21 or 24 inch shotgun for 3gun?

[xopher]

I'll be starting 3gun in 2017. I'm slowly putting together my kit and I'm conflicted whether i should go with a 21 or 24 inch barrel on the shotgun.

To all the seasoned 3gun shooters: which barrel length do you prefer?

 

[Stevo]

You won't notice a difference between the two.

If it's a pump I'd run a barrel length appropriate to the size of the extension you're using.

I think my VMT has a 24" and I've used 18" and 26" on an 870 and 18.5" on a 930.

 

[Onagoth]

I have a 28"...but I'd prefer a 24"

 

[pauls]

I have a 28"...but I'd prefer a 24"

But you are overcompensating for other things....


I like the 26" on my M2.

Xopher, as you can tell, length is more personal preference than anything else.

From a "ballistics" point of view, I've read most shotgun shells have finished burning powder and accelerating by around the 24-26" mark
You won't notice a difference though with a 21 or 28, especially at the distances we're shooting targets in 3 gun.

Having chokes, and a gun that fits/shoots to your point of aim is more important than barrel length.

 

[xopher]

How far are the furthest targets for shotgun stages? I'm honestly not sure what to expect haha

 

[Stevo]

How far are the furthest targets for shotgun stages? I'm honestly not sure what to expect haha

That's one of those "it depends" questions.

We've shot slug as far as 100m and most of our birdshot is inside 30m. YMMV.

 

[Onagoth]

How far are the furthest targets for shotgun stages? I'm honestly not sure what to expect haha

not far enough to matter...its more about how tight are they to no-shoots...which is where chokes come up.

Barrel length is more about meneouvability and preference IMO

 

[DT741]

I run an 870 with 18" barrel that I had threaded for chokes

 

[stormbringer]

I run a 28 inch. I like it, particularly in the USA where I run a 12 shot tube.

 

[Garand]

18 1/2" with screw in chokes

 

[bluesclues]

28" bbl with no problems.

 

[ffgats]

prefer 21-24", just to make sure I'm taller than my SG.

 

[fiddler]

Barrel length alone does not affect your shooting for 3 gun as much as balance does. If you have the wrong length of pull you will shoot bad regardless of barrel length. Waterfowl and clay shooting is a very different sport than combat shooting. For fast shooting on the zombie range I like a short stock with medium forward weight, and for standard shotgunning/hunting I like a longer stock with a longer barrel with more swing momentum.

 

[mike100]

For my SuperNova I went with the 24"barrel as I wanted it approx. the same length as my mag extension which holds 10 rounds.