Barrel Length

[CJSDuck]

Are longer barrel lengths beneficial to waterfowl hunting or is it whatever fits you best? Ive heard both and was just curious on everyone's input.

I already have a BPS that is a field model that I use for pheasants and it shoots very nice and was looking at getting another that has 3.5" capabilities for waterfowling. They had them in both the 26 and 28". Thanks

[spaightlabs]

longer barrels will keep your hunting partners from going deaf quite as quickly, and may add a bit of forward weight to assit you in maintaining a smooth swing...

[Waterfowlhunter2]

I really dont think it matters. Shoot what you are comfortable with. Its a matter of hitting the target your aiming at more than anything.

[Richie]

Its a toss for me. Turkey hunters use 22-24 inch barrels and patterns are extremely tight. So the length of barrel doesnt matter as far as patterning. But like spaight said, your longer barrel will put your muzzle farther away and the blast precession isnt so bad. I think the smaller the gun the easier to swing, reason why upland hunters like side by side and O/U. But they are also balanced different. I think you can look at it in many ways. It all comes down to preference.

[kingkilla]

a bigger barrel helps you follow through better, but a shorter barrel makes it so you pull up faster

[DropEmInDE]

Both my 20, and my 12 have 26 inch barrels, my 20 has a traditional wooden stock, and is a Mosberg 500, nice heavy stout 20....and ive killed a couple birds with it...fine....shot clays with it for the last 12 years with no issues......on the other hand my 12g is a Charles Daly Field Pump, with Synthetic Stocks and a 26inch vent rib, and it only weighs 6.2lbs...very very very light gun......kicks like a mule......but knocks em dead each time....ive seen people shoot 24 inch barrels and 32 inch barrels....its all what you can handle...and i dont think your saving very many peoples hearing whether your shooting a long or short barrel...especially if you have a ported PM stickin out the end of it :D ....but....its what feels right to you.....my buddy shoots a 20 some year old 870...no chokes....only chamberd for 2 3/4 shells...and ive seen him kill more geese with that gun out past 50-60+ yards........so.....its all in the eye of the beholder....

[Midwest]

A longer barrel will give you greater velocities from your ammunition also. Most velocities printed on boxes are test fired from a 30" barrel. You aren't going to lose much speed by going to a shorter barrel, I think you only lose something like 10ft/s for every inch under 30"

[SMOKE]

26 inch barrel is where its at. anything more feels goofy to me.

[migrator00]

28" or quit

[Killer Miller]

IMO, liek all the others guys have said you can get on birds quicker with a shorter barrel because there is a bit less weight to the gun. On the other hand, it's going to be harder to stop a longer barrel, which is can be good or bad. Good if you frequently stop you swing on birds. Bad if you try to kill more than one bird out of each flock. It will take a little more time to get on the next bird. I personally have always shot 26 inchers. That's what my gun is.

[duckahlr]

I think it matters. I tend to shoot a shorter barrel during early teal season. A shorter barrel gives me a faster swing, and the pattern tends to open more at a further distance. But I do shoot with a 28 most of the time. Keeps that pattern tighter further out, and you tend to not have to swing fast for the big ducks. It's really what ever feels good to you.

Another thing is where you are hunting if I'm hunting open water I like to use a longer barrel. But if i'm hunting timber I will go with the 24. You wouldn't think that the 4 inches make much of a difference but it sure does. just my 2 cents.

Greg

[HRK]

i cant push a short barreled one good at all, 28" on a waterfowl gun is great for me, but for clays 30" or 32". the longer the barrel the easier it is to swing through with the bird.

[IowaMigr8tor]

I have a 28" barrel on my gun and by the time you put the extended choke in it it makes it almost 30 inches. I wish I had a 24 inch barrel on it so I could shoot a 26 inch.

[T shot]

I agree with Killer Miller &Barry.I do a ton of trap shooting,when I shoot singlels it is a 34" and for doubles I like 30"-32" But for geese-28".

[honkerhunter104]

I agree with Killer Miller &Barry.I do a ton of trap shooting,when I shoot singlels it is a 34" and for doubles I like 30"-32" But for geese-28".

I'm there with ya i shoot a lot of trap over the summer and use a 30 inch on my 1100 but when it comes to hunting i use a 26 inch but i really wish i had a 30 inch to use with my 870 so it would hold that patter out there a lil farther.

[Beretta_hunter_forlife]

I love the 28", there is nothing better!

[Killer Miller]

T shot wrote:
I agree with Killer Miller &Barry.I do a ton of trap shooting,when I shoot singlels it is a 34" and for doubles I like 30"-32" But for geese-28".


I'm there with ya i shoot a lot of trap over the summer and use a 30 inch on my 1100 but when it comes to hunting i use a 26 inch but i really wish i had a 30 inch to use with my 870 so it would hold that patter out there a lil farther.

God I'm good! :wink: :lol: :?

[kingkilla]

God I'm good! :wink: :lol: :?

god your an idiot :D

[Killer Miller]

Al, why ddin't you give some input on the topic? I'm guessing you didn't because "you don't know $hit for **** my man." -Derek Manser :lol:

[kingkilla]

look at page 1 miller.

[Killer Miller]

YOU WIN :D

[IowaMigr8tor]

Gotta love Robin Williams, Miller.