24" Barrels??

[mlgorecki]

I see some of the manufactures are offering 24" barrels for their field models. Beretta and Benelli, to name a few. I already have a new Beretta Extrema 2, 26" barrel, so I'm not in the market for another gun. I'm just curious. I was thinking, for pheasants, ducks and geese, 24" might be a little on the short side. Any opinions here?

[hoosierhunter]

I agree, I think you are going to loose to much range for ducks and geese, but for upland hunting, like pheasants and quail it actually is a good fit, it's lighter, easier to swing and you don't need the extra range, it usually in your face. 2 completely different animals! It's also nice for rabbit hunting too.

[Silver Webfoot]

i started out hunting with a 835 with a 24" barrel,I had no problem killing waterfowl.I still have one and use it,and I can pull snow geese out of the sky easier than the guys I hunt with,my opion is barrels dont matter how long they are,its the guy behind it!

[Coot]

* 24" barrel is hell on your buddies in the blind - very loud, especially if ported

* most people shoot better using a longer barrel because they swing easier

* ballistically speaking barrel length has no effect on range

* a 24" barrel is effective in tight quarters, ie: grouse hunting or rabbit hunting

shoot it
pattern it
if you like it and it shoots well
hunt with it

[njhonker]

for years and years I shot a BPS pump with a 22" barrel...

I killed everything with that gun..especially ducks. We always had the birds right in our faces anyway...I loved that thing...yes a longer barrel lends itself to a better swing and follow through but I made out just fine with that gun..I use it as a turkey gun these days and as a back up goose gun..I've since gotten a 26" for it because I drilled out the 22" barrel for turkey sights...

my personal preferece is a 26" barrel but those short barrel guns can, and will....get the job done...

[wpritchett]

I shoot a 28" barrel, But the gun I'm looking at now I want in a 26". A buddy of mine got a nova in 24" and I shot it, and to me it felt different, not awkward just different. That is probally because I am so comfortable w/ a 28. But also what you have to look at is chamber size. The 28 I shoot is 3" and the 26 I want is a 3.5" so the difference should'nt beso drastic. Just my .02.

[Max4Gooser]

My barrel length ofchoice is 26" as well, both my Benelli Nova's are 26" as well as my 10 gauge Browning BPS. I used to shoot a 24" barrel 835 as well, and it worked fine, it was loud in the blind, but I never had a problem with it's swing or follow through. If I was looking at a new rabbit gun or turkey gun, I would definately look at a 24" barrel. Just my $.02

[black feet down]

coot is rite on the money-- and some "pay" goose clubs wont alow anything shorter then 26in in there pits.

[Jayson Wilt]

I shot a 24 inch 870 for years out of a layout blind and killed plenty of geese. Never really had to worry about losing range because we only shoot at birds that are finishing into the hole. The main reason is because I am short and fat and the I could swing it better coming off of me back. I currently hunt with an SBE II with a 28 inch barrel and can swing it way better than the old remington. But the rem dog still comes out whenever my dad makes his way out until I buy him an SBE II. I knew I should have never left him shoot it

[SMOKE]

26s are the deal in my opinion. 24s would be pretty nice for turkey season though.

[bigun]

* 24" barrel is hell on your buddies in the blind - very loud, especially if ported

* most people shoot better using a longer barrel because they swing easier

* ballistically speaking barrel length has no effect on range

* a 24" barrel is effective in tight quarters, ie: grouse hunting or rabbit hunting

shoot it
pattern it
if you like it and it shoots well
hunt with it

Coot hit the nail on the head !

They can be louder - and your blind partners will tell you so.

Range and short barrels (shotguns) have nothing in common using todays smokelss powders.

While a longer barreled gun may swing smoother, a shorter barrel gun swings quicker.

For years I shot skeet with a 26" barrel O/U. Several years ago I went to a 28" and then 30" barrel O/U. Based upon scores and classifications ou wouldn't know that I'd changed guns.

The most important thing is GUN FIT.

[Killer Miller]

Coots right all the way!! My uncle shoots a Benelli SBE, as do I. But he has a 24 inch barrel on his. He's a really good shot, so I don't think switching from a 26" Browning Gold to his 24" SBE hurt him on shooting very much if at all.

And about the loudness: I usually hunt right next to him in the duck blind and I honestly havent heard any difference. I mean of course you get your ears rung once in a while, but Im sure it would have still happened with a 26" or 28" barrel. It could just be the adrenaline that makes me not hear any difference.

[DEADEYE]

I shoot a 24 1/2",only because a hunter I had in the pit shot the end of my barrel and it had to be cut off and rethreaded.And I use the term hunter loosly. :evil:I can guarantee this clown will never hunt in this field again or in a blind/pit with me again.Deadeye