My trap gun is a 12 gauge with a heavier receiver, so it balances better with longer barrels. I shoot skeet and sporting clays with 28/20 gauges, and I find they balance nice with 30" barrels
who's using 30" or longer barrels and for what ?
- Thread starter madashell
- Start date
My trap gun is a 12 gauge with a heavier receiver, so it balances better with longer barrels. I shoot skeet and sporting clays with 28/20 gauges, and I find they balance nice with 30" barrels
to summarize what I've learned/confirmed from this thread:
- skeet & trap are sports born of practicing shooting flying birds ... but since it's a controlled environment one can push the limits of an optimal barrel length of say 30", 32", 34" etc.
- however, hunting flying birds in the field being an entirely different situation, many tend to go with slightly handier lengths such as 28", 26" and maybe 24" on the very bottom end.
I've been looking at the 30" & above barrels but since I can't see taking up skeet and/or trap I don't really need a barrel in this length range.
However, I may want to consider picking up a 26" or 28" (probably 26") for practical field use.
I appreciate the advice and details of your experiences guys. Probably saved me some money on a very long barrel that most likely would have sat around doing nothing.
Keep it coming though, enjoy reading what works for others.
- skeet & trap are sports born of practicing shooting flying birds ... but since it's a controlled environment one can push the limits of an optimal barrel length of say 30", 32", 34" etc.
- however, hunting flying birds in the field being an entirely different situation, many tend to go with slightly handier lengths such as 28", 26" and maybe 24" on the very bottom end.
I've been looking at the 30" & above barrels but since I can't see taking up skeet and/or trap I don't really need a barrel in this length range.
However, I may want to consider picking up a 26" or 28" (probably 26") for practical field use.
I appreciate the advice and details of your experiences guys. Probably saved me some money on a very long barrel that most likely would have sat around doing nothing.
Keep it coming though, enjoy reading what works for others.
Maritime Storm
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview, NB
They type of action affects this choice as well, an O/U with 32" barrels is the same overall length as a slide-action or semi with a 28" barrel.
Back in the early 1970's I went shopping for my first new shotgun. I visited Richland Arms, then an importer of European shotguns. Amidst the sea of guns in the middle of the floor rack display area was a monster. An 8 gauge, 48", full choke single barrel break-action shotgun made by Zabala, Spain. Asking what one would use it for I was told "probably not much and then only once", being illegal for game even back then. A representative piece of the bygone era of market hunting.
It may find a new purpose in the modern era though, illegally flying Drone Busting at our airports.
It may find a new purpose in the modern era though, illegally flying Drone Busting at our airports.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
I should have been a bit more clear. I was referring to more of the clay's sports guns and double barrels. I also look at 28" barrels as getting to be a bit on the longer side. Talking to others, as well as what I read on other forums, many of us "older guys" prefer longer barrels on double barrels. What the manufactures are pushing, or what younger buyers want, I can't really say as I'm neither young nor do I buy new. The reality is, it is a personal choice. Sometimes it is not just as easy as buying a gun with a short or long barrel. It depends on how a gun fits and how well it balances etc. Certain length barrels on a particular gun just work better as far as pointing and swing etc. It's something one would have to try to know, particularly with doubles. So it's not quite as easy as just saying a 24" or 26" gun is the perfect field hunting gun. For mostly bush hunting, sure a shorter barrel is nice but kind of useless if you can't hit anything because the overall dimensions of the gun just don't work for the shooter. When you get into birds such as pheasants or late season chicken or waterfowl, many hunters start leaning again toward the longer barrels, not because of how it displaces shot but because of swing, follow through, balance, whippiness etc.
- Location
- Barrie, Ontario
My goto for all clay games is a 32". I feel that if you can carry it broken, by the receiver, with arms hanging and it doesn't hit the ground, your golden.
I like shorter field guns so they don't get caught up in brush, or get stabbed in the mud. Also, breaking a 30" o/u in a canoe is impossible.
C
I like shorter field guns so they don't get caught up in brush, or get stabbed in the mud. Also, breaking a 30" o/u in a canoe is impossible.
C
In the used gun market, especially in the break action markets, this is easily confirmed. Similar guns in make and condition, the longer barreled gun will sell faster and for more money.
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
I've got a Ithaca 300xl 12 ga semi with 30" barrel that my dad handed down to me. It's the nicest handling, smoothest shotgun I've ever owned.
bigjohndatsun
Regular
- Location
- Coquitlam, BC
32" for trap. 28" for field. Both over unders. Does it really make a difference no.. but the 28" field gun swings nicer because it's lighter and shorter in my mind.
Anything under 28" in a breaking gun or 26" in a semi/repeater doesn't work that well for me. I've used 32" barrels in the field including through moderately heavy brush. They weren't as cumbersome as expected.
