28 or 26 inch shotgun barrel
- Thread starter chrisun
- Start date
Not so, the 28" barrel would give you 2" more range than the 26" barrel.....
In truth, barrel length plays very little role in velocity once you get past about 16". With steel it's not negligible but it's not enough to worry about either, especially wen we are talking only two inches of barrel. As for pattern all other things being equal barrel length has virtually no effect on pattern either when we are talking standard hunting length barrels. Different shooters shoot different barrel lengths for a number of reasons but range and pattern are not two of them.
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The longer barrels get hung up more when walking in the woods when on your shoulder.
I patterned my 26" BPS ten gauge using a Browning Xfull extended turkey choke and only got a few pellets in the kill zone? I gave the Browning choke to a friend with a 28" BPS ten gauge and when we patterned his gun, he out grouped my 26" with the Browning choke. The only difference in this test was barrel length, shots were at 20, 30, 40, 50 yards? The 40 and 50 was where the difference was really noticed? The longer barrel grouped way better in this test?
I patterned my 26" BPS ten gauge using a Browning Xfull extended turkey choke and only got a few pellets in the kill zone? I gave the Browning choke to a friend with a 28" BPS ten gauge and when we patterned his gun, he out grouped my 26" with the Browning choke. The only difference in this test was barrel length, shots were at 20, 30, 40, 50 yards? The 40 and 50 was where the difference was really noticed? The longer barrel grouped way better in this test?
- Location
- Thunder Bay ON Canada
It's nice to have momentum and line of sight for pointing, once and awhile I slow or stop when I'm firing on a clay, and the momentum helps remind me not to.
I've got a 36 inch barrel on my single shot 10 gauge, and 32 inch barrels on my double ten gauge, and they point much nicer than the 26" 12 I had for awhile. It could be the extra weight too though, my ten gauge double is a little less than 11 lbs, I don't know what the single ten is, but it's not dainty.
I stay out of the bush however, not sure how much I'd like the extra length in the thick stuff.
I've got a 36 inch barrel on my single shot 10 gauge, and 32 inch barrels on my double ten gauge, and they point much nicer than the 26" 12 I had for awhile. It could be the extra weight too though, my ten gauge double is a little less than 11 lbs, I don't know what the single ten is, but it's not dainty.
I stay out of the bush however, not sure how much I'd like the extra length in the thick stuff.
You wouldn't. Longer barrels are known to be an advantage for a smooth swing when shooting clays. Live birds, however, have not been taught to fly in nice straight arcs and tend to change direction unpredictably. What is an advantage for clays becomes a disadvantage in the field.
Personally, I don't find barrel length an issue in any but the thickest bush. It does have a significant impact on the weight and balance of the gun, and on inertia for different types of swinging (smooth and steady or back and forth under control).
if its hunting, go 26 .. ive got one on my fabarm, i woudnt go back to a longer barrell. easier to swing around through the bush etc . smooth swing be damned. not often that i track a target thats moving at a constant rate in a straight line.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I like longer barrels for field shooting n a blind, but in the bush prefer shorter jobs, 26" mostly....
Cat
Cat
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Three feet by three feet paper from a sitting position? I maybe a bad shot but not that bad? My BPS works great with the Comp N Choke and put nearly as many pellets on paper as the Browning choke does with the 28" barrel. I paid $30 for the Browning choke and nearly $100 for the Comp? No fit issue using the Comp choke?
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I actually wish the standard options included 22 and 24", no need for 26+ inches of barrel. Since my guns didn't come in shorter, both my 28g double and my 870 field gun wear 26" tubes.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Hinge or pump/auto?
My 28" SxS is probably shorter than an auto with 26"
My 28" SxS is probably shorter than an auto with 26"
I shoot a 26" Ruger for all types of shooting, and prefer it to any other length, especially in the field. It's lighter, comes up easy, and is easy to carry, closed or open. I also don't have a problem with it for trap, but prefer my 34".
Personally, if your in bush where 2 or 4 inches makes a difference, it's probably too thick to shoot in also.
Personally, if your in bush where 2 or 4 inches makes a difference, it's probably too thick to shoot in also.
Now you know why commonly accepted generalizations are all good, but patterning is the only way to get the facts. Even a change in ammo brands will make a noticable difference, in most cases. You'll see from your results in the field that you can trust the patterning board.
