Imput needed! What is the ideal minimum length of barrel for shooting clays?

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supahdave

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New to shotguns, Im looking at purchasing my first shotgun (870) and dont want to have a bunch of barrels. Is an 18.5" going to be any good at shooting clays? or is a 28'' plus a better bet. I like short barrels but if theyre no good for clays....

advice needed.
 
and if i want something all purpose and not dedicated (just looking to shoot clays at the range or out in the bush with some buddes) and have a fun gun to blow up pumpkins etc on the weekends?
 
You probably would get better handling and practical use out of a 26-28 inch barrel.
I have a 20 gauge M37 Ithaca, and using the 28 inch birdshot barrel for it, makes it handle like a dream.
So, do you want to just smash pumpkins or wouldn't you rather smash clays and knock flying tasty thingys out of the air? :)

Your choice friend.

Cheers!
 
first time shooting trap i shot a 4 and an 8 with a PA-459 tr with a 19.5 barrel. its fun and can be done but the longer barrel makes it that much easier.
 
Go with the 18.5. If it has screw in chokes that would be best.

If a club won't let you shoot clays with an 18.5, you don't want to be there anyways, too uppity.(these are the same guys that frown on pumpkin shooting)

Science has proven that the only thing barrel length effects is sight plane/follow through and not performance. For the odd round of clays and pumpin shooting an 18.5 will be fine.

I have a 26 and an 18.5 for my shotgun. I use it for everything. The 26 doesn't get much use anymore.

Just me though, most guys'll disagree.
 
Lucky for you, 870 barrels are cheap. If you want to shoot clays, get a 26" + barrel. Then buy a 18.5" if you want a shorty. I know sometimes you can get combo packages with a long and short barrel. I've seen them in catalogues anyway.
 
Back when pumps & semi's were the most popular for Skeet, the 26" barrel was the accepted standard
and 30" for Trap guns.

I've shot Skeet reasonably well with a shortened 20" SxS and short pumps and semis
(the Remington straight stocked 870 & 1100 "Upland Specials" IIRC, 21" or 23"), but the
'swing' and 'balance' of such guns leaves a lot to be desired for targets.

A 26" or 28" pump or semi is considered by many to be of versatile length for both
hunting & clay target shooting, and generally, offers more to overall balance and
a smooth,steady swing than will a shorter barrel.

In an O/U or SxS, either a 28" or 30" is more customary, and some (including me) prefer
32" barrels for Sporting Clays, 5-Stand and Trap ... and I don't find it cumbersome for
Skeet.

Overall, for targets, if given the choice, I prefer a longer rather than shorter barrel.
 
You could also consider a mossberg 500 combo with a 18.5 + 28 inch bbls. I think Cabelas Canada has them for $3-400 new in box and just have both. All bases covered.
 
Part of the reasoning on not allowing short barrels at clubs is noise. Go shoot next to a guy with a 16", then a 30". That being said, I'd still welcome you, more the merrier in the sport. I'd just reccomend a 28".
 
Maybe you should post your question in the Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clays section. You talk of shooting "clays...thus I would then assume this to be sporting clays, not trap or skeet. Realistically one can shoot clays with any shotgun if you just plan on doing this once or twice a year. If your planning on becoming a dedicated trap, skeet or sporting clays shooter I would then recommend that you do more research before making a purchase.
 
supahdave said:
New to shotguns, Im looking at purchasing my first shotgun (870) and dont want to have a bunch of barrels. Is an 18.5" going to be any good at shooting clays? or is a 28'' plus a better bet. I like short barrels but if theyre no good for clays....

advice needed.
Click to expand...

Are you shooting clays in the back 40 with your buddies, or at a real trap & skeet club? Those short barrelled guns are much louder, btw, and if you go to a club and shoot 2 or more rounds of trap or skeet, it starts wearing on you (and others).

A longer barrel gives you a MUCH smoother swing. I've done well at skeet with my old 30" trap O/U. Real short barrels are very easy to move and to stop, and that's the problem. A 26" or 28" barrelled gun can do just about anything well. An 18.5" barrel, not so much.
 
Having more then one barrel for an 870 is fine....they were made for it. I'd buy the best deal older nice shape 870 with whatever barrel it has from the E.E. and then look for another deal on either a shorter or longer barrel.
Badboybeeson has been selling nice 18.5 inch barrels with rifle sights lately and some of them are even threaded for chokes.
 
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