a total no-brainer. Shoot the longest barrel you can handle. For a grown, non-metrosexual male, that is at least a 28". Go 30" if you can, or 32". Ignore people who say long barrels "get in the way" in the pit or the woods. They are delusional, fibbing, or have never tried it. I hunt out of pits all the time with long sticks, it ain't no big deal. Ignore people who say a short barrel is "quicker." It also stops quicker, and 95% of hunters and shooters miss behind, which is compounded by a short, whippy gun. Call that guy "Sir Miss-a-Lot."

Mark, what benefits beyond 28 inches? Please elaborate. Have shot 28" since I was 12, hate the shorter barrels, but always been reluctant to step up to a longer barrel for no reason in particluar.

[LawDawg]

I shoot a 24 inch barrel. I got a helluva deal on a gun and that is the barrel that came with it. I shot a 28 before that. I can't tell the difference. as far as ear ringing, my advice is don't put 5 guys in a pit and that wont be a problem (or if you have to cram a pit, wear ear plugs). if you are a good shot with a 28 inch barrel, you will be a good shot with a 24 inch barrel. if you can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside, it's not going to matter what length barrel you are shooting. get a gun that fits your shoulder, don't worry about the length of the barrel.

[dukhunter]

I shoot 28", I think personaly you should shoot what feels right. I have noticed that I shoot better with a longer barrel but thats what Im use to, I think I jump out in front with shorter barrels, may just all be in my head tho.

[MSDawg870]

I don't mean to hijack but do any of yal shoot with two beads, one in middle of the barrel with the traditional one on the end?

It might be in my head but I got 2 beads on one of my guns and I feel like its easier to level off the gun on the target. If that makes any sense.

[GulfCoast]

Its a total no-brainer. Shoot the longest barrel you can handle. For a grown, non-metrosexual male, that is at least a 28". Go 30" if you can, or 32". Ignore people who say long barrels "get in the way" in the pit or the woods. They are delusional, fibbing, or have never tried it. I hunt out of pits all the time with long sticks, it ain't no big deal. Ignore people who say a short barrel is "quicker." It also stops quicker, and 95% of hunters and shooters miss behind, which is compounded by a short, whippy gun. Call that guy "Sir Miss-a-Lot."

Mark, what benefits beyond 28 inches? Please elaborate. Have shot 28" since I was 12, hate the shorter barrels, but always been reluctant to step up to a longer barrel for no reason in particluar.

RR: The longer the barrel, the harder it is to "stop" and thus the less likely you are to miss "behind." It makes interia work for for, since most people miss behind, and a significant portion of those misses is a lack of "follow through." A longer barrel also gives the same actual lead, but with a little less perceived lead for a given target. In other words, the proper lead looks a little less the longer the tube. Most folks are scared to lead a bird enough, because it looks like "too much" and a longer tube helps with this. Its also a little more "precise" (my word for lack of a better one) due to the longer sight plane. The last one is hard to explain, but since you don't look at the barrel other than with your peripheral vision, the more you got in your peripheral vision, the easier it is to keep track of where it is without having to look at it.

Someone always jumps out and says something terribly brilliant at this point like "A 24" auto has the sight picture of a 28" OU." True, but that short stubby barrel darn sure don't SWING like a 28" OU. Thats why, other than Delta Duck, you won't find anyone worth a hoot shooting one for money. (Hey David: Think of the titles you coulda won with a real gun! ) And since longer is better, up to the point you just physically can't handle it, a 32" auto has the sight plane of a 36" OU, and swings like a real gun, too. So THERE!

[BR549]

You can lead a horse to water....

I like that! If they only knew!!!!!

[Greenhead22]

I don't mean to hijack but do any of yal shoot with two beads, one in middle of the barrel with the traditional one on the end?

It might be in my head but I got 2 beads on one of my guns and I feel like its easier to level off the gun on the target. If that makes any sense.

You're not supposed to even be looking at the bead when you are shooting. I have too because I have a cross eye dominance issue.........right handed but left eye dominant.

[mudsucker]

So size does matter?

[bodeen]

I agree with gulf coast.

I've shot a 30" since I was 15 (only because thats what was on the gun when my dad bought it for me). I have noticed when shooting other guns with shorter barrels that when I miss I tend to miss on the back side.

[GordonGekko]

Its a total no-brainer. Shoot the longest barrel you can handle. For a grown, non-metrosexual male, that is at least a 28". Go 30" if you can, or 32". Ignore people who say long barrels "get in the way" in the pit or the woods. They are delusional, fibbing, or have never tried it. I hunt out of pits all the time with long sticks, it ain't no big deal. Ignore people who say a short barrel is "quicker." It also stops quicker, and 95% of hunters and shooters miss behind, which is compounded by a short, whippy gun. Call that guy "Sir Miss-a-Lot."

Mark, what benefits beyond 28 inches? Please elaborate. Have shot 28" since I was 12, hate the shorter barrels, but always been reluctant to step up to a longer barrel for no reason in particluar.

RR: The longer the barrel, the harder it is to "stop" and thus the less likely you are to miss "behind." It makes interia work for for, since most people miss behind, and a significant portion of those misses is a lack of "follow through." A longer barrel also gives the same actual lead, but with a little less perceived lead for a given target. In other words, the proper lead looks a little less the longer the tube. Most folks are scared to lead a bird enough, because it looks like "too much" and a longer tube helps with this. Its also a little more "precise" (my word for lack of a better one) due to the longer sight plane. The last one is hard to explain, but since you don't look at the barrel other than with your peripheral vision, the more you got in your peripheral vision, the easier it is to keep track of where it is without having to look at it.

Someone always jumps out and says something terribly brilliant at this point like "A 24" auto has the sight picture of a 28" OU." True, but that short stubby barrel darn sure don't SWING like a 28" OU. Thats why, other than Delta Duck, you won't find anyone worth a hoot shooting one for money. (Hey David: Think of the titles you coulda won with a real gun! ) And since longer is better, up to the point you just physically can't handle it, a 32" auto has the sight plane of a 36" OU, and swings like a real gun, too. So THERE!

GREAT ADVICE

years ago a guy named Steve Middleditch explained the bold section to me with the following statement, "You'll point a long stick straighter than a short one"....

since i shoot several guns, I like to keep my sight plane consistent (within 1/2-1 inch or less)...that way my eyes are used to a similar peripheral sight picture, for me that means 30" O/Us and a 26" xtrema2 because of its long receiver (i did add a little weight in the xtrema to make it feel right in my hand though)....

I have two beads on my O/U...generally speaking you want them to look like a snowman when you shoulder the gun with the furthest bead on top...if not then you've got a bit of gun fitting to do (which most folks need to do anyway)....

as for short barrels in the pit...for some reason I get my ears blasted more when the pit isn't packed than vice versa, folks don't tend to swing as much then cause there isn't room to swing....

[MSDawg870]

You're not supposed to even be looking at the bead when you are shooting. I have too because I have a cross eye dominance issue.........right handed but left eye dominant.

I look at em because thats what I've always done oh yeah and I have athlete's foot, IBS, and tourettes.

I'm not saying I focus on the bead, but I can see it while swinging through the target and if I can see 2 beads on that particular gun then I know the gun isn't level. Know what I mean, Vern?

[GordonGekko]

I like guns to shoot just a bit high (60/40) because I find it helps me see the target a bit better and speeds up target acquisition (it likewise reduces the tendency to lift your head in order to get a better view of the target), and if the gun fits properly you will see both beads on the barrel when shooting (you will also see a bit of the top of the rib) and the two beads will form a figure "8".... if they are directly in line with each other your gun will be shooting flat or likely possibly even low, or if one is off to the side of the other you need to do a bit of gun fitting....

[MSDawg870]

I see what you mean, literally.

I know one things true, this past dove season was my first time hunting with an O/U and I could tell a real difference in the balance compared to my 870, with more weight on the business end.