Shortest barrell for ducks .....
- Thread starter eiderduckhunter
- Start date
The shorter barrel is nicer in a tight duck blind, and the longer barrel with more weight forward helps to keep the swing smooth and I think helps with the follow through. I think choke and shot selection are more important than barrel length. Just my .02
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Pumps & semi-autos handle reasonably well for waterfowling with 26 and 28
inch barells. Doubles seem to swing much better with 28 and 30 inch barrels.
Good patterns with premium ammunition and a gun that fits, (shoots where you look) balances and swings well all contribute to what you need for pass shooting. A short barelled gun IMHO is counter-productive to good long range
shooting ... whether it be on game or clays. But I'd take the 18-incher filled with buck-shot in a tight situation where my own wellfare was of concern !
inch barells. Doubles seem to swing much better with 28 and 30 inch barrels.
Good patterns with premium ammunition and a gun that fits, (shoots where you look) balances and swings well all contribute to what you need for pass shooting. A short barelled gun IMHO is counter-productive to good long range
shooting ... whether it be on game or clays. But I'd take the 18-incher filled with buck-shot in a tight situation where my own wellfare was of concern !
Unless you are a fantastic wingshooter who can control his swing and lead, an 18" barrel is going to be hell for pass shooting. It might be great for over decoys, or in flooded timber, or jumpshooting, but I'd pass on the 18" for pass shooting. The longer barrels maintain momentum for good swing and followthrough.
My best shooting shotgun is an old autoloading Winchester with a 22" pipe. As mentioned, it is great for jump shooting, my prefered method. But I have also taken long passing shots with this gun. I find a short, (I'm sure I'll catch flak for this) carbine type shotgun is about as nice a carry gun as any. They are perfect for nothing, but work great for almost every type of shotgun hunting you could do. Their usually lighter, sweet handling in the trees, point almost instinctivly and are great in a blind. They do reak havoc on your ears though.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
I have shot decoyed ducks and geese with my IGA coach gun, 12-ga. 20" bbls. It worked fine for me, but I have fired well over 10k rounds through a couple of those guns, so I am used to the way they swing.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
The standard barrel lengths are standard for a good reason. They work well for most people in most situations. Why do so many on this site promote all the weird stuff? You can go to extremes on either end, but to what purpose?
Odds are, a normal barrel length will serve you best. Pass shooting demands a smooth swing and follow through with a clear view of the relationship between barrel and target. That is aided by weight forward balance and a long barrel, and hindered by a short barrel. In the past some specialty waterfowl gun barrels were made as long as 36" for pass shooting. Now standard is somewhere between 28-30", a more practical and handy length. I do a lot of waterfowl hunting, and have for over 30 years. Personally wouldn't use a pump/semi with less than 26" of length for pass shooting. The only way to know for sure what's best for you is to try the model of gun you like and compare with another one you can borrow with a shorter/longer length.
FWIW, the top competitors at sporting clays never use barrels shorter than 26" and most use 28" - 30" because they shoot higher scores with them on the long crossing shots and the relatively long barrels are no handicap close in.
If you were wingshooting grouse in the alder thickets, your needs would be different, but for pass shooting waterfowl, the choice is pretty clear IMHO.
Odds are, a normal barrel length will serve you best. Pass shooting demands a smooth swing and follow through with a clear view of the relationship between barrel and target. That is aided by weight forward balance and a long barrel, and hindered by a short barrel. In the past some specialty waterfowl gun barrels were made as long as 36" for pass shooting. Now standard is somewhere between 28-30", a more practical and handy length. I do a lot of waterfowl hunting, and have for over 30 years. Personally wouldn't use a pump/semi with less than 26" of length for pass shooting. The only way to know for sure what's best for you is to try the model of gun you like and compare with another one you can borrow with a shorter/longer length.
FWIW, the top competitors at sporting clays never use barrels shorter than 26" and most use 28" - 30" because they shoot higher scores with them on the long crossing shots and the relatively long barrels are no handicap close in.
If you were wingshooting grouse in the alder thickets, your needs would be different, but for pass shooting waterfowl, the choice is pretty clear IMHO.
Thanks alot for all the help guys. Just another question what choke should i be using, im ussally shooting at the ducks anywhere from 20 feet over my head to about 40 yards. A few people say that IM would prolly be best, i know one thing for sure is that i learned the hard way using my old 500a, with full choke.
The best advice would be to try different chokes with the loads you plan on shooting on a pattern board.
At 20' the pattern of a shotgun, with any choke more restrictive than a cylinder, will be in the neighbourhood of 7 inches in diametre. You'd better be shooting for the head.
At 20' the pattern of a shotgun, with any choke more restrictive than a cylinder, will be in the neighbourhood of 7 inches in diametre. You'd better be shooting for the head.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Many find a "Modified" choke to be a good bet for the widest variety
of waterfowling situations.
Twenty feet calls for a "Cylinder" or even "Spreader" choke, while 40 yards is
definitely out at "Full" choke range. Modified pretty much "splits" the ranges you mentioned. Bottom line, you still have to get the pattern on the bird, hence many would agree gun fit is more important than choke (within reasonable limits of shotgun range) ... it has to "shoot where you look ! "
of waterfowling situations.
Twenty feet calls for a "Cylinder" or even "Spreader" choke, while 40 yards is
definitely out at "Full" choke range. Modified pretty much "splits" the ranges you mentioned. Bottom line, you still have to get the pattern on the bird, hence many would agree gun fit is more important than choke (within reasonable limits of shotgun range) ... it has to "shoot where you look ! "
I love a short bbl on agun... but shorth bbl is a relative term. A 21"-23" bbl on an auto/pump swings about the same as a 24-26" bbl on an O/U or SXS.
I currently shoot a 26" O/U and a 26" Auto, I would love to get a 24" Auto.
I have hunted with Coach guns and they really are (IMO) too short to swing properly.
I currently shoot a 26" O/U and a 26" Auto, I would love to get a 24" Auto.
I have hunted with Coach guns and they really are (IMO) too short to swing properly.
Although some guys/gals can shoot a short barrel quite well while wingshooting, you will not do as well as using a longer barrel. Depends on the type of shooting you are doing as well. But take a look at a trap or skeet range or a sporting clays course. 26"-30" is the norm.
