Should I swap my 21 inch barrel for longer?

[Cove]

I have a Remington 870 SPS-T with a 21 inch barrel. It is a pretty sweet gun. But, I have been wondering if I should trade for a turkey gun with a longer barrel to 1. Get even tighter patterns and 2. reduce muzzle blast a little bit (am losing some hearing). What do the Forum folks think?

[Cheetah]

21 inches? That's like one of those stubby things for home protection isn't it?

You can probably just buy an extra barrel to swap into the gun when you go hunting. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to. Cabelas has a 26" listed at $179 if I am reading the chart right. You could probably scrounge around for a used one or see if one of those X$ off coupons will cover it.

[trolloni]

I wouldnt that sps t is designed and engineered to be a turkey machine they pattern just fine out to 50 yds, and they are short so you dont snag so much brush carrying it and while you are sitting down, also a lot less cumbersome out of a blind .bought one when they came out way back in 1989 and have killed many many turkeys with it and feel like no need to change a thing, thats me though ,everone is differant .

[Cove]

Thanks, guys. Both of you. I got to thinking about this after reading an article, "TURKEY LOADS”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE AND WHICH ONES WORK

By Craig Endicott

(Updated April 2008)

in which he pattern a lot of different turkey loads. One of his guns was an 870 Special PUrpose with a 26 inch barrel, another gun used had a 23 inch barrel. Mine is 21 and with the choke attached, is 22 inches.

If Remington sells a longer barrel made specifically to go with my gun I might take a look. I am very happy with what I have but there is always an itch to look further :-)

[swamptiger]

A longer barrel won't make better patterns - that's in your choice of a choke. As far as velocity goes, shotguns develop maximum velocity at about 20 inches. There might be an argument to be made about a longer sight plane on a longer barrel, but that would probably be more useful for pass shooting ducks.

My advice would be to keep the barrel and experiment with some different chokes. Most of the specialized turkey guns are coming out with short barrels and x-tra full chokes.

[DonBo]

swamptiger is right on. Long barrels help keep your momentum going through the shot on ducks and other flying targets. They have little to do with the pattern.

Keep your barrel and find wich loads pattern the best from it.

[Cove]

Thanks Guys,

I really like the way my gun patterns the Winchester Supreme Elite 12 ga 3 inch 1225 FPS 1 ¾ oz #5 shot at 25 and 40 yards but with my spring turkey in the freezer I got to wondering if grass was even greener. If velocity peaks out at about 20 inches & longer barrel won't effect pattern, then all I have for a rationalization is hearing, and I wear good protection so that isn't really an issue. Think I will keep 'er. I don't like the new "thumb hole", grip stocks because I like using my SPS-T in the grouse woods.