advantage of a long barrel for hunting ?
- Thread starter HappyCamper
- Start date
Most rifled barrels are under 24 inches, usually 20 or 22. Either is fine. A rifled barrel for slugs is not something you'll likely be shooting to extreme ranges with. Keep in mind, if you run a rifled slug barrel, then you must run NON rifled slugs. If this is to be a dedicated slug gun then go ahead. If you're looking to shoot slugs from your shotgun, I'd stick with some quality RIFLED slugs and use your smooth bore barrel.
TDC
TDC
Dah??? Where does a "longer barrel produce tighter patterns at greater distances"????? Have you EVER patterned choke , barrel, ammo combinations? Short barrels can/could produce lower velocities depending on powder configuration. There is NO physical proof of barrel lenght affecting patterns, at ANY distance! Barrel design ( forcing cones, dimensions, choke contrictions) and ammo design will affect patterns. A longer barrel, 28, 30 inches on a semi is similar to a 34 inch 0/U. The sight plane improves longer shots even if we do not look at the front sight! It is only in the background as one has to look at the leading edge of a target. Look at the front post, shoot and miss behind! I have never been over barrelled with my 30 inch Beretta 303, 390 or 391 while grouse or rabbit hunting! If the gun fits, it will shoot where you point! "Use the Force" shoot where you look and not where the sight points!
Best regards,
Henry
273 birds in 07!
The barrel lenght doesn't change anything on patterns, its the choke's job...
In the smoothbore case the lenght doesn't change velocity with modern powders unless its a real short barrel like below 14-15 inches. The lenght of the barrel is somewhat a personnal feel and needs. A longer barrel is smoother to swing and you have a much longer sight lenght, its more forgiving speaking of accuracy. A shorter one is the opposite it swings faster and as a short sight lenght. It is easier to lead correctly with a longer gun, but with practice the same may be done on a shorter one.
In a rifled barrel however, since you'd be shooting a saboted slug, a longer barrel will provide more velocity like any rifle, as TDC said they are mostly of the same lenght.
You need to chose what you need: a dedicated slug gun or a slug gun with a very likely use of shot.
On a rifled-barreled shotgun, forget using shot, the pattern would be messed up, for best results it should be saboted slugs only. That is if you intend to shoot at 100m like you've said. It is more accurate but specialized gun.
If you intend to shoot at shorter range, say 50m and wish to use shot, maybe the smoothbore is the way to go, they are less accurate than the rifled but at 50m maybe you don't need tack-driving accuracy trading all the versatility of the shotgun...
Its all about your needs, longer range and accuracy or shorter accuracy and versatility. Same about the lenght, you might prefer something longer for a smoother swing or a shorter one for a faster swing and a more compact size to carry around.
In the smoothbore case the lenght doesn't change velocity with modern powders unless its a real short barrel like below 14-15 inches. The lenght of the barrel is somewhat a personnal feel and needs. A longer barrel is smoother to swing and you have a much longer sight lenght, its more forgiving speaking of accuracy. A shorter one is the opposite it swings faster and as a short sight lenght. It is easier to lead correctly with a longer gun, but with practice the same may be done on a shorter one.
In a rifled barrel however, since you'd be shooting a saboted slug, a longer barrel will provide more velocity like any rifle, as TDC said they are mostly of the same lenght.
You need to chose what you need: a dedicated slug gun or a slug gun with a very likely use of shot.
On a rifled-barreled shotgun, forget using shot, the pattern would be messed up, for best results it should be saboted slugs only. That is if you intend to shoot at 100m like you've said. It is more accurate but specialized gun.
If you intend to shoot at shorter range, say 50m and wish to use shot, maybe the smoothbore is the way to go, they are less accurate than the rifled but at 50m maybe you don't need tack-driving accuracy trading all the versatility of the shotgun...
Its all about your needs, longer range and accuracy or shorter accuracy and versatility. Same about the lenght, you might prefer something longer for a smoother swing or a shorter one for a faster swing and a more compact size to carry around.
long barrel
Longer barrels do not pattern any tighter than shorter barrels. It all about the chokes. Advantage of longer barrel is longer sight plane. This means there is a greater distance from your eye to the end sight. This leaves less room for error. It also tends to swing better than shorter guns.
Shorters guns are certainly quicker on target when you have Teal and Woodies buzzing you at 35 feet.
There is a place for both in watefowling. 28" seems a good compromise.
Longer barrels do not pattern any tighter than shorter barrels. It all about the chokes. Advantage of longer barrel is longer sight plane. This means there is a greater distance from your eye to the end sight. This leaves less room for error. It also tends to swing better than shorter guns.
Shorters guns are certainly quicker on target when you have Teal and Woodies buzzing you at 35 feet.
There is a place for both in watefowling. 28" seems a good compromise.
I read the post earlier about length of barrel vs. pattern density, but didn't want to start an argument, you know me! The longer barrels may give slight increase in vel., longer sighting plane, more exact targeting, and smoother swing and follow-through, but does not effect pattern density. The swing /followup is important as evidenced by skeet shooters and sporting clays shooters going to longer barrels. I personally find longer barrels quieter and kick less.
They will definitely be quieter and will have less felt recoil and bbl jump, as far as velocity, according to (if I remember correctly) Remington's website, all of your powder is burned up in 16" so anything over 18 should have the same velocity. (in fact you may lose slightly due to friction)
Really it is all about balance and swing. I mentioned earlier about liking 26" bbls on an O/U, I am now considering the 28" for a bit better swing.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
There are "trade-offs" all around with respect to barrel length ... swing, balance, ease of handling in the overgrowth, etc. - however "patterning"
is not a criteria determined vis-a-vis barrel length .
The new Benelli 24"-barrelled 12 gauge "UltraLight" auto loader, for example, is IDENTICAL in overall length to a 28" Beretta 20 gauge Silver Pigeon "C" Over & Under. However, to me, the Benelli seems overly light (particularly for a 12 gauge) and balances very muzzle-light as well. The balance point is well behind the action closing button. "Swing" is almost non-existant with the Benelli... you have to continuously push the muzzle and consciously make the effort follow through - otherwise the gun just "stops". The Silver Pigeon on the other hand swings like a dream. It balances just barely ahead of the hinge pin. No matter the cost, brand, gauge or action , I'd take the balance and handling characteristics of the Silver Pigeon for an upland gun every time.
IMHO, Trap & Waterfowl guns tend to be more beneficial with 30" or 32" barrels that are balanced to be somewhat muzzle-heavy to encourage a deliberate move and sustained swing. Sporting Clays guns and Skeet guns are better balanced to be neutral, i.e., right between the hands. Over & Under Sporters today are generally at least 30", with 32" preferred and some finding favour with barrels out to 34". Semis tend to be either 28" or 30". Skeet guns are typically 28" or 30" O/U's, with a few experimenting with 32" guns, while semi-s are generally 26" or 28", with a few shooting 30-inchers.
The vast majority will find 28" O/U's or SxS's to have the optimum swing & balance for the Uplands, however, a few will favour other lenths between 25 and 30". Most semi-auto's and pumps with 24" or 26" will perform best in the uplands ... and like everything else, some will prefer barrels ranging from 21 to 30" . Find the optimum for you and your preferences for field and/or target application - in terms of ease of handling, swing & balance.
For a rifled slug gun, the most popular length choices seem to be 20"-24"
is not a criteria determined vis-a-vis barrel length .
The new Benelli 24"-barrelled 12 gauge "UltraLight" auto loader, for example, is IDENTICAL in overall length to a 28" Beretta 20 gauge Silver Pigeon "C" Over & Under. However, to me, the Benelli seems overly light (particularly for a 12 gauge) and balances very muzzle-light as well. The balance point is well behind the action closing button. "Swing" is almost non-existant with the Benelli... you have to continuously push the muzzle and consciously make the effort follow through - otherwise the gun just "stops". The Silver Pigeon on the other hand swings like a dream. It balances just barely ahead of the hinge pin. No matter the cost, brand, gauge or action , I'd take the balance and handling characteristics of the Silver Pigeon for an upland gun every time.
IMHO, Trap & Waterfowl guns tend to be more beneficial with 30" or 32" barrels that are balanced to be somewhat muzzle-heavy to encourage a deliberate move and sustained swing. Sporting Clays guns and Skeet guns are better balanced to be neutral, i.e., right between the hands. Over & Under Sporters today are generally at least 30", with 32" preferred and some finding favour with barrels out to 34". Semis tend to be either 28" or 30". Skeet guns are typically 28" or 30" O/U's, with a few experimenting with 32" guns, while semi-s are generally 26" or 28", with a few shooting 30-inchers.
The vast majority will find 28" O/U's or SxS's to have the optimum swing & balance for the Uplands, however, a few will favour other lenths between 25 and 30". Most semi-auto's and pumps with 24" or 26" will perform best in the uplands ... and like everything else, some will prefer barrels ranging from 21 to 30" . Find the optimum for you and your preferences for field and/or target application - in terms of ease of handling, swing & balance.
For a rifled slug gun, the most popular length choices seem to be 20"-24"
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manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
a longer barrel on a shotgun gives a longer sight plane and smoother swing, thats about it.
it has little to do with patterning - thats mostly determined by your load, forcing cone and choke. an extra few inches of barrel will not change your pattern.
it has little to do with patterning - thats mostly determined by your load, forcing cone and choke. an extra few inches of barrel will not change your pattern.
Long barrells were needed back when black powder was all there was,cause slow burning powder needed a barrel lenght long enough to let the powder burn enough to build gas enough to build pressures to propel the bullet to max levels.
With faster smokless powders ,less barrel length is needed to do the job!
Just longer barrell more sight radious.
Bo
)
With faster smokless powders ,less barrel length is needed to do the job!
Just longer barrell more sight radious.
Bo
)
Longer barrels point better; I can't really explain why, but of my two 870's, the one with the 26" vent rib barrel and bead sight feels lighter and livelier and points more easily than my Marine Magnum with ghost ring sights.
Both do just fine at busting clays and I've got rabbits and grouse with both, but the longer-barrelled one is easier on snap shots.
Both do just fine at busting clays and I've got rabbits and grouse with both, but the longer-barrelled one is easier on snap shots.
