Shotgun length

[Duckman8]

What is the difference in shooting a 26" or a 28" barrel for waterfowel? Is one better over the other? I have my own idea, but want to know what other people think.

[duckster]

Duckman,

I have always heard that you are better to go with a 28" barrel for waterfowel. Has to do with sighting plane when shooting birds at a distance.

That being said I went to a 26" barrel and really like it. I am getting quite a bit of gray hair and my eyes are not that good anymore. Having the bead 2" closer is easier for me to focus on and my shooting has improved since I went to a 26". I also use the same gun for upland and like the shorter barrel for that. It is a bit lighter.

I am sure that there are many opinions on this but this has been my experience. Good luck,

Duckster

[waterwolff]

Duckman,

I have always heard that you are better to go with a 28" barrel for waterfowel. Has to do with sighting plane when shooting birds at a distance.

That being said I went to a 26" barrel and really like it. I am getting quite a bit of gray hair and my eyes are not that good anymore. Having the bead 2" closer is easier for me to focus on and my shooting has improved since I went to a 26". I also use the same gun for upland and like the shorter barrel for that. It is a bit lighter.

I am sure that there are many opinions on this but this has been my experience. Good luck,

Duckster

+1 here for all the same reasons. I just seem to pickup the target and swing with a shorter barrel

[Duckman8]

thanks for the info. I have my eyes set on a 26" supernova at a good price. Want to purchase it for my daughter. Will shot patterns at a distance change drastically from the two barrel lengths? I do not want to pass up this deal. I might just buy it and if she does not like it. I can always resell it again.

[Gordie]

I think that with the removable chokes and the speacilty shot shells now a days that the barrel length is as noticable as the old shotguns of the past and you should be fine with thwe gun your looking at for duck and goose hunting.

[duckster]

They used to think that barrel length increased your effective range, that is why many duck guns were 30" full choke. I believe that was disproved. My understanding is that barrel length really has nothing to do with patterns and range. The most important factors are choke and type of load you use.

If you are buying this for your daughter it would make sense to buy a shorter barrel. It will be a bit lighter, shorter and easier to handle. It would be a good idea to have her check it out and see how it feels.

Good Luck,

Duckster

[SledNeck]

I know Id rather hunt with someone with atleast a 28" barrel for my hearings sake

[bobbymalone]

I know Id rather hunt with someone with atleast a 28" barrel for my hearings sake

how does two inches on the barrel change how bad it rings your ears.... it doesn't make any sense.

[SledNeck]

how does two inches on the barrel change how bad it rings your ears.... it doesn't make any sense.

shorter the barrel the louder the gun

When my kid used a youth model 870 my ears would ring for days

[Gordie]

add porting and then it really gets loud

[duckster]

what you say?

[Gordie]

remimds me of Pee Wee Herman With that big plastic ear...WHAT

[SmilinBob]

barrel length has very little to do with patterning, the proportions of forcing cone to bore to choke, and the load used are what will determine your pattern. 26" or 28" is really a personal preference in what the shooter likes. As far as velocity the difference will be so little that the patterns of the 2 lengths will overlap at any shooting distance. For noise, if you can tell the difference in the few decibles at that level you should probably be working for some double secret govt agency as a listening spy or something.

[duckster]

Guy should really wear ear protection when waterfowling and never thought of using them at the time. Wanted to hear the whistling wings.Years of standing and shooting between a couple of 12 gauges going off really took its toll. After a day of hunting my ears would be ringing,now they are always ringing...

[SledNeck]

i wear earplugs now

[swamptiger]

Speaking of shorter barrel shotguns, the Mossberg 500 Grand Slam turkey gun has caught my eye - it's available in several barrel lengths starting at 20". I'm thinking one of these in a shorter barrel length might be a great all around shotgun. They also come with sling swivels, so they would be nice to pack around. Might have to try one of these....

[Finlander]

A 28" barrel gives you 2" of range over a 26" barrel!

[Gordie]

Fin so if you lean forwards 2 inches with a 26 inch barrel you'd even things out

[Finlander]

Yup, that would work! Thicker soles on your boots gives you another 1.5"s!

[swamptiger]

Quote:

A 28" barrel gives you 2" of range over a 26" barrel!

Ya - I'd say that's pretty much guaranteed...

[duckster]

Fin,

You know you are right, I never thought of it that way. Now I can start shooting at ducks that are 2" further away! Boy, wish I would have kept that old Mossberg goose gun I had with the 36" barrel. I could have really reached out with that baby. Thanks for the tips.

Duckster

[SledNeck]

and standing up to shoot could give you another 2 feet

think about that!

[duckster]

I wonder if a guy could find a pair of those old 1970s platform shoes........

[SledNeck]

I wonder if a guy could find a pair of those old 1970s platform shoes........

you could incorporate them with hip boots and eliminate the need for chest waders...

and maybe you could build a duck blind a foot higher and gain another foot on over head shots!

I seriously think with the slew of good ideas here that many more ducks will be killed by FM members next season