Effect of Barrel Lengths?

[BlastingChipmunk]

I am confused to what different barrel lengths do to a shotgun, Can someone tell me what different applications have as their standard barrel length?
I also want to know what changing the length will do to the properties of the shotgun.
And lastly, I want to know how far you could cut down a barrel without losing lots of velocity (less than 5% loss)

Help Me! The Poor Confused Nut.

 

[sillymike]

Assuming your are using removable choke tubes, you won't see much difference in velocity. Longer barrel shotgun tend to swing better...

 

[Waterfowler]

Does not make much difference in velocity, patterns, etc.

It is more a personal thing. Whatever you are most comfortable with and what you are using the gun for.

 

[BlastingChipmunk]

I'm liking the sound of this

For choke tubes once your barrel is tapped, any brand will fit right? Or do they not fit just to piss you off?

 

[BIGREDD]

No... you will be limited to chokes of a certain thread and length.... they are not standard.
And yes the gun Manufacturers have engineered these differences entirely to piss you off... they actually have surveys done to gauge the level of pissed- offness of their customers. I suggest you send a letter to every manufacturer and explain how pissed off you are... they will be glad to hear it.
I'm serious.

 

[Morgayne]

I was told that accuracy would increase with barrel length, which seems to make sense but I would like to confirm this is true?

 

[mdbuckle]

Length does affect accuracy somewhat. Longer barrel = longer sight plane and a smoother swing when shooting flying targets.

 

[Claybuster]

I was told that accuracy would increase with barrel length, which seems to make sense but I would like to confirm this is true?

If accuracy is determined by a person's likelihood of shooting better I guess an argument can be made it does. Most people tend to shoot better with longer barrels or perhaps worse with shorter guns but the gun's accuracy remains unchanged.

As for choke tubes not only do they not interchange among manufacturers they often don't interchange within manufacturers. Browning has made guns with Invector, Invector Plus and Midas chokes. Beretta has made Mobile Chokes, Optima and now Optima Plus. It can be very confusing.