Which 870P? 18" or 20"?

M

mathman

New member
I have pretty much decided that I will buy an 870P...but now I need to decide which one...there are a lot of different models.

I know that I want synthetic, and I don't think I want the special speed feed stocks that hold rounds in the stock...

But the big question is which barrel length? I know that for strickly HD, the 18" is the way to go, but I don't plan to use this gun strickly for HD. Sometimes (quite often, actually) I will use the gun to shoot slugs and buckshot (plinking).

So here is what I am asking: Is there any difference in shooting slugs through a 20" barrel as opposed to an 18" barrel? I know that I heard (somewhere) that a shotgun projectile will attain its max velocity after 20-23" of barrel. Is this true? And if so, should I (or would you) get the 20" over the 18"?

Thanks for considering...
 
If this is just going to be a HD & plinker, I would get the 18" barrel. I doubt that anything upon which you will "plink" will care if the velocity is down, if in fact it is.
Many of my 870's wear 20" barrels and I like them very much but if I had an 18" rifle-sighted barrel (my preferred sight system) with an IC choke, I would use that.
Mike
 
I have the 18" smooth bore barrel and the 20" rifled slug bore with rifle sights barrel. Barrel interchanging is a snap. Its like I have two shotguns.
 
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