14" BBL - Why???

[Ike]

I don't see how it would affect accuracy all that much, sure the pattern may be a tad larger (even twice as large as a 28 inch barrel is quite suitable for most hunting situations) than those from a longer barrel. As for velocity, I seem to recall an article in an American gun rag a few years ago that mentioned that shotguns attain their maximum velocities in the first 12 to 16? inches of barrel, anything longer doesn't affect velocities significantly but it does help with "pointability", which is something that either ghost ring sights or a red dot would fix quite nicely.

As for pattern sizes, I guess there's only one way to find out, screw in a full choke, then a modified choke and lastly a cylinder bore to a 14, an 18, a 20, and finally a 28 inch barrel, and proceed to blast away at a target at a set distance, someone mentioned 40 yards above, and see just how much shot dispersion is <really> affected, my money is on "not significantly".

Sorry, I should have identified when I mentioned accuracy I meant for slugs. My guns are primarily for bear defence so I shoot mostly slugs....I play with birdshot for trap and IPSC steel but the serious rounds are slugs.
Accuracy between the different barrels will only really be affected by the presence or absence of sights nad how well I can shoot with ust the bead. The 12.5" has a bead but I have put rounds touching at 25m. The 16" and 20" have rifle sights and I expect there will be negligable difference between them. There will likely be differences in accuracy between different brands of or types of slugs but I will look at that later.

Cheers

 

[USP]

I think its cause most 14s or shorter ones are for police or military usage...slugs on doors...buckshot while clearing a room..they are class 3 in the states as well. Basically big hard hitting firepower..in a nice compact frame. Im glad we can buy them and the Americans cant without a bag of hassle.