Which length Shotgun barrel to get?: 24" 26" or 28" ?

Question

I am going to get a semi auto 12 ga and want to know which length to get and what the differences are. I will be turkey hunting and skeet shooting. Also, in the future it is possible i will duck and/or pheasant hunt. THANKS ALL!

Answer 1

28"

That gives you good sight plain and weight to smooth your swing, for upland pheasant and duck hunting. 28" is fine for turkey hunting as well.

Skeet guns are 26" to 30". 28" is a nice medium between the two extremes. If you ever try trap shooting or even sporting clays, you'll be grateful you opted for the 28".

Barrel length doesn't have an effect on the ammuntion as long at its over 14" (18 1/2" is minimum legal length anyway), because the powder is mostly combusted in the first 14 inches of the barrel of a shotgun just about always. And your shot pattern density is controlled by the choke, not the barrel length.

What the longer barrel does give you is a little more weight, which helps smooth your swing and keep it going. Remember, if you're shooting at a moving target you need to keep the shotgun moving - the added weight helps with that. The long barrels give you better sight plane as well - the better you can see the end of your barrel in relation to the target, the better chance you have of hitting the target.

Answer 2

26

Answer 3

Now days with the interchangeable chocks you won't see too much of a different in range. I would go with the shorter barrel. But what is more comfortable to you. Are you short or tall. I am short so a shorter barrel works for me. My H&R turkey single shot is only 22" , but chocked right for the distance. I duck hunt with a 1187 Rem. Steel full chock and parterang I do well changing the chock to Modified. Turkey I bought a super tukey chock. Like I said with the new technolegy and new ammo you won't see any differents. In the old days you did. You had to buy a barrel for each hunting occation, becuase there wern't interchangable chocks.

Answer 4

Personally, I think that it's more important with those lengths that you get something that is easiest for you to handle. If you don't have very long arms, a really long barrel is going to be hard to shoot accurately. Same thing if you are too short.

That being said, a longer barrel doesn't do anything to the shot pattern; that's what the choke does. The 28" gives you the versatility to shoot trap a little more easily, as it gives you a better sight.

Answer 5

Keep in mind, you can buy extra barrels. If you plan to hunt geese, you'll want a long barrel. If you're hunting in heavy cover, (lots of brush) you'll want the 24". It's swing faster, and handle better.

Answer 6

If I were you, shoulder them and see what feels good. I wouldn't go below 26 myself. But the difference between the 26 and 28 can be made up using chokes. I know my brither uses a 26" browing and he hits in the twenties everytime. Any choice will be a good choice.

Answer 7

28" with interchangeable choke tubes..

Get a modified and improved for trap and skeet, full for gobblers.

Keep the choke tubes in a place you remember.

Semiauto - opt for a Remington, Browning or Beretta. Don't buy a cheap junker semi-auto. You want something you can pass on to your grand kids.

Answer 8

Something to consider is the rules of your local trap range. The nearest trap range to my house requires 26 inches or longer. Make sure you don't miss out on going to the local place because you got something out of their specification.

Answer 9

28"

I agree with JimL about fit, but that is more a function of stock design and length than barrel length.

Answer 10

24 inch because it handles better in the Field or on the trap or skeet range.. Improved cylinder and Modified is all you really need for chokes...