20 gauge O/U barrel length

S

sweetshot

New member
Hey all, Looking at a 20 gauge over under for multi use. Clays, skeet, sporting, trap, and some upland birds. My big question comes down to barrel length right now. Opinions wanted. What would you prefer?

I'm looking at a Browning Citori GTS. New gun available mid summer. It's a 20 and seems to be designed to handle all of the above. 28" or 30" are the two length options. How much of a difference in swing and sight plane advantage is there on the 2" difference? Since I would have to put my name on the list to get the gun before it's even mass produced, I won't have the opportunity to mount each length for that "swing feel" test, and I haven't found two identical guns in any stores around here with the different barrel lengths to test in any make or model O/U. I prefer longer and am leaning toward the 30" but some opinion out there may make me reconsider.... I'd like to hear thoughts on a sub gauge Beretta, too, as I have never owned one and have several Brownings in 12 gauge.
 
Since you point at targets, not aim, the 2 inches means nothing as far as "sighting plane" goes. It has everything to do with swing dynamics - that is personal, but my older 20 gauge browning XS wears 30" tubes. I would go longer before I went shorter - JMO - especially for ANY clay game or even standing in the dove field
 
I'm with my buddy oneounce on this one ...I prefer 30" barrels on an O/U ...whether its a 12ga, 20ga, 28ga or .410 for a general purpose gun for sporting, skeet and bird hunting - and a gun in the area of 8.5 lbs. When I go to Trap ....I like a heavier O/U with longer barrels..so I tend to like a gun around 10lbs and 32" barrels.

Fit is your primary issue ...if the Browning fits you ..the Beretta probably will not fit you / but other than fit - there is nothing wrong with the Beretta.

My 20ga of choice is the Browning Citori, XS Skeet model, with adj comb in 30" barrels. I find the 28" ( its usually only a couple of ounces lighter ) ...ok / but I like the 30" better - swing characteristics just feel better, longer sight plane, etc....
 
Personal I would always go longer if I had the chance to. I am aimer, not a pointer. If you are a aimer go with the 30.
 
You won't be able to tell the difference. If you don't believe me go to a gun store, close your eyes and have the sales person hand you one of each barrel length, then mount and swing...... Mental perception....
 
Hey all, Looking at a 20 gauge over under for multi use. Clays, skeet, sporting, trap, and some upland birds.
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Let's see, you want a gun that's good for the clay sports and upland birds. Anything you get is going be be a compromise. A good target gun is going to be on the heavy side for toting all day in the field. A gun that aims well at 27-yard trap is going to suck pointing at Skeet targets. A jack of all trades is master of none. Of course, if all you want to do is shoot holes in the sky, then it really doesn't matter.

Asking shooters about barrel length is like asking people about their shoe size and they buying the average -- guess what, one size doesn't fit all. Unless you're as big a my friend Big Jim, you may not be comfortable shooting his long barrels. I've competed in NSSA and ATA events with barrels ranging from 26 to 34-inches -- different lengths for different applications. Instead of asking for opinions, get some trigger time with some different 20-ga guns.

I sold my last 20-ga gun in the late 60s, since then I've run 10,000s of yellow shells through tubed 12-ga guns. Tubing one of your existing O/Us is another option.
 
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You won't be able to tell the difference
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Physics says otherwise - longer barrels have greater moment of inertia, they are also heavier - no way they both swing the same.

My 20 O/U has 30", my 12 has 32" barrels, whereas my 20 SxS has 28 - all for different uses and all tailored to those purposes - but they all have much different swing characteristics and dynamics
 
Physics says otherwise - longer barrels have greater moment of inertia, they are also heavier - no way they both swing the same.

My 20 O/U has 30", my 12 has 32" barrels, whereas my 20 SxS has 28 - all for different uses and all tailored to those purposes - but they all have much different swing characteristics and dynamics
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Have you ever TRIED what I suggested????? If not then don't knock it. I have never run into Physics in the field, what's he look like???...... PLUS recall where he said he wanted ONE gun?????
 
If you shoot quite a bit ....there is a "big" difference in the feel of the same model gun in a 28" vs 30" barrels ....and since I've been shooting 30" barrels in my O/U's for about 10 yrs or so ....going back to the same gun in a 28" really feels whippy to me.

Its only a couple of ounces difference in weight ...but somehow it feels like a much greater difference...even though the balance point is virtually identical.

But if the store has both models ...you're right, shoulder and swing them a little in the store and see what you think ...its not what suits me, its what suits me.

My buddy still shoots 26" barrels - because its what suits him / and he whips my butt most every week ...and to him, my 30" barrels "in his words" feels like swinging a "big ole sewer pipe" ....but at the same time, he likes his gun at about 9.5 lbs gross weight with the 26" barrels ...

but as my friend zippy points out ...since I'm 6'5" and a svelte 275 lbs ...maybe the 8.5 lb gun in 30" barrels feels right to me for a reason ...vs one of my adult boys in his 30's ...that is 6'3 and 215 lbs ...to him, they're a little heavy....and he likes my guns in 28" barrels...( he thinks they're more nimble) ...so its all about what suits you.
 
I have never run into Physics in the field, what's he look like???
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He looks exactly like the one you just missed.

When I first started shooting Skeet, if you asked someone what length barrels to use, the answer would be 26-inches (28 for a .410). The 26-inch guns felt great and they were quick pointing. Over the years the trend has been to longer barrels, by the 80s the standard Skeet gun had 28-inch barrels. They felt great and were quick pointing, too. But, with 2 more inches the longer barrels swung smoother and shot higher.

When you're a serious shooter, Mr. Physics is looking over your shoulder with every shot. With the 26-inch barrels, I'd get an occasional wobbly swing, I didn't with the 28s. In deference to Big Jim, I'll admit, I have an identical gun with 30-inch barrels. For me, the 30 is a little slower starting and feels awkward on the Skeet field. My thought was, since there had been an improvement going for 26s to 28s, perhaps going from 28s to 30s would show improvement, too -- it didn't. It's probably the same for Jim's buddy who still shoots a 26 -- it works best for him. If he's who I think he is, his 26 is a newer custom high grade that wasn't casually selected.

IMHO, without actual trigger time, mounting a gun in the store tells you little more than fit. You can't tell what works best for you by how the gun feels, you have to shoot it to find out. Don't you want the gun that works best for you? But, as I mentioned earlier, if all you want to do is shoot holes in the sky, then it really doesn't matter. Many poor shooting guns wind up as safe queens -- a gun that isn't shot doesn't miss.
 
Have you ever TRIED what I suggested????? If not then don't knock it. I have never run into Physics in the field, what's he look like???......
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WOW, can you get any more ignorant? If you have never run into Physics in the field, then you haven't used a gun in the field.

Mounting a gun in the store versus actually SHOOTING the gun are two different things - perhaps you should follow your own ideas to realize that....:rolleyes:
 
Heck, on my 32" barreled O/U, I can tell the difference in swing between flush mounted choke tubes and extended ones.With the flush mounts it's quicker, the extended tubes seem to lend themselves better to long shots and longer time frames.

It's not just leverage, it's weight at the muzzle. The extended tubes add an oz and more right where it counts the most.
 
Hey all, thanks for your personal opinions. I'm actually trying to "fit" a 20 gauge o/u to as many applications as I can for my uses, so I can justify buying a new gun!!!! I think Big Jim said it on other threads..... (paraphrasing here...) It's the search that's makes it fun, or something to that effect. Didn't mean to start any arguments. Each opinion is appreciated and taken into consideration. It's not easy to find two identical guns on anyone's shelf that each have different length barrels. I know what works for me is likely different than for someone else, but you guys can tell me what's worked for you. It sounds like longer is more preferred and that is what I'll consider. Jim, you're right about the Brownings fitting me. Right out of the box, with the exception of a spacer to lengthen LOP by about 5/16", they are almost perfect. I own 12's with 30 and 32" barrels. Just not had a 20 with anything more than a 26", and then only in pump and auto for field use. The GTS looks like a compromise that I can use, just need to decide on length. Zippy told me in another thread to put some skeet range time in to see how I liked it. He was right, I DO! Not good enough to need it yet, but someday that XS skeet in a 20 may occupy a spot in my safe if my scores get good enough to compete, but for now, I'm having fun deciding on this purchase! Thanks again to all of you for sharing.
 
as long as you're having fun ....its the same stuff we all kick around when we take a break at the gun club....barrel length, do you do anything different on really windy days, shells ( and powder, and size of shot), etc....

On sat I got involved in a good discussion on barrel lengths in handguns ..and ammo ...and different bullet grains.../ same stuff, just a different platform..
 
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