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Author
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Topic: Shotgun Barrel Length
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K. Griffin
Knows what it's all about
Member # 1976
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posted December 06, 2007 07:31 AM
OK, one more question in regards to my pending purchase of a shotgun. What is a good barrel length for a predator shotgun (shooting # 4 buck). I'm thinking of 28" with a super full choke like a 'Terror' and chambered for 3.5".
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"Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." T. Roosevelt
Posts: 19 | From: Gilbert, AZ | Registered: Oct 2007
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Clint
Knows what it's all about
Member # 346
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posted December 06, 2007 08:10 AM
I like the shorter barreled shot guns for predators and turkey. i wouldn't want one longer then 26" and prefer something in 20-24". take a look at the mossy ultimags.
Clint
Posts: 148 | From: Mesa, AZ | Registered: Jun 2004
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted December 06, 2007 11:12 AM
I'm really learning to like this Mossy 835. I've replaced the ultifull choke with a modified choke tube for calling coons, and man, oh man, does it do the job. Gun is all factory toherwise. Sunday, we were calling this den tree when a large boar came out. I was about twenty five yards back running the remote and this coon hugged my side of the tree. Matt was to my left looking at its profile when I shot. The coon gripped the tree for a few moments then peeled back and fell. Matt said the shot, from his angle, caused the coon to sprout like a lawn sprinkler with about eight different streams of blood shooting out with each beat of its heart. When I skinned it, the internal damage was impressive. Fur was fine.
I hit a coyote last week in the right side of the face as it ran away from me and spun it almost completely around before it hit the ground dead.
On coons, this #4 buck will either drop them dead on the spot or blow them right out the other side of the tree. On coyotes, just as good.
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted December 06, 2007 11:52 AM
I am not a well versed man on shotguns, they involve a degree of hokus pokus, as far as I'm concerned? My grandson is a better instinctive shooter with any of my shotguns than I am, so my information should have less value than almost anybody?
However, I really don't understand the short barrel theory? Doesn't make a twelve gauge any handier, for me? In fact, I like twenty-eight inches because it helps me stick it out in the right direction. I believe the shorter the barrel, the less pointability, personally? I think I must have inherited the lame shotgun gene from my dad, who was also very modest about his shotgunning abilities, and rightfully so?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
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posted December 06, 2007 01:09 PM
You pretty much covered the reason for a longer barrel Leonard.
My reason for a short barrel is that it makes it much easier to swing it when in tight cover, quicker and easier to get out of gun case when in a hurry for a quick shot. Cuts down on the weight if i have to carry shot-gun and a rifle. For close running shots on coyotes there is'nt much time to aim, just point and pull the trigger. T.A...
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What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5614 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Krustyklimber
prefers the bunny hugger pronunciation: ky o tee
Member # 72
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posted December 06, 2007 01:41 PM
I've grown very very fond of my Mossberg 500 Home Defender.
But, I'm little, so a full length shotgun feels unwieldy to me.
I've also come to really appreciate the modern plastic wad.
With the cylinder bore on my 20" barrel, it still patterns buckshot and birdshot very well.
A season of wingshooting with it, was better than with my Ithaca 37, it mounts and come to aim so much quicker, for me.
I must have the hokus pokus gene, I shoot a scattergun with a much higher rate of proficiency than I do a rifle. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Krusty 
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Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider than that!
Posts: 1912 | From: Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia | Registered: Jan 2003
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JD
HONORARY OKIE .... and Tim's at fault!
Member # 768
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posted December 06, 2007 02:22 PM
quote:
My reason for a short barrel is that it makes it much easier to swing it when in tight cover, quicker and easier to get out of gun case when in a hurry for a quick shot.
Tim, you forgot to mention a shorter barrel also makes it easier to get past the dash board, steering wheel & the side mirror?
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Jason
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What do Obama & TA17Rem have in common........both are clueless asshats!!!
Posts: 1456 | From: NE. | Registered: Dec 2005
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TA17Rem
Hello, I'm the legendary Tim Anderson, Southern Minneesota Know it all
Member # 794
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posted December 06, 2007 02:41 PM
I suppose it would, never tried that yet.. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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What if I told you, the left wing and right wing both belong to same bird!
Posts: 5614 | From: S.D. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted December 06, 2007 06:58 PM
Don't try it Tim!
Those short barrels are hell on side mirrors!
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted December 06, 2007 08:01 PM
Hell, Tims, back when I used to spend my Sundays chasing them in trucks, we carried 12 gauge riot guns on the dashboard of the truck. Once we got a good race going, my brother would deftly swing it off the dash, out the window and lay it on the mounting bracket between the mirror and the side of the truck. Bring that truck around to line up the shot and let 'er rip. He even got pretty good at one handing the thing to use the bracket on the forearm to rack the next round. Killed a lot of coyotes doing that back in "the day".
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5440 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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Nahuatl
Knows what it's all about
Member # 708
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posted December 11, 2007 11:50 AM
An auto is about 4" longer than an O/U with the same barrel length, so you've got a pretty good sight plane with a 24" or 26" autoloader.
Modern powders burn before the wad gets to the 15" mark. So longer barrels can be slower. Backbores are a bit faster. Some wads have more friction than others.
Leave turkey chokes for turkey hunting. Super tight patterns are great for long shots on still targets - which sounds like a rifle stand to me. Hunting up close in the brush, your target is going to be moving fast and obscured by brush. More lead and more spread. A modified choke is usually perfect on a single barrel gun and with an O/U mod and full is tough to beat.
Tungsten shot is as hard as many gun steels. So over choking a shotgun for predators with heavy shot carries the same risks as tight chokes with steel. Check your choke often and make sure it's lubed and finger tight. It should always be easy to remove. If it starts to tighten up, something's wrong. Lead is easier on a gun.
I use just a bead a lot. But I've also got a Tru-Glo. It's a two bead green fiber optic glowie thingie in back and a red one in front. They line up very naturally on both predators and birds, and really help get the perfect aim if you do take a long shot on a still target. The sight is a better long shot aid than the super tight choke.
Those are the tips I never see in the magazines.
Posts: 202 | From: Mount Gleason, Angeles NF | Registered: Sep 2005
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K. Griffin
Knows what it's all about
Member # 1976
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posted December 17, 2007 09:13 AM
Thanks all! I'm go'n with an autoloader with either 24" or 26" (depending on availability) barrel.
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"Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." T. Roosevelt
Posts: 19 | From: Gilbert, AZ | Registered: Oct 2007
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TOM64
Knows what it's all about
Member # 561
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posted December 17, 2007 10:31 AM
Maybe a little late and it may not matter but as I've said before my 21" Benelli has gone from the turkey hunt to the skeet range and everything in between with no problems.
My score on the skeet range is just as bad with a 26" or 28" gun, I've proved it several times.
Right now it has a modified tube in it and #4 buck but I did find some lead BB's which is as big as we can use on animals here in Oklahoma so I'll be patterning it and see which it likes best.
Posts: 2283 | From: okieland | Registered: Feb 2005
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K. Griffin
Knows what it's all about
Member # 1976
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posted January 07, 2008 03:47 PM
It's not too late. I've aquired 75% of the budget I need to get the gun I'm after. I'm still sold-out on the 3.5" chamber and it seems likely I can get one in a 24" barrel. Thx!
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"Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." T. Roosevelt
Posts: 19 | From: Gilbert, AZ | Registered: Oct 2007
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted January 07, 2008 04:24 PM
Mr. Griffin,
Have you ever tried the wonderful 10 gauge shotgun?
It was designed for 3.5" shells, and it won't kick the shit out of you nearly as much as a 3.5" 12 Ga.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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coyote whacker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 639
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posted January 07, 2008 04:51 PM
I would rec that if your going to shoot hevi shot, for 30.00 get the choke tube designed and made for it use. I like the carlson dead coyote tube and works well in my 11/87.
Tim I would forget the old 10ga as with the new hevi shot you can do all a 10 can with a 3" 12 ga load.
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This is done on my time and my dime. My views may differ from those of others!
Posts: 376 | From: USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted January 07, 2008 04:56 PM
I'm not saying that it won't kill the same.
I'm saying that the 10 only kills at the muzzle end. Why beat the hell out of yourself for the same result?
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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varmit hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 37
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posted January 07, 2008 04:58 PM
In 25 years of hard Duck and Quail hunting I continually learned shorter is better for me. Faster acquisition of Quail heading 360 degrees, and large flocks of Ducks going into evasion mode after the first shot. Most of my shotguns are 21" with the first 4" of the chamber opened up and tapered.
Tried six times to post a picture of 8" target with nine T's in it at 60 yards. Got the X six out of six.
[ January 07, 2008, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: varmit hunter ]
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Make them pay for the wind.
Posts: 932 | From: Orange,TX | Registered: Jan 2003
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K. Griffin
Knows what it's all about
Member # 1976
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posted March 18, 2008 07:06 PM
Whoa, lots to think about here.
I've got the gun...proud owner of a Browning Gold, TWTF 3.5" w/ 24" barrel. Now working to pattern it with both Hevi-shot and # 4 buck. The buck is much cheaper and I've had good luck with it from my Model 12, 2.75". Xtreme full chokes don't seem to be working so go...going to move to modified, then after market stuff as mentioned. Thanks for the advice!
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"Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." T. Roosevelt
Posts: 19 | From: Gilbert, AZ | Registered: Oct 2007
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Clint
Knows what it's all about
Member # 346
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posted March 18, 2008 09:11 PM
that hevi shot will do the trick!
Posts: 148 | From: Mesa, AZ | Registered: Jun 2004
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Catfish
PAKMAN
Member # 2592
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posted April 15, 2008 06:03 AM
A couple of things about shotguns. 1 You will get no gain in velosity after abt. 18 in. of barrel, so anything longer than that will just help you point. 2 With buck shot or the new steel shot you will get better patterns with more open chokes than with lead shot. Imp. chokes often patteren better than full chokes with buck shot. You gun will probily patteren best with a choke tube between imp. cyl and mod.
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Catfish
Posts: 8 | From: Ohio | Registered: Apr 2008
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted April 15, 2008 09:11 AM
Welcome to The New Huntmasters, catfish. Glad to have you on board.
The increased sighting plane is significant, in my opinion. I don't know what the ideal length is, but I use 28" for just about everything. The balance and "swing through" issues come into play for me, as well.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32361 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Barndog
Knows what it's all about
Member # 255
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posted April 15, 2008 04:42 PM
Keep on saving and get the AA12.
It will kill anything and everthing.
Chokes? who needs em, just hold the trigger a little longer if you want a bigger pattern.
Long shots? good out to 175 yards with the gernade round.
Go ahead and goggle it.
If anyone can get one I would love to see some coyote hunting footage with it. I don't think there is a bang-flop with this gun more or less a ra-tat-tat splat.
This is not a fur friendly gun.
Posts: 185 | From: Idaho | Registered: Dec 2003
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Paul Melching
Radical Operator Forum "You won't get past the front gate"
Member # 885
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posted April 15, 2008 06:27 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ebtj1jR7c
Ya mean one of these!
pm
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Those who value security over liberty soon will have neither !
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