shorty
From my understanding the main factors are chokes. Shotgun powder is fast and velocity loss between 26 inch and 12.5 inch is not that extreme...100-200fps possibly? If they are both cylinder bore the spread should be the same. This only leaves sighting and accuracy
This is all what I can remember and I could be wrong
Right on the money.
Choke is the sole determining factor for patterning, barrel length has nothing to do with it.
The myth is there due to the fact most short barreled guns are cylinder bore or even simly cut down irregular muzzle crown abominations.
Also right on about muzzle velocity. Not much loss as shotgun shells burn up their small powder volume quickly. Almost negligible loss unless you're talking reaching way out on high flying game with steel shot.....highly doubt this will be the case with these style of guns.
What is a big deal is the practical shooting ergos and handling of a really short shotgun.
They don't swing well, the muzzle blast and recoil is atrocious and they often have beads that are way too low causing them to shoot way high.
This combo makes them tough to shoot well even on the first shot at a stationary target. Making multiple hits on aerial targets gets a lot tougher.
It can be done but you'll need to practice with the gun and accomodate for the short barrel swing, high shooting tendancy as well as aclimatize to the howitzer like muzzle blast and recoil.
It can be done....practice and understand the weapon.
Setting up the gun with a decent stock, pad and either a big raised bead, pedestal mounted bead or some other options like a VR or something to get the front end of the gun up to get POI in line with POA.
If yer shooting slugs a ghost ring setup works great although a bead site with the above mentioned issues addressed will work good inside 50yds on deer, bear if you dial the POI and POA in properly.
I have always been a shorter barrel fan. Since I was a teenager I have been buying or modding my shotgun barrels back from the conventional 30/28/26 lengths down to 24/22/20. I don't own a shotgun longer than 24in and most of my field guns are ~20in.
I shoot plenty of sporting clays and skeet recreationally, hunt, varmint shoot and plink a lot.
I have 12.5in/14in/16in/18in/20in guns in sevral configurations. Pistolgrip tactical oriented setups, simple short buttstocked bear defenders, old school riot guns, a couple of outright sillyass zombie toys, and a couple of ghost ring sighted hunting rigs.
A short barreled shotgun is a very practical and capable weapon.
Set it up right, sight it in, then shoot it a bunch....practice practice practice.
PS ear plugs AND muffs when practising....and ya might want to wear a lil more than a tshirt.....or you'll be sorry....LOL
