3Gun Shotgun: 21 or 24 barrel?
- Thread starter xopher
- Start date
What are you going to be doing?
99% of the guns currently used in practical shotgun started as hunting guns.
we talking semi or pump?
I like 24 for pump and 26 for semi.(benelli m2 which is light and I like a bit extra weight)
for me those weights balance better at speed.
For me, my magazine tubes stick out well past my barrels so having a short barrel for moving around walls etc is pointless.
get what feels best balance and swing wise.
99% of the guns currently used in practical shotgun started as hunting guns.
we talking semi or pump?
I like 24 for pump and 26 for semi.(benelli m2 which is light and I like a bit extra weight)
for me those weights balance better at speed.
For me, my magazine tubes stick out well past my barrels so having a short barrel for moving around walls etc is pointless.
get what feels best balance and swing wise.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I run a 28" Benelli Nova with an extension equally long for 10+1. The number of times I have thought to my self "Damn this thing is too long" equals 0. Until I run into a situation where I have a fault line 14" behind a wall that needs shooting around, I think most people will be okay.
The same goes for rifles. Everyone thinks you need a Short barrel rifle to be more maneuverable, simply not true. Guys like Kyle Lamb and Frank Proctor have been teaching the employment of longer rifles in a CQB setting for a while now with great success.
Really comes down to training, learn where you will have problems with your long gun and figure out ways around it.
The same goes for rifles. Everyone thinks you need a Short barrel rifle to be more maneuverable, simply not true. Guys like Kyle Lamb and Frank Proctor have been teaching the employment of longer rifles in a CQB setting for a while now with great success.
Really comes down to training, learn where you will have problems with your long gun and figure out ways around it.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
They are well machined and work well. Extra legal magazine capacity is also nice!
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Why such a long barrel?
You making 100 yard shots with a shotgun these days?
When I had my 870, it wore an 18" cylinder bore. Worked plenty good, and balanced nicely with an extension tube. I plan on setting up the semi I'll eventually acquire in similar fashion. To me, the shorter barrel handles better.
You making 100 yard shots with a shotgun these days?
When I had my 870, it wore an 18" cylinder bore. Worked plenty good, and balanced nicely with an extension tube. I plan on setting up the semi I'll eventually acquire in similar fashion. To me, the shorter barrel handles better.
I guess I should've been a little more clear in my initial post.
I'm currently contemplating grabbing either a Remington Versa Max or Beretta 1301 (21 or 24). I'm leaning towards to the Beretta just because of all the preinstalled/pretuned 3gun features. As you guys mentioned, balance is a huge thing for me too. Without a sample in front of me, its hard to say which one will suit me more. I was hoping you guys could chime in on what the preferred length is.
I'm currently contemplating grabbing either a Remington Versa Max or Beretta 1301 (21 or 24). I'm leaning towards to the Beretta just because of all the preinstalled/pretuned 3gun features. As you guys mentioned, balance is a huge thing for me too. Without a sample in front of me, its hard to say which one will suit me more. I was hoping you guys could chime in on what the preferred length is.
The new Versa Max Tactical has all the good stuff built in too.
Depends on the individual stage you are using it on, really, which is why you probably won't find a clear "preferred length". I prefer my 18.5". arcticcathonda prefers his 28". For a really tight course of fire (which does happen around here, but not frequently), the shorter barrel will give a small maneuverability advantage. But usually it's not a significant issue.
I will say that it is nice, in theory at least, to get a platform that allows the option of changing the barrel length with minimal fuss (and cost).
There is no one preferred length. It's as personal a choice as type of handgun or rifle barrel length.
My 870 used to have a 18.5" barrel and a +2. Now it wears a 26" barrel and a +5. My 930 has a 18.5" but I'd like to find something a bit longer and threaded for chokes.
YMMV.
The 21" I spoke of in a previous post is the Beretta 1301. I got the 21" over the 24" only because that was what was in stock at the time. There is no real difference. Some prefer the 24" because they claim it looks better with a longer tube extension.
I shoot in Texas every winter. Beretta 2's and the Versa Max are the two most popular guns. They prefer 26 inch barrels for the capacity but that's less relevant in Canada. I get 6+1 in my VMT 22 and 10+1 with a Plus 2 extension cap when I'm in the US. It's the best combination IMO.
