14" or 18"
- Thread starter GunNewb
- Start date
It's all about what you are planning to use it for.
A shorter barrel will definately be easier to handle in a home defense situation. A longer will be more accurate.
Also do you plan on bringing it down to the states for training because you need an min of 18 inch to bring it across the border.
A 14 inch definately does have its own cool factor to it. I personally have both a 14 and 18 inch and switch them out according to what I need the shotgun for.
A shorter barrel will definately be easier to handle in a home defense situation. A longer will be more accurate.
Also do you plan on bringing it down to the states for training because you need an min of 18 inch to bring it across the border.
A 14 inch definately does have its own cool factor to it. I personally have both a 14 and 18 inch and switch them out according to what I need the shotgun for.
Great points above but I assume you mean for a "tactical" style shotgun since that is generally when one considers a shorter barrel (vs say sporting clays or hunting).
Provided my assumption is correct, I would go with a 14". I feel that is the perfect length for a tactical shotgun because it is short enough to be very maneuverable and compact and will only hold 1 round less than a 18" (5+1 vs 6+1 in the case of an 870). I believe an 18 inch barrel provides no advantage over a 14"... a 14 can do everything an 18 can do but not vice versa. My currently main tactical shotgun is 18 but if I could do it over, it would be 14 for sure.
Just my 2 cents, I can't guarantee it's worth that much lol. Also keep in mind I'm somewhat short so if you are tall, maybe you won't feel that 4" less feels much different.
Provided my assumption is correct, I would go with a 14". I feel that is the perfect length for a tactical shotgun because it is short enough to be very maneuverable and compact and will only hold 1 round less than a 18" (5+1 vs 6+1 in the case of an 870). I believe an 18 inch barrel provides no advantage over a 14"... a 14 can do everything an 18 can do but not vice versa. My currently main tactical shotgun is 18 but if I could do it over, it would be 14 for sure.
Just my 2 cents, I can't guarantee it's worth that much lol. Also keep in mind I'm somewhat short so if you are tall, maybe you won't feel that 4" less feels much different.
14" barrels are andy and look cool but the increase in noise and blast over a riot length barrel is considerable.
They also don't point as well IMO.
Still, I think that 14"or so would probably be the standard tactical length if not for the NFA regs in the U.S.
They also don't point as well IMO.
Still, I think that 14"or so would probably be the standard tactical length if not for the NFA regs in the U.S.
I like em short. 12.5" for me. The only advantanges the 18" has is 7+1 mag capacity and a little more sight radius. Not big differences. I don't feel the extra 2 or 3 shells will be of any use in a zombie bear attack. If 5 12 ga. slugs can't kill it then you should marry it and buy it a house. Most loads give up 100-120 fps going from 18" to 12 and 14" so you're not losing relevant performance. There was a ballistics thread on shotgun world with tons of ballistic gel shots and game kills with 18" and 14" shotguns. The author found with Rem managed recoil slugs the 14" gave up 2.5" penetration in ordnance gel over the 18". The same load fired from a 14" would pass through deer at 70 yds if no major bone was hit and at 20 yds broke the shoulder of a 250 lb black bear that made it 30 yds before going down. Not bad at all for a 14" with sissy slugs 
More space between the blast and your eardrum is better for in my view. Sight radius with slugs is also a bonus, and the extra shell is a perk too. I also like the ability to use chokes in my 18.5 barrel, that I don't have with my 12.5". Also slightly less obnoxious to the person one lane over.
There are many similarities. The main difference is that one is a bit longer, and the other one is a bit shorter. Hard to say how much, but if I had to guess I might say 4.5 inches. Some of you might be thinking that four and a half inches is HUGE, but trust me, it's pretty small.
You will notice the weight of different barrel profiles more than the length of the different barrels. I have a slender old 18.5 wingmaster barrel that is drastically lighter than my Dlask 14. When I pick them up to compare the small difference in length doesn't jump out at me but the heft sure does.
You will notice the weight of different barrel profiles more than the length of the different barrels. I have a slender old 18.5 wingmaster barrel that is drastically lighter than my Dlask 14. When I pick them up to compare the small difference in length doesn't jump out at me but the heft sure does.
