Barrel Length

D

DRL1187

New member
Looking at getting a new shotgun - kind of an all-purpose deal. I am not sure what is the best barrel length. The gun comes available with a 21", 24", 26" and 28". I know that the longer the barrel is the better range but its also more cumbersome in the woods. What is the best all around barrel length?

Thanks,

DRL
 
The longer barrel isn't significantly better ballistically; but, it does provide a longer sighting radius, less kick, reduced blast and a smoother swing. There is no "best" all-around barrel length, it's what works best for you and your type of shooting. If I was going to have only one barrel, it would probably be a 28" -- I'm glad I don't have to make that decision. Have you considered a combo gun with long and short barrels?
 
In the woods - are you talking about upland birds, or static hunting like deer and turkey? If upland is the game, go with a longer barrel for better swing dynamics. If turkey/deer where it is used more like a rifle, pick the one you like best
 
Barrel lengths

I agree per above that 28" is most common choice these days. Keep in minde that a pump or semi-automatic actions adds about 4" of visual length vs. an over/under or SxS. Trend lighter/shorter for hunting; trend heavier/longer for targets (even to 34" for trap).
 
I like a 26" on most pumps or autos. 28" on doubles. I could live with 24" on some guns as the receiver is longer on some and the overall length will balance the gun out even with the shorter barrel.

Barrels that are longer or shorter are very useful in specific roles, but I don't consider them good for an all around gun.
 
On a general purpose gun / I prefer a 28" barrel on a pump or a 30" on an Over Under ( making the guns about the same overall length / because of the extra length in the receiver of the pump vs the O/U ).

Effective range has little or nothing to do with barrel length ....that's an old wives tale ...( that we used to believe in the 50's ) ....

A lot of it has to do with personal preference and swing characteristics - but personally, I don't see a downside on a pump or semi-auto with a 28" barrel. If the gun is very light ( say around 7 lbs ) --then I go longer, to a 30" barrel..
 
26" on a game pump

Back in the days BEFORE choke tubes, I ended up going w/ a 26" IC tube and a 26" full tube for my 870 and found it an ideal practice.

Long enough to offer a sight radius, but not cumbersome in cover. Noticably more handy and practical than 28 or 30" guns. I put a mid-bead identically on both,and the gun swung and pointed the same no matter the choke.

If I wanted to improve on the IC tube, I shot premium ammo, sometimes short mags for decoyed ducks (and we shot LEAD, heaven forbid), and I felt like I got "modified" results. The full barrel was reserved for pass shooting , usually high doves, and and busting called turkeys.

I haven't had either on the 870 in years, having bought other shotguns, and not wing shooting near as much. But back then it was a good combo.

A twenty-six inch tube on a pump worked fine for me.
 
A longer barrel will shoot farther than a shorter barrel.:confused: Example: a 30" trap barrel will out shoot a 26" skeet barrel by about 4"...:D Of course thats assuming they are using the same ammo & choke...
 
All purpose 24 or 26" will do anything you want not quite a sky busting duck gun and not quite a fast handling HD gun but close enough to do the job. Large and small game, (deer, to hogs to squirrel), they are perfect.

Just dos centavos from an old dinosaur who wishes his 28" gun was 26" and his 18" gun was 21". My 36" gun can stay right where it's at since it is a 10 gauge magnum and I want all the steel on that gun I can get. :D
 
A longer barrel will shoot farther than a shorter barrel. Example: a 30" trap barrel will out shoot a 26" skeet barrel by about 4"... Of course thats assuming they are using the same ammo & choke...
Click to expand...

Sure, don't you remember how a fine upstanding company like Marlin tried to convince everyone that you needed their 36" barrel to shoot goose?
 
Everyone is different, but my favorite barrel length is 21". The only thing I don't like about it is the noise. But I don't notice the noise much when hunting.

My second favorite barrel length is 24"...still handy, swings a little more smoothly and is not quite as loud.

I should qualify my preferences as being barrel lengths on a Benelli...which tend to be a little longer than other shotguns due to the action. So a 21" Benelli is like a 22" pump gun and a 24" Benelli is like a 25" pump gun. This is probably part of the reason why the shoter barrels don't seem TOO short for me.

YMMV ;)
 
Last edited:
Quote:
A longer barrel will shoot farther than a shorter barrel. Example: a 30" trap barrel will out shoot a 26" skeet barrel by about 4"... Of course thats assuming they are using the same ammo & choke...

Sure, don't you remember how a fine upstanding company like Marlin tried to convince everyone that you needed their 36" barrel to shoot goose?

Doyle,

Are you sure it was to shoot them, or was to club them? :D
Bones
 
If I had to pick one barrel length, it would probably be about 22"
I have a Mossberg 500 that came with two barrels, one 28" vent rib, and one 18 1/2". I keep the 18 1/2" on at home, and if I ever get around to shooting some clays or bird hunting, I'll put on the 28". It only takes 1 or 2 minutes to change them, so it makes for a VERY versatile firearm.
 
bbl. lgth

If upland is the game, go with a longer barrel for better swing dynamics.
Click to expand...

Yeah, unless you are spending the day following the dog through huckleberry thickets up on North Mt. in PA. For that, I carry a 20" O/U.
If I get to stay on the woods trails and roads, then, yep, it's a 28" or longer (have a BP 20 ga. Fowler with a 40" barrel.).
Pete
 
I have a 24" with a Carlson Extended Range choke and its naughty at anything under 40 yards. And I use Black Cloud all the time and I try to keep the shots over 25 yards or theres nothing left.
 
A longer barrel will shoot slightly faster (~50 fps faster for a 30" vs 22")

Patterning is determined by choke.

The major difference is in swing dynamics. A 21" barrel is for shooting at turkeys as if it were a rifle. A 24" is very fast, too fast for most shooting. A 26 or 28" would be the best for any sort of wingshooting.
 
Length, weight, and your arms length all fall into the equation. I like a light 28" Remington 1100 barrel or a heavy 26". The heavy 28" barrels are too sluggish for my arm length. Try the gun you use with someone else's barrel before you buy.
 
It depends on what you mean by all around.

For personal protection, I would go as short as possible.

For things that fly, longer barrels are better.

I like my Rem870 with 18 barrel, rifle sights and modified choke for general purpose work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top