long barrel shotguns

[catnthehatt]

The length of the barrel has nothing to do with the pattern or the range, but longer barrels certainly do dampen sudden movements, thus helping with the swing. As for longer sighting plane, you are not supposed be looking at at the barrel. You don't aim a shotgun. You point it !

I will attempt explain this for those that are wondering about Otis's post

Although the shotgun is pointed and not directly aimed, you still see the barrel in your peripheral view, and that is why people mention the longer sighting plane.
It is not nearly so important as whether or not the gun swings smoothly however, but still it is a minor factor.

There has been a trend in the past 20 years or so ( maybe more) for longer barrels in skeet , where in years gone by the 28 and sometimes even 26" barrels were very common. nowadays most dedicated skeet guns can have 30" or even longer barrels at times.
It's because of the swing being concentrated on - that and the fact that someone probably won some major championships with longer barrels and the crown jumped on the band wagon!
Sighting plane matters far more in rifle shooting where the sights are aimed directly and the distance between the sights helps , but with receiver sights and globe fronts they are still not in direct focus, the target itself should be.
Cat

 

[Magellann]

I like the longer barrels myself. My favorite 12ga is my Winchester Model 12 Heavy Duck gun with 32" barrel.

I have the same one that Ive used for years, I actually just retired it from hunting last year, because I don't want to shoot steel shot through it anymore. I'm hoping the new replacement shotgun serves me as well as the model 12 did.

 

[the spank]

Barrel length basically has zero to do with range, velocity, pattern etc....it's basically all about how the shotgun swings and points.

Funny thing, I started shooting ATA in 1986 at age 22. I have never seen anyone at the 27 yard line with a tacticool 14" barreled version but seen a lot of 30" -35" barrelled guns back there! Come to think of it I have never seen one ever called to shoot-offs in singles(16yd) with their little shorties either?

 

[Suther]

Funny thing, I started shooting ATA in 1986 at age 22. I have never seen anyone at the 27 yard line with a tacticool 14" barreled version but seen a lot of 30" -35" barrelled guns back there! Come to think of it I have never seen one ever called to shoot-offs in singles(16yd) with their little shorties either?

Some clubs wont even let you USE a shorty. 20 or 24" minimum barrel lengths are not unheard of. Silly, for sure, but not unheard of.

One of these days Im gonna go try and bust some clays with an Outlaw or Backpacker... That'll be a hoot! lol

 

[serotonin]

I personally like the longer barrels. I have a Mossberg 500 and a Remington 878 Automaster that both have 30'' full choke barrels.

 

[brybenn]

I have a couple guns that are 32" but I prefer 26" for everything. I find my shorter guns get used more

 

[Tjv787]

Can a 18.5 inch barrel with a modified choke be fairly comparable to a 28 inch or 30 inch barrel accuracy ?

 

[3macs1]

Funny thing, I started shooting ATA in 1986 at age 22. I have never seen anyone at the 27 yard line with a tacticool 14" barreled version but seen a lot of 30" -35" barrelled guns back there! Come to think of it I have never seen one ever called to shoot-offs in singles(16yd) with their little shorties either?

Yes sir. Never seen anyone with a shortie ever running the 100 either from any yardage in fact don't recall any 25's now that I think of it
You make me feel real old since I still have my 34" barrels for the 870 TB trap and my 1100 trap somewhere and they will die with me. I was not a great trap shooter that is for sure but would always pick up some birds with the 34 vs the standard 30". Great meaning 23 average normally Skeet was my game
Cheers

 

[Claven2]

There was a patterning test done by one of the big gun rags a few years ago where a single shot was cut down an inch at a time and the velocity and pattern were measured. There was no effect down to 20" and only minute effect down to 12.5". Below that, the patterns opened way up and groupings got a lot worse.

Bottom line, they concluded longer barrels are more for the shooter's ease of use than for any measurable effect in shot patterns or killing power. Many people shoot better with a longer and heavier barrel as it steadies the swing and adds sighting plane. At short ranges, I don't think bbl length matters much at all.

I have both long and short barrels. Both have their time and place around the hobby farm and at the range.

 

[3macs1]

There was a patterning test done by one of the big gun rags a few years ago where a single shot was cut down an inch at a time and the velocity and pattern were measured. There was no effect down to 20" and only minute effect down to 12.5". Below that, the patterns opened way up and groupings got a lot worse.

Bottom line, they concluded longer barrels are more for the shooter's ease of use than for any measurable effect in shot patterns or killing power. Many people shoot better with a longer and heavier barrel as it steadies the swing and adds sighting plane. At short ranges, I don't think bbl length matters much at all.

I have both long and short barrels. Both have their time and place around the hobby farm and at the range.

I guess is you call losing up to 25 feet per second per inch no effect I don't. Most powders used in heavy field loads and steel loads are not quick burning and see this, target not as much.
It is simple the longer the barrel, the more precise the gun will be on longer targets like trap and the less the perceived lead will be making it easier to smoke them

Has anyone ever run 100 in trap with one of their short barrels. That I would pay to see

Less reading on the internet and more shooting to see the differences IMO for many guys. When a dude like Spank who shot more targets probally than most of us will ever load in a machine let alone try to break sees a difference there is one you can believe that

My old man was like spank a serious trap shooter in his day and shot all over canada and the US with never less than a 30" barrel. If I ever walked up with even a 26" on the gun for a round the look I got alone would be enough to make me change barrels

I only wish I could shoot trap as well as he did and our summer vacation was to toss all the kids in the wagon and head out for a trap shoot somewhere. I remember Epps before it was even Epps as a kid from him shooting trap in Ontario
Never ever seen a short barrel anywhere on a trap field and we seen many locations and some real fine shooters and even attended a few grand americans but just as patch collectors and to watch
Cheers

 

[stubblejumper]

I use 32" barrels (12 gauge)for trap, 30" barrels(20 or 28 gauge) for skeet and sporting clays, and 28" barrels for hunting. When I shot a 12 gauge for skeet and sporting clays, it had 32" barrels.

 

[geologist]

Swing and follow through is way better for me with a long barrel.

 

[Claven2]

It's not my opinion, for what it's worth, it was a gun rag test. Take from it what you will, but I'm not advocating trap shooter use 14" barrels or anything. There is more to shooting than the performance of the gun itself. Familiarity, ergonomics, and shooter ability are all much more important, I think. Also, nobody will ever run 100 with a shirty as most trap ranges, at least around here, dictate minimum barrel lengths well over 20". If top shooters prefer longer O/U guns, then it's unlikely one will even try a match with a short pump shotgun, let alone practice with one enough to get proficient with it. Just saying.

And the test included FPS measurements. It didn't drop 25 per inch. I'll try to find a link to it, I've posted it before.

Edit: found it. http://http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=111

Between 30" and 12", the velocity drop was only 200fps total. Not a big swing, when you think about it. Well under 25fps per inch.

When I use my tractor gun 12.5" 870 12 gauge to despatch porcupines, I still kill them dead with #4 game loads way up in 40ft+ trees, no differently than my longer guns. But I have no illusions about using it to shoot at trap or birds flying across my field of fire. It swings like Sh!t!

I guess is you call losing up to 25 feet per second per inch no effect I don't. Most powders used in heavy field loads and steel loads are not quick burning and see this, target not as much.
It is simple the longer the barrel, the more precise the gun will be on longer targets like trap and the less the perceived lead will be making it easier to smoke them

Has anyone ever run 100 in trap with one of their short barrels. That I would pay to see

Less reading on the internet and more shooting to see the differences IMO for many guys. When a dude like Spank who shot more targets probally than most of us will ever load in a machine let alone try to break sees a difference there is one you can believe that

My old man was like spank a serious trap shooter in his day and shot all over canada and the US with never less than a 30" barrel. If I ever walked up with even a 26" on the gun for a round the look I got alone would be enough to make me change barrels

I only wish I could shoot trap as well as he did and our summer vacation was to toss all the kids in the wagon and head out for a trap shoot somewhere. I remember Epps before it was even Epps as a kid from him shooting trap in Ontario
Never ever seen a short barrel anywhere on a trap field and we seen many locations and some real fine shooters and even attended a few grand americans but just as patch collectors and to watch
Cheers

 

[3macs1]

It's not my opinion, for what it's worth, it was a gun rag test. Take from it what you will, but I'm not advocating trap shooter use 14" barrels or anything. There is more to shooting than the performance of the gun itself. Familiarity, ergonomics, and shooter ability are all much more important, I think. Also, nobody will ever run 100 with a shirty as most trap ranges, at least around here, dictate minimum barrel lengths well over 20". If top shooters prefer longer O/U guns, then it's unlikely one will even try a match with a short pump shotgun, let alone practice with one enough to get proficient with it. Just saying.

And the test included FPS measurements. It didn't drop 25 per inch. I'll try to find a link to it, I've posted it before.

Edit: found it. http://http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=111

Between 30" and 12", the velocity drop was only 200fps total. Not a big swing, when you think about it. Well under 25fps per inch.

When I use my tractor gun 12.5" 870 12 gauge to despatch porcupines, I still kill them dead with #4 game loads way up in 40ft+ trees, no differently than my longer guns. But I have no illusions about using it to shoot at trap or birds flying across my field of fire. It swings like Sh!t!

I'm sorry and believe me I am not trying to pick on you in fact not that it matters but I am starting to like your strong desire for knowledge and believe me I am just a little puppy compared to others here on that note. That being said am I ever glad you didnot work with me as a EIT you would be slapped a few times over the past 2 weeks
I think this tests you shared was done in the hills of west virginia by the sounds of it
You failed to mention here the dude in this report was shooting slugs and measuring the spread on 00 buck shot every 6 " plus was getting the odd round that was not following the pattern so was eliminated from the tests.
Any how tell the guy that reloads steel shot that 200 fps is nothing when 1300 cripples and 1500 kills
take care
Cheers
This part to me is priceless I enjoyed it.

At the point when we dropped in length from 21 inches down to 20 inches the velocity dropped an immediate 250 fps. Noticing this drastic change, we fired several additional rounds to make sure there was not some kind of ammo abnormality but all remained in the same area. At this point we thought we discovered some magic combination of barrel length where there is a drastic change downward, and just as soon as we digested the previous numbers, we were scratching our heads on the very next cut.

 

[Claven2]

I did not do the test and it was a little redneck, but it's still not 25fps per inch. I could not find any source backing that figure, though frankly I have not tried it myself and have no desire to ruin samples of barrels to find out.

Disagreement and discourse is great, but the EIT comment is uncalled for and un-gentlemanly.

For the record, I shoot upland with lead and when I rarely try may hand at trap or skeet, my range allows lead there too. I only shoot steel at geese and ducks. I use a 28" beretta Xtrema II for that. It works. Birds die.

 

[3macs1]

I did not do the test and it was a little redneck, but it's still not 25fps per inch. I could not find any source backing that figure, though frankly I have not tried it myself and have no desire to ruin samples of barrels to find out.

Disagreement and discourse is great, but the EIT comment is uncalled for and un-gentlemanly.

For the record, I shoot upland with lead and when I rarely try may hand at trap or skeet, my range allows lead there too. I only shoot steel at geese and ducks. I use a 28" beretta Xtrema II for that. It works. Birds die.

You are right the EIT comment was just a joke since I figured not everyone would catch it but regardless you have my sincere apology on that
All I am saying is even if it is 200 fps or whatever that is huge to some shotgun guys especially those using steel shot or slow burn powders so barrel length does make a difference worth noting and it was not correct to state it had no effect
If you have not figured it out yet I am an A type personality and everything I do is black and white no grey areas in my life which is why I originally chose the career I did . In fact when tested was one of the worst cases they seen they said and met all of the 16 signs. Been retired for over 10 years and still have a to do list for the following morning which is really NUTS at this stage of my life but cannot function without it
take care

 

[Claven2]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm not far different, though still 10 yrs before I can retire.

Honestly I don't shoot clays enough to know if 200fps would matter. But I suspect that if you shoot the same gun and load consistently, you adapt to the combo you use a lot.

For hunting, I don't use SBS's, I carry mine as a utility gun when out maintaining my trails, etc. but for all-day carry they are very handy and useful tools.

 

[harrygun]

I read that the shot reaches maximum velocity at about 18" in the barrel.

At my club the minimum length of barrel allowed is 26".

I believe at 26"-40" the barrel length does not affect velocity or pattern but more personal preference in terms of gun mount and gun fit.

On a side note I bet if a top shooter practised with an 18" barrel with his perfect gun mount he'd eventually shoot 100 straight lol

 

[Kenny]

I shoot 32" O/U for sporting clay. 30" for waterfowl in a auto loader . Because of the action, autos and pumps are longer Than o/u with the same barrel length. I like the swing on a long barreled gun. Even skeet which was almost entirely, 26" barrels years ago, has migrated to longer barrels. Short barrel guns have there place. Like shooting woodcock, or rabbits in tight cover, or birds over a good pointing dog.

 

[westkraut]

About 15 years ago I bought a another semi-auto and elected to go with a 24 inch barrel for use in field and over-water waterfowl hunting. After a few days in the field with good success on geese using the full choke, I switched to modified and and have kept that choke in place for all hunting (waterfowl, grouse) except for turkey. The full choke shaved the feathers off some birds at closer ranges and made pate of some breasts so the modified seemed like the answer. For waterfowl I found my shot per harvested bird greatly reduced in the range up 60 yards over decoys, although most shots were half that distance. I always keep my empty hulls and record of harvest to give me an idea of how good or bad my shooting was at the end of each season. Shots per bird dropped from 2.7 to 1.6 with this change and that included finishing shots for the wounded. I also have the practice of switching shells from 2 3/4 inch #4 or #2 if ducks and snow geese are most prevalent, to magnum 3 inch #2, or BBs if I hear or see big Canada's coming in my direction. I just never wasted shot on far off birds as the likelihood of crippling was too great with any barrel. I also have a 20 gauge with 22 inch barrel that is almost as effective for waterfowl, again using a modified choke, and IC for grouse. I just find it faster and easier to handle guns with shorter barrels, especially for snap shots and follow through, and will leave the longer canons for those who want to sky-bust into the clouds. Just my experience and preference!