A Question of Barrel Length

CarloNord

CarloNord

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Hello all! I've been shopping for a new gun to add to my cabinet, and on that list is a good shotgun. I where I hunt there's typically thick bush, you rarely get an area where you can see more than 30-40 yards that's not a road or a logging cut. So while looking around I've been trying to decide on a barrel length, as hauling my .410, which is about 42-44 inches IIRC, takes a bit of effort when I have to constantly deal with trees and sticks everywhere. Most sites and stories I read tell me 26 inches, give or take 2, is optimal for most outings and animals. Looking at the overall length that tends to get me 46 inch+ long firearms, which I don't look forwards to huffing it with.

So tell me, would a coach gun or similar 18-20 inch barreled shotgun work fine for upland birds and rabbits? Could I also use the same firearm for deer if I were to load slugs, or would that just be making noise and not getting much done? And is there even any shotguns out there of that length with choke tubes, or would I need a gunsmith to thread the bore, if possible?
 
CarloNord said:
Hello all! I've been shopping for a new gun to add to my cabinet, and on that list is a good shotgun. I where I hunt there's typically thick bush, you rarely get an area where you can see more than 30-40 yards that's not a road or a logging cut. So while looking around I've been trying to decide on a barrel length, as hauling my .410, which is about 42-44 inches IIRC, takes a bit of effort when I have to constantly deal with trees and sticks everywhere. Most sites and stories I read tell me 26 inches, give or take 2, is optimal for most outings and animals. Looking at the overall length that tends to get me 46 inch+ long firearms, which I don't look forwards to huffing it with.

So tell me, would a coach gun or similar 18-20 inch barreled shotgun work fine for upland birds and rabbits? Could I also use the same firearm for deer if I were to load slugs, or would that just be making noise and not getting much done? And is there even any shotguns out there of that length with choke tubes, or would I need a gunsmith to thread the bore, if possible?
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1.)Should work perfectly fine on grouse or hares.

2.) Slugs too ... should work perfectly fine. You will have to test to what point of impact each barrel shoots ... and manually compensate. Within 30 meters that should not pose a problem .... some people shoot slugs without a rear sight out to 50 meters or even a bit more.

I would have a look at Huglu SxS shotguns from Prophet River. External hammer ones come with 20 inch barrels and chokes. And they are solid firearms.

Here is my experience with a Huglu:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1637998-Huglu-Good-or-Bad


p.s.: Link to Prophet River website ...

https://store.prophetriver.com/sxs-hammer/
 
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As soon as you move to a double barrel gun, the gun gets shorter by 8-10", the length of the receiver of a pump/semi gun. I've found no need to get anything shorter than 26" on a double, and I've gone through the same thick brush as everyone else.

And 18" barrels are stupid loud.
 
IvoB said:
26 inch for me anything shorter and your shot will spread too wide and you will probably injure the rabbit
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Sorry but this is not true. Spread is based on choke. Doesn’t really matter if the barrel is 22” or 32”.

Years ago, in black powder days, longer barrels had utility because the longer the tube, the faster the shot would accelerate to. No longer meaningful. Longer barrels also help with the follow through on the shot as the extra weight carries momentum.

Having said that there are many here (not me) that love short barrels guns for the utility they offer in the bush and swear there is no compromise required to enjoy them. I’m sure others will add to this.

I have one 25.5” barreled gun, a Purdey 12 ga and four 26” barrels guns, a Browning Superposed 20 ga, a Browning Citori 16 gauge, a Lindner Daly 20 gauge and a Francotte 28 gauge. Three SxS and two O/U. In every case, with the exception of the Superposed, I wish the barrels were 2” longer.
 
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0faustus0 said:
1.)Should work perfectly fine on grouse or hares.

2.) Slugs too ... should work perfectly fine. You will have to test to what point of impact each barrel shoots ... and manually compensate. Within 30 meters that should not pose a problem .... some people shoot slugs without a rear sight out to 50 meters or even a bit more.

I would have a look at Huglu SxS shotguns from Prophet River. External hammer ones come with 20 inch barrels and chokes. And they are solid firearms.

Here is my experience with a Huglu:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1637998-Huglu-Good-or-Bad


p.s.: Link to Prophet River website ...

https://store.prophetriver.com/sxs-hammer/
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Well damn, thanks a lot for the quick replies everyone! I'll have a look at the Huglu and your post you linked, I'm actually glad you linked an external hammer one, as I find them just so neat. And thanks for giving some range estimates. I have only my ISH-18 to go on, and it's a full choke I think. Works great for grouse, but the length, lack of sling, and now the weak firing pin are getting to me.

Also @Grouse Man I am aware that break action guns save a good few inches in the receiver, so they're definitely on my list. I'll keep the short barrel bang in mind too, not something I'd actually thought of, so thank you. And I do know that choke tends to matter a lot more than barrel length @canvasback, I just struggle to find shorter shotguns with choke tubes instead of just being built-in.
 
My thick bush gun is a coach gun with 20 inch barrels. I bought it for thick alder patches for rabbits and grouse. Fed good ammunition it patterns good. Choked IC and modified. As far as slugs go I have fired them from it but 50 yards would be absolute max distance. For slug shooting I bought a Mossberg 535 which I put scope on.
 
Maybe barrel length just a tad over valued? My 338 Win Mag is a bolt action Model 70 with 24" barrel - have been into some really thick and tight stuff without that getting "hung up" or whatever is thought to occur. My favourite shotgun for sharp tail grouse in willow bush and poplars, was a 26" barrel 12 gauge Browning Pump Shotgun, until I got into the break actions with 28" barrels - 28 gauge and 20 gauge. I do now own a 20" double barrel Stoeger Coach gun - in 20 gauge - yes, is short - but I do not really think of it as a "hunting" gun.
 
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One more thing .... if you are intending to become proficient in wing shooting .... then I suggest you listen to what canvasback has to say about barrel length. A 20" inch barreled shotgun is probably ok for thick brush and shooting birds and hares on the ground. But if you want to get into wing shooting ... and which is a totally different art (in my opinion) ... a longer barrel will likely swing better ....
 
I've never shot at a moving target, or at least a fast one. I was always told to take a headshot, or no shot at all. I was told longer barrels swing better, but I have no real frame of reference for that.
 
CarloNord said:
I've never shot at a moving target, or at least a fast one. I was always told to take a headshot, or no shot at all. I was told longer barrels swing better, but I have no real frame of reference for that.
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Don't know if you play golf at all but the analogy is the same. One of the biggest problems in hitting the golf ball well, along with hitting a moving target with a shotgun, is the natural tendency to "stop" the swing as soon as you have hit the ball or pulled the trigger. Everyone does it until they overcome that tendency. Longer barrels/heavier gun help you to continue to swing. Many very good shots just can not hit consistently with short barrels and a light gun. Others can.
 
Grouse Man said:
As soon as you move to a double barrel gun, the gun gets shorter by 8-10", the length of the receiver of a pump/semi gun. I've found no need to get anything shorter than 26" on a double, and I've gone through the same thick brush as everyone else.

And 18" barrels are stupid loud.
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hes-right-you-know-jpg.150631


A double (SxS or O/U) will be much shorter and handy to carry around... and should do OK with slugs at those ranges, just practice a bit.
- A light double that easy to carry will beat you up a little more with slugs.

If you want something "short" with more than 2rds capacity, there's always the RYS-K (or RMB-93)
About 42" with a 20" barrel and 6+1 capacity

images

But I'd be hard press to tell you where to et one :p
 
the spank said:
And once again....barrel length does not effect spread, choke controls spread...
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The difference in spread between an identically choked 16" barrel and a 28" is the 28" barrel puts you a foot closer to the target. If using a 16" barrel, a half-step forward corrects this discrepancy.

I'll taker my tongue outta my cheek now.
 
Barrel length affects swing and muzzle velocity for the most part, chokes and to some extent the brand of ammo affect patterns.

I’m in the shorter barrel camp for hunting, provided they have been threaded for chokes or have an appropriate fixed choke as some modern sxs’s do. There’s next to no wing shooting going on in the mountains, if the bird flushes and you hit it you’re lucky if you find it after you hike down the mountain. It’s mainly ground swatting on the road or while walking through thick cover or old overgrown trails, which is where a 14-20” barrel is nice to have. I’ve been known to use a 12.5” choked barrel to shoot grouse and hares, full choke and head shots. Works pretty nicely, ear pro is a must though. I have tinnitus so I never shoot a gun without it, so that’s a moot issue for me.

If I was in the lowlands or fields sure I’d bring a longer barrel along but I don’t have anything like that to hunt, so my 28-30” barrels sit and collect dust.
 
Personally i like shorter barreled guns. They need more precieved lead for flying targets but do just as well if youre used to them. I find i shoot better and faster with shorter barrels than longer ones but i always shoot low gun and have a bad shoulder. Longer barrels swing smoother and are harder to stop but muscle memory and good practice one can do well with shorter barrels
 
CarloNord said:
I just struggle to find shorter shotguns with choke tubes instead of just being built-in.
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I was going to make a comment that people often use too much choke (or get tangled between which choke is better) but unless you're planning on shooting steel shots or hunting turkeys with it... I wouldn't loose much sleep over. Just be familiar with how your gun patterns at various distance and run with it.
- Otherwise, have barrel threaded for choke is not that expensive.

Lack of sling?
- Got me curious, how many folks use a sling while hunting? I usually take them off as they always get tangled up in stuff, and the only time when I think it would be "nice" to have is when I get out of the wood and have to walk back to the truck/camp.
 
sillymike said:
- Got me curious, how many folks use a sling while hunting? I usually take them off as they always get tangled up in stuff, and the only time when I think it would be "nice" to have is when I get out of the wood and have to walk back to the truck/camp.
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I use a sling on a shotgun. It comes in handy when I have to handle my dogs.
 
sillymike said:
I was going to make a comment that people often use too much choke (or get tangled between which choke is better) but unless you're planning on shooting steel shots or hunting turkeys with it... I wouldn't loose much sleep over. Just be familiar with how your gun patterns at various distance and run with it.
- Otherwise, have barrel threaded for choke is not that expensive.

Lack of sling?
- Got me curious, how many folks use a sling while hunting? I usually take them off as they always get tangled up in stuff, and the only time when I think it would be "nice" to have is when I get out of the wood and have to walk back to the truck/camp.
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I would like the option to fire slugs, which is why I'm leery about having a built in choke. I don't know if I'll get into turkey hunting, I might get into duck or geese one day but I know I need a longer barrel for that anyway, so we'll chalk that up to Christmas presents for future me. Idk, I like versatility and future proofing myself. It's why I hmm and haw over .22 and .22 mag. You should've seen how much time I put into picking my truck! I also don't know any gunsmiths around me, but I suppose that shouldn't be too hard to find out.

I use the sling when I'm walking a trail usually, admittedly they do get caught up in twigs and other crap a lot, but it's nice to just have my girl over my shoulder while I walk a long way. The moment I spot a chicken though she's in my hand until I'm sure there's nothing left around. I guess that's why they make quick detach slings for when you need to get off the trail and into the bush.
 
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