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I am sure this has been covered a bunch, but I am looking at the auto5 from Browning cannot decide on 26 are28 inch barrel, never had the 28 always 26 inch barrels , I like the way the 28 swings but having hard time deciding, opinions!!!!!!

Go with the 28. Any hunting partners hunting next to you out of a pit or boat blind will appreciate it.

28

26.

Todays choke systems are the shiznet...barrel length will have liitle affect on your pattern. They say the longer barrel will give you a better plane of sight and smoother swing. Shoulder a couple...see what YOU like...I like my 28" Nova for smashing waterfowl in the face...I like my Beretta in 30" for uplanders and skeet

28 if not a 30. Swings better and saves people's hearing if your in a pit

benelli870 wrote:..........never had the 28 always 26 inch barrels , I like the way the 28 swings

If that's the case.....and you think it swings better than a 26.......then there's your answer particularly if you are a tracking-type shooter.

The 28 may help the dynamics and as others have indicated should (theoretically) give you a longer plane to promote better sight alignment on longer shots. That's primarily if you are a 'tracking-style' shooter. I'm not sure how barrel length affects a 'spot' shooter - my wife could probably answer that.

Example: At Skeet - with a light (.410 or 20) field-style O/U I have to shoot 'low gun' or 'mount and shoot' - with a heavy 12 32"-tubed O/U, I can shoot low gun, but it takes me a 1/2 second more to get on the target but it's more consistent because the weight of the gun (once you get it going) helps with tracking and follow-through. Shooting 'high gun' (or mounted before calling for the target) I struggle with the lighter-barreled guns (too 'pointy') but shoot the heavier-barreled gun much better for the same reasons mentioned re: 'low-gun' style. Low-gun is typically the style most people use in hunting situations.

For quail or woodcock in tight cover -I'd prefer one of the little/light 20 guns.......but for everything else, I'll take the heavier barreled guns.......even if it's only 2" more weight out there.

Personally, guns that are well-balanced between the hands promote more 'hits' than 'misses' on tracking-style shooting, for me. My wife is a 'spot'-type shooter. She does better in situations where there's little titme to get on target......not AS good on tracking targets. She learned to shoot quail and woodcock with a Fox BSE .410, hunting with her Dad and friends with 16 and 12 gauges......she knew she had to get on target quickly - ultimately forcing her to develop sound gun mounting fundamentals.....or be out-gunned. Everybody's different.

benelli870 wrote:.....but having hard time deciding, opinions!!!!!!

Sometimes you have to be daring and just try something different (with careful consideration).......or wonder how things might have been, otherwise.

i hate wing shooting with a 28" but it's all personal preference. whatever fits you best. it sounds like you've already answered your own question based on the comments about the 28" barrel.

I bitch and moan that I can't get 32" duck guns, so I would totally get the 28".

I shoot the 28inch barrel, but i guess it's whatever fits you the best

GulfCoast wrote:I bitch and moan that I can't get 32" duck guns, so I would totally get the 28".

I understand that.........Oh, you know you can get'em.......they just might not be the type either of us could justify subjecting to those conditions. As you know, some Model 21's and Superposed among others currently manufactured, that were made in 32" lengths but probably would not be bored (fixed chokes) for steel loads......and it is considered a sacrilege to modify them for screw chokes. I DO know of a really nice 30" Funken-engraved (signed on both sides) 'Diana' that has been fitted with screw chokes and the price reflects it.......would still make a decent 'truck' gun.

Man, if they only made a 27".

I agree with the gentleman that stated it was all about the choke tubes. I don't think that having a longer barrel will necessarily give you a better pattern etc... as what was once thought. I do a lot of Turkey hunting and I can remember in years back that to Turkey hunt it was once thought that you needed to get the longest barrel and fullest choke you could find. Now it isn't uncommon to find turkey guns that have a barrel as short as 20 inches.

26 vs 28 to me doesn't make one bit of difference. I own various shotguns in both and I just prefer the 26. To tell you the truth I would be willing to bet that the difference in those two inches probably won't improve your shooting ability one bit. Handle both guns and just see which one you like best.

duckter wrote:Man, if they only made a 27".

HA! - 'seems like that would solve the dilema between 26 and 28......but it might also promote mass confusion and more speculation.

BTW - Perazzi makes a 27.5" and 29.5" barrels, but those guns typically don't fall into the 'truck' gun category.

Ster wrote:I agree with the gentleman that stated it was all about the choke tubes. I don't think that having a longer barrel will necessarily give you a better pattern etc..

Choke tubes do make the pattern. But I don't think what Anatidae and Gulf Coast are talking about is pattern. It is more about swing.
If you don't swing the gun well, you're going to miss more.