28, 30 or 32?

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Hi Guys,

Shopping around for an o/u and looking for any input on barrel length recommendations for the Beretta SP 1 Sporting.

I'm happy using a 28 barrel for 16 yard trap with my current setup but looking to expand to handicap and the other clay games, skeet, 5 stand and sporting clays down the road.

Any disadvantage of a longer 32 inch barrel? I'm leaning towards the 30 only because it's not a huge leap to go from what I know being a 28 inch barrel. I may not have the chance to handle all the different lengths to compare for this model.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
 
I don't find a 32" to be a handicap at Skeet and prefer it for Sporting Clays, 5 Stand & Trap.
For Skeet, many find that they just need to move their hold point out a little, particularly for
2H & 6L. A 30" will be A-O.K. for just about everything. Fit & balance are more important than
an additional 2" of barrel ! ;)
 
beretta boy said:
I don't find a 32" to be a handicap at Skeet and prefer it for Sporting Clays, 5 Stand & Trap.
For Skeet, many find that they just need to move their hold point out a little, particularly for
2H & 6L. A 30" will be A-O.K. for just about everything. Fit & balance are more important than
an additional 2" of barrel ! ;)
Click to expand...

I think that is the most important part right there. That extra 2" might be far more harm than good if you are really used to a shorter barrel. If you are getting a whole new gun though I suppose you will have to get used to it no matter what. Just pick the gun that feels the best in your hands.
 
beretta boy said:
I don't find a 32" to be a handicap at Skeet and prefer it for Sporting Clays, 5 Stand & Trap.
For Skeet, many find that they just need to move their hold point out a little, particularly for
2H & 6L. A 30" will be A-O.K. for just about everything. Fit & balance are more important than
an additional 2" of barrel ! ;)
Click to expand...

It is on doubles in Skeet, especially shoot offs at least for me . :) Maybe that old B gun of yours doesn't make it that far ;);) The rest of the clay sports I really don't find it any better than a 30" but many do especially if they are prone to stopping the gun

To the OP if I had to have just one gun for all 28" would be my choice. Too bad you could not try a 30 and 32. I am sure someone at the club would assist. Then you can pick what you are comfortable with and only you can make that call
 
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Both of my target o/u are 32" and I've previously owned 28 and 30" guns too. I like longer barrels IF they are proportionately balanced. Some longer barrelled guns can be very muzzle heavy although the trend in the last decade or so has been toward thinner and lighter barrels. The best way to find out is to pick one and see how it handles.
 
3macs1 said:
... Maybe that old B gun of yours doesn't make it that far ;);)...
Click to expand...

Although I haven't been shooting registered birds for a few years now, the old B-gun allows me to run them often enough ... and I find it much smoother on either a round of doubles or 3,4,5 'shoot-off' doubles than a 28" which I find a little choppy, or heaven forbid a 26" (or shorter) which is just plain awful.

At one point I thought a 28" O/U was just about right until I started shooting a 30" ... and then progressed learning more about fit and balance along the way. I've tried doubles, both SxS & O/U in everything from 21" to a 34" to shoot Skeet with ... and just find the 30" and 32" guns to be the most comfortable. In an auto-loader, even the 30" barrel isn't too awkward. Much prefer something that balances 'neutral' to muzzle heavy ... and muzzle light, although fast, is just about as bad as too heavy.

You are quite right, the OP really must decide for himself ... but a round or two is hardly enough ... shoot a flat or two out of each and you may get a better perspective.
 
beretta boy said:
Although I haven't been shooting registered birds for a few years now, the old B-gun allows me to run them often enough ... and I find it much smoother on either a round of doubles or 3,4,5 'shoot-off' doubles than a 28" which I find a little choppy, or heaven forbid a 26" (or shorter) which is just plain awful.

At one point I thought a 28" O/U was just about right until I started shooting a 30" ... and then progressed learning more about fit and balance along the way. I've tried doubles, both SxS & O/U in everything from 21" to a 34" to shoot Skeet with ... and just find the 30" and 32" guns to be the most comfortable. In an auto-loader, even the 30" barrel isn't too awkward. Much prefer something that balances 'neutral' to muzzle heavy ... and muzzle light, although fast, is just about as bad as too heavy.

You are quite right, the OP really must decide for himself ... but a round or two is hardly enough ... shoot a flat or two out of each and you may get a better perspective.
Click to expand...

For me and I was hatched and raised on all 25 and 26" skeet guns the longer barrel is too slow to change directions with on doubles. But as you say it is all in the end about what makes you comfortable.
You would be lost with my favorite skeet gun for about 10 years now since registered targets went away when I sold off my K-32 and browning 4 barrel set. All for fun now and just a little 28ga 870 wingmaster but has a 6 oz mag tube weight :) It is actually one of my original 4 870 skeets I used in the 60's still have the rest also
It has a real mean streak in it however when it goes up against 12ga's. :)

A flat out of each barrel length is a good idea if the OP can do it.
take care
 
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If you find you aren't having enough time to swing back for the second bird in a double, you're not shooting the first one soon enough.

As for 32" barrels, trying them is recommended, I would also add that makers such as beretta make their 32" barrels pretty light, so I wouldn't necessarily be afraid of them.

Some of the best scores I've ever shot where with a 682 silver special skeet, with 28" barrels, some of the hardest hit targets I shot with a 26" barrel lightweight K-32.

Some of the best consistent scores I have shot have been with a 30" DT-10

I am sticking with 30" nowadays, I see no advantage to 32" I've shot them, but they didn't do anything better for me.
 
gwagen said:
If you find you aren't having enough time to swing back for the second bird in a double, you're not shooting the first one soon enough.

How much difference do you think shooting gun down as I do makes. Just curious.
I find stopping that swing in one direction from the long heavier barrel and going the other way is the issue I have had when trying 32" not so much too slow breaking the 1st bird out vs the quickness in a 26"
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the advice so far. My primary game will be trap. Ill definitely try to at least handle the different barrels like many have suggested.
 
Keep in mind also that extended chokes will increase the length. You can make a 28" into a 29.5" or a 30" into a 31.5", and so on.
In the end, it comes down to what feels better to you and what you have more confidence in, which is far more important than length.
 
My son shoots gun down with his big 35" O/U goose gun occasionally- he's pretty tall and it is interesting to watch his position on station 6 .
He gets turned at a pretty crazy angle to the field so he can swing that big gun back to catch the high house!!
It works however, but his skeet gun is a few pounds lighter and swings a lot easier for him.
Those barrels are 28's.
Cat
 
I would recommend go with the one which fits you best...

The SP1 is a great sporting gun which is adaptable for use on trap as well. One thing to consider is how quickly and accurately you can shoulder and swing the gun.

Depending on the style of trap or of you shoot with the gun up or down this will be important.

The 30" may also be harder to find but I'm not sure.

Alternatively you could try extended chokes...?
 
My son shoots gun down with his big 35" O/U goose gun occasionally- he's pretty tall
Click to expand...

Size is a factor.
My primary skeet partner is 6"3, 230lbs. He can swing his 32 sufficiently fast.
I am 5"9, 170lbs, and require a 28" in order to move it fast.
Have seen some other small guys with 32" barrels who just can't move it fast enough for skeet doubles.
 
I shoot a 32" 0/U for trap doubles and a 34" top single for singles and caps. Most trap guns being sold now tend toward the longer barrels. Sporting guys shoot 32" and 34" barrels. Even the skeet guys are going to 30". Beretta barrels tend to be on the heavy side, so you may need to be prepared to add weight to the stock to balance the gun. Buy the gun best suited to shoot your main game and then adapt to shoot the others. If possible, try and shoot all the options before you buy.
 
3macs1 said:
How much difference do you think shooting gun down as I do makes. Just curious.
I find stopping that swing in one direction from the long heavier barrel and going the other way is the issue I have had when trying 32" not so much too slow breaking the 1st bird out vs the quickness in a 26"
Click to expand...

Shooting gun down is definitely going to shave off those precious milliseconds to break the first bird, this advice is for skeet however, on stations 1 and 7 it won't make any difference, but on 2&6 and 3,4,5 when shooting doubles or a shoot-off. Unless you are lightning quick, you won't break the target, at the earliest I could imagine the until your reach or just after centre stake, meaning the second target is already at least at the centre stake.

More than likely the second target has passed you and you have to go back and pass through it to break it.

If you are able to start premounted or break the target a few feet before the stake, you will have the time to turn and switch directions and the second target will appear in the right place, all you have left to do is pull the trigger, it works quite well once you get the hang of it.

For sporting clays, I always shoot gun down. I find the advantage of being able to see the target early outweighs any advantage of a premounted gun, for me that is.
 
gwagen said:
Shooting gun down is definitely going to shave off those precious milliseconds to break the first bird, this advice is for skeet however, on stations 1 and 7 it won't make any difference, but on 2&6 and 3,4,5 when shooting doubles or a shoot-off. Unless you are lightning quick, you won't break the target, at the earliest I could imagine the until your reach or just after centre stake, meaning the second target is already at least at the centre stake.

More than likely the second target has passed you and you have to go back and pass through it to break it.

If you are able to start premounted or break the target a few feet before the stake, you will have the time to turn and switch directions and the second target will appear in the right place, all you have left to do is pull the trigger, it works quite well once you get the hang of it.

For sporting clays, I always shoot gun down. I find the advantage of being able to see the target early outweighs any advantage of a premounted gun, for me that is.
Click to expand...

I don't enter any events any more or shoot for money or steaks :) so try to keep sharp for hunting only which is why I shoot gun down. Never did when there was anything to be won ;)
I must be still pretty quick after 45 years shooting skeet since I can get them both on doubles on a regular basis but it is a bang / bang as you say in the middle stations
Mind you that is with a 25" barrel 28ga 870 and she is quick but hard to control that is for sure.
I think you can understand however why I really mind shooting a 32 or 30" heavy gun for skeet.Trap I like a long barrel
I would love to have a sporting clays set up here. I may have shot sporting clays 10 times in my life and loved it. You guys are so lucky
Take care and smoke them all
 
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[QUnOTE=gwagen;8564651]Shooting gun down is definitely going to shave off those precious milliseconds to break the first bird, this advice is for skeet however, on stations 1 and 7 it won't make any difference, but on 2&6 and 3,4,5 when shooting doubles or a shoot-off. Unless you are lightning quick, you won't break the target, at the earliest I could imagine the until your reach or just after centre stake, meaning the second target is already at least at the centre stake.

More than likely the second target has passed you and you have to go back and pass through it to break it.

If you are able to start premounted or break the target a few feet before the stake, you will have the time to turn and switch directions and the second target will appear in the right place, all you have left to do is pull the trigger, it works quite well once you get the hang of it.

For sporting clays, I always shoot gun down. I find the advantage of being able to see the target early outweighs any advantage of a premounted gun, for me that is.[/QUOTE]

I shoot a 32" gun for skeet from the low gun position (issf) and have no issues breaking doubles from any station. In fact I break doubles at station 4 faster than most people that shoot premounted. Low gun allows me to aquire the target quickly and as long as I make a smooth controlled mount I can easily break the first target 3/4 of the way to the stake. I used to shoot a 28" citori and switched to a 32" Beretta 682. Honestly I couldn't tell the difference but my performance did improve, however I believe this to be a function of much better fit due to the adjustable comb. I personally like the 32 inch barrels and would be hard pressed to go back.
 
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