Difference between 12.5" and 14" barrel?

NinjaSayWhat?!

NinjaSayWhat?!

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Hi gunnutz

I tried but my search-fu came up empty. As the title states, I'm wondering what are the functional differences between these 2 barrel lengths in a pump shotgun. I'm comparing the DA 12.5" and the HP9 14". They seem to be exactly the same except for that inch and a half.

I'm guessing you can add a +1 extension to the 14 to have a 5+1 capacity.

Other than that, is the 12.5 louder? Is the 14 more accurate? Does the 12.5 make a bigger fireball?

Yes I am a noob.

Thanks,
NSW
 
NinjaSayWhat?! said:
Hi gunnutz

I tried but my search-fu came up empty. As the title states, I'm wondering what are the functional differences between these 2 barrel lengths in a pump shotgun. I'm comparing the DA 12.5" and the HP9 14". They seem to be exactly the same except for that inch and a half.

I'm guessing you can add a +1 extension to the 14 to have a 5+1 capacity.

Other than that, is the 12.5 louder? Is the 14 more accurate? Does the 12.5 make a bigger fireball?

Yes I am a noob.

Thanks,
NSW
Click to expand...
no its just shorter that all, depending on the front site installed it can be harder to see on the 12.5
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The difference is hardly significant enough to pay much attention to, really, buy the one you like

The only real reason to buy shorter, is if you use this for duty and really need short, every inch counts.
 
dizzy said:
The difference is hardly significant enough to pay much attention to, really, buy the one you like

The only real reason to buy shorter, is if you use this for duty and really need short, every inch counts.
Click to expand...

I have a 12.5", the only real practical difference IMO is that there's that much more of a chance that your hand could end up in front of the muzzle if it slips off the forend.
 
barrel

They're both VERY loud and have a lot of muzzle blast.
Intrinsic accuracy is no different however practical accuracy starts to get pretty tough under 14in IMO.
I personally find the overall balance of the shotgun when using conventional stocks is too muzzle light with the 12.5in and the 14in is neutral. 16 to 18in starts to be ideal.
The issue of gettin' your hand in front of the muzzle starts to become a very real potential problem whenever you get under 18in and worsens significantly every in down...even for a proficient shooter.
12.5 starts to get you into trouble with legal OAL depending on stock design where 14in gives a bit more latitude.

A 12.5 mounted to a short LOP conventional stock gets you the most compact practically shootable shotgun package and is ideal for packin/storin/carryin etc.
A 14in IMO is measurably more practically shootable and is still pretty compact.

Comes down to how kewl you want to look and or how small you want/need to be.

My 2c worth. I have tried em' all and currently have both.
 
I have no idea the level of incompetence or stupidity required to put your hand infront of a gun and pull the trigger. Mounting my hand on the forend has always worked for me, I see no advantage to holding it infront of the barrel while shooting :confused:
 
There used to be a time (before Dlask, NEA and Domion) where 12.5 next to impossible to get... from Remington at least...

As usual, people want what they can't have... and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Then Norinco started shipping some 14 (which were quite popular)... then CanAm brought in some 12.5 (which sold like hot cakes)... and they followed suit with the 8.5" (Which again, sold like hot cake)

I can't speak for others, but my main reason to buy one, was to piss-off the Liberals (Who don't like scary looking guns)

-

This probably won't do you any good... but why not buy one of each and find out which you like best?

;)
 
supernova said:
I have no idea the level of incompetence or stupidity required to put your hand infront of a gun and pull the trigger. Mounting my hand on the forend has always worked for me, I see no advantage to holding it infront of the barrel while shooting :confused:
Click to expand...

If you shoot "squared up" and have a short stock on it, as I do, you'll notice that you can easily reach beyond the muzzle when shouldered.

Under normal circumstances this would be a nonissue but add hard adrenaline dump stress (a charging bear etc) and a slick forend lacking an handstop and who knows? Given the intensity of the muzzle blast with these short tubes you probably could end up being seriously injured from that alone even if you don't actually get you hand in front of the muzzle.
 
Last day at the range I shot a friend's 12.5".

It was a Norinco or Dominion barrel with a crooked bead sight.

Even in the full lighted range, the muzzle flash was wicked.

As 870P says, I shoot square as well and felt a tad uncomfy when racking forward.

I like and prefer the 14.5 " barrel.
 
Terez, you bring up some very interesting points.

So by practical accuracy, do you mean because of the shorter sight radius? Or because of the balance of the gun?

Not being a very big guy, I don't think the hand in front of muzzle thing is going to be an issue. I've shot 18"s before and when shouldered, if I fully extend my arm there's still plenty of gun left before the business end. We'll just have to see.


terez said:
A 12.5 mounted to a short LOP conventional stock gets you the most compact practically shootable shotgun package and is ideal for packin/storin/carryin etc.
Click to expand...

This sounds just about right...
 
NinjaSayWhat?! said:
Terez, you bring up some very interesting points.

So by practical accuracy, do you mean because of the shorter sight radius? Or because of the balance of the gun?

Not being a very big guy, I don't think the hand in front of muzzle thing is going to be an issue. I've shot 18"s before and when shouldered, if I fully extend my arm there's still plenty of gun left before the business end. We'll just have to see.
Click to expand...

I'm like 5'6" with short arms and I can still reach a good 4 or 5 inches past my 12.5" barrel's muzzle without stretching, not an issue with my 18.5".

Don't forget that if you're rockin' a 12" LOP stock that's going to put you at least 2" closer to the muzzle as compared to a typical length stock.
 
barrel

supernova said:
I have no idea the level of incompetence or stupidity required to put your hand infront of a gun and pull the trigger. Mounting my hand on the forend has always worked for me, I see no advantage to holding it infront of the barrel while shooting :confused:
Click to expand...



Impressive addition to the thread..........thanks for comin' out.
 
supernova said:
I have no idea the level of incompetence or stupidity required to put your hand infront of a gun and pull the trigger. Mounting my hand on the forend has always worked for me, I see no advantage to holding it in front of the barrel while shooting :confused:
Click to expand...

I guess some people haven't taken their restricted license yet... and haven't received the proper training on how to deal with compact firearms :ban:
 
14'" barrels allows you to run a standard 2 cell Surefire foreend with 5 rounds in the tube
12.5", you must use the newer 1 cell module and with 4 rounds in the tube.
 
I'm running an 18.5 Remington 870 and at 5'11" I can't even come close to reaching the muzzle without straining. Looking into one of those cheap Stevens 350 Security 14" as a "buddy" gun so I don't have to keep handing over my beloved 870. First time I handed it over we had a mag-feed jam (Operator related) and I had to disassemble the magazine with one in the pipe which is quite unpleasant. That and I have a certain hard-on for little guns making BIG booms. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize it's best to keep ones hand away from the muzzle end. A nice modern serrated titanium hook would be a bit badass though.
 
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