Barrel Length

[GulfCoast]

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....

Dayum straight! Likewise, if you notice the entire rib, or most of it, you will be shooting WAY over most targets. I always set my guns up a tad high and "float" the birds.

[goosebruce]

I like to shoot a 26, but lie to wimmen and tell em its a 30. go figger. travis

[JJ McGuire]

28"

[Anatidae]

I like to shoot a 26, but lie to wimmen and tell em its a 30. go figger. travis

ah........The psychology of proportion and scale......

I can't say what barrel length is best - I've got different shotguns with different barrel lengths - I don't claim to shoot any of them, well. But I tend to shoot the longer barrelled guns better. I can shoot the shorter barrelled guns fairly well, but I have to shoot 'low' gun, because they are too 'pointy'.

I think it depends on the style of shooting you employ, what game you're playing, and what you get use to (balance-wise). I find that I'm not the kind of guy that can pick-up any of my guns on the same day, and shoot them equally well on the range. I almost ruined my field shooting by changing the set-up on a trap gun. I had it set so when I put the butt plate on my shoulder, I didn't have to lower my head to the stock to be looking down the barrel......it just lined-up. With my field gus, if I didn't make a conscious effort to bury the stock under my cheekbone, I wouldn't have a clue where I was shooting (mostly 'over' and 'behind').

I favor longer barrels (28 to 32") for all types of shooting, except for woodcock hunting in tight cover. They just 'swing' better for me. Lately, I've switched back to my 32" trap gun for all forms of target shooting.....even skeet. I'm shooting in a league that has skeet doubles. I tried them with my 28"' duck gun w/ IC tube and it seemed too 'whippy' and I only broke 60%, so I pulled-out the 32" IM/F and sootballed 20 x24. Must be something to this fluid swing thang.

[xcsoccer_07]

28 inch is what I have always used and it seems to work great

[Gaddywacker]

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."

I agree with this. I don't know about the 32 but definately a 30 if you can get it.

[cwink]

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."

I agree with this. I don't know about the 32 but definately a 30 if you can get it.

Did yall read the article in the DU mag this month.. I talked about this.. Said the only benefit to the longer barrell is the swing thru.. Nothing on better ballistics.. But in my case. I am a more point and shoot type of guy and therefore the short barrell points better for me..

[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."

I agree with this. I don't know about the 32 but definately a 30 if you can get it.

Did yall read the article in the DU mag this month.. I talked about this.. Said the only benefit to the longer barrell is the swing thru.. Nothing on better ballistics.. But in my case. I am a more point and shoot type of guy and therefore the short barrell points better for me..

No one has said the ballistics change with a longer barrel enough to matter. But 99.9% of the people in this world that shoot for money, shoot live birds for money, lots of money, cannot be wrong.

You mean someone actually BELIEVES something DU says????

[cwink]

No I already thought that.. It just confirmed it for me.. If they agree with me then I believe them.. If they don't Then they are just plain wrong..

[Anatidae]

I think one should have as long a barrel as it takes (depending on indivuals' stigmatism) that you can focus on the target and the bead at the same time. Progressive bi-focals suck for this, because once you aquire the target with the top part of your prescription, you have to pick your head up to get the bead in focus. So, it works better if you just use a fixed focus lens for the longer visual aquity. If necessary, get some custom choke tubes that extend your barrel until everything comes into focus.

Then, there is the fact that different folks have different target aquisition/recognition time. If you have quicker reflexes, a lighter gun is better for you. If you're slow as molasses, then the longer barrel (or heavier gun) is for you. That's why I use a 34 single on trap.......(I'm really slow)

Glow-beads work good, too.....especially if used like run-way lights......like stick one like every 4" apart.........I mean you can't miss.

[River Hunter]

It has absolutly nothing to do with length of the barrell it is all about what you are comfortable with IMO. I have shot both and can tell you whatever I feel like that day is what I would take with me. Its like everything ells if it feels good you will usually do good and if it feels bad well you know the story

[alabamabronco]

i shoot a 26 and like it.......i so have a 870 that is 22 inches and i am thinking about putting a pattermaster on it

[jacksbuddy]

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.

My old gun had a long @$$ barrel on it, and I could hit with it. When I bought my current shotgun, it had the 2 beads AND a ported barrel. It took some getting used to to swing the shorter barrel and actually hit anything. My suggestion is to get a barrel length that you feel comfortable with using.

Now, as for the 2 beads - - - I don't really notice them, so they are a non-issue with me. The noise from the ported barrel on the other hand.... Weelllll, you might want to ask torch and GREENHEAD for advice on that one.

[missed mallards]

I shoot a 28". I got the chance to shoot one in access of 30 and fell in love. If i can my next will be longer. For me it helps me with my follow through.

It's all personal preference.

[Caller1]

It's not the size of the barrel. It's what you do......... you know the rest.