I am getting ready to likely pick up a Benelli SuperNova and there is an option of a 24" and 26" barrel length. I assume the longer would be more accurate, correct?
Accurate, yes and no! You will gain a longer sight plane with a longer barrel as well as a little better/tighter pattern in my experience! A shorter barrel is maybe al ittle more manageable in the thick stuff! Id say you are fine with either for a turkey gun, you arent wingshooting where id pick the 26" all day every day!
Quote from: mnbirdbuster on March 07, 2012, 12:50:11 PM
Accurate?, yes and no! You will gain a longer sight plane with a longer barrel as well as a little better/tighter pattern in my experience! A shorter barrel is maybe a little more manageable in the thick stuff! Id say you are fine with either for a turkey gun, you arent wingshooting where id pick the 26" all day every day!
my experience i prefer the longer barrel for pattern wise, although the shorter is a little easier to maneuver
i like 28 inch
I'll put my 23" barrel up against any long barrel any day of the week. :goofball:
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 01:23:53 PM
I'll put my 23" barrel up against any long barrel any day of the week. :goofball:
And it will lose 7 out of 7 days that week :funnyturkey:
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 01:29:47 PM
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 01:23:53 PM
I'll put my 23" barrel up against any long barrel any day of the week. :goofball:
And it will lose 7 out of 7 days that week :funnyturkey:
I don't think so.... :goofball:
I have compared 28" to 26" to 21" barrels and the longer barrels more times than not will be the better tighter patterns with most loads.
I will say a 23" barrel that is kept clean and polished will perform better then paps 28" barrel that has never seen a cleaning patch. If each barrel is well maintained then I'm going to give the edge to the longer barrel. Right now I'm shooting a 23" barrel that performs better then most longer barrels but next year I will be shooting a 26" barrel. Longer barrel increased muzzle velocity and most likely better patterns.
Longer barrel it is guys, thanks!
Accurate? No, Throw a better pattern? Possibly.
24 or 26. They both seem just right for turkeys. I'm shooting a 24, but if I were shopping new turkey guns, I'd be looking 26.
lol....kind of a 2 part question..accuracy from a shotgun? maybe not the right word..maube pattern consistency...yur not shoting single holes like a rifle...its like asking blondes or brunetteseveryone has a diffetent opinion..i like shorter barrels:or portability...but thats my opinion...
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 01:23:53 PM
I'll put my 23" barrel up against any long barrel any day of the week. :goofball:
And my 20" 835. :fud:
Don't know about a supernova, but the sbe2 guys all say the 26 inch patterns better than the 24. i had a 24 in sbe2 and it was poor enough I sold it.
My old 24" Nova with a IC .665 couldn't be touched by the longer 26" or 28" barrel Nova's.
My 24" Benelli SBE I shoots very nice patterns, plus it's handy in the turkey woods.
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 04:20:28 PM
My old 24" Nova with a IC .665 couldn't be touched by the longer 26" or 28" barrel Nova's.
Hmm ok
I'm seeing good numbers with WinXRHD 6's out of my 23" barrel 870 SM (180@40)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1060698-1.jpg)
24" Nova IC .665 40 yards taped and laser..... Read the paper
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/af28ff44.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1100798.jpg)
All patterns 40 yards taped and laser. PG .670 and a 23" 870SM Read the paper....
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1100881.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1100872.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1070753-1.jpg)
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Looks good.
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 07:51:49 PM
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:57:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 07:51:49 PM
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
So this means that barrel length is irrelevant??
Quote from: joffutt1 on March 07, 2012, 08:02:01 PM
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:57:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 07:51:49 PM
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
So this means that barrel length is irrelevant??
In most cases a long gun will pattern better but no always. Every gun is different but it all boils down to finding the correct balance between gun, shell and choke.
bird
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:57:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 07:51:49 PM
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
Yes but I'm afraid your not compareing apples. Like I said before I'm sure your clean (probably polished) barrel will pattern better then dirty neglected longer barrels but if both barrels are maintained equally ON AVERAGE long barrels are going to give the better patterns.
I like the handiness of a short barrel but I can aim a longer barrel a little quicker. Now thats with a bead if I was shooting a scope I would go short probably the longer sighting plane on the long barrel would not help a bit you just looking through the scope.
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 08:06:08 PM
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:57:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on March 07, 2012, 07:51:49 PM
Good numbers but nothin that blows my mind and a longer barrel couldn't do.
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
Yes but I'm afraid your not compareing apples. Like I said before I'm sure your clean (probably polished) barrel will pattern better then dirty neglected longer barrels but if both barrels are maintained equally ON AVERAGE long barrels are going to give the better patterns.
Not always.... for example. The Nova, I had a 24" Nova with a IC .665 choke. A buddy of mine had the same gun except his was a 26" barrel. He patterned and patterned and patterned that gun trying to get numbers similiar to mine and could never accomplish it. We even went so far to take my choke and put it in his gun and still his 26" Nova couldn't even come close to the patterns that my 24" Nova was throwing.
In theory you may think that the longer barrel will be better but in real life it doesn't always work out that way.
Now remember in the above pictures. The Nova is using 3" shell 1 5/8oz #6 REMINGTON Hevi-shot. The old green shells. 155 in a 10 at 40 is outstanding numbers with that gun and shell. That is not much less then the Rem 870SM with a PG shooting 3" 2oz. #6 at 40 and getting 184 in a 10.
Longer will pattern better more times than not but there are anomalies for sure. 260 with 6's is BADD!
Quote from: drenalinld on March 07, 2012, 08:23:06 PM
Longer will pattern better more times than not but there are anomalies for sure. 260 with 6's is BADD!
Yes It Is! :icon_thumright:
I'll say that with consistency comes repeatability. When you get 1 or 2 great patterns out of a choke is one thing, but how many times can it be repeated is entirely another. From my findings I'll take a 28" barrel over a 21" barrel anyday for overall load consistency for denser patterns.
Quote from: CadeCart on March 07, 2012, 09:07:21 PM
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:57:13 PM
Many a longer barrel can't touch those numbers in the same load and choke.
Obviously 260 with H13 3.5" 2.25" #6 is the best your gun got, or you wouldn't be promoting it so much.... but what was the lowest count in 10" that it got with this load.
Just curious.
Hate to disappoint you but I do have a life and no I'm not made of money. I don't sit around and shoot up boxes and boxes of shells just to find the best pattern so I can take pictures to show off. These patterns are one and only boys. No need to repeat the shot over and over wasting shells and hard earned cash. Hell who knows... If I kept on blasting holes in paper maybe I could of even posted up bigger numbers than the 260 with the 6's and maybe not.
bird
Regardless of whether or not I could squeeze 10more hits out of a longer barrel, at sole point enough is enough on the pattern board and an extra few pellets means less to me than comfort and my feel/ utility preference for the gun....in other words, I'd take birds gun with that patter ALL day over a 28" barrel because I like a shorter gun in the turkey woods, (and that's a hell of a pattern for the 6's) even if that means I give up a handful of pellets because that pattern will sure as hell give one a headache...
It would be a different story if a 28" barrel was shooting a 300 count pattern and the 23" barrel gave a 200 count pattern with the same choke and load but in most cases, all else being equal, I have Not PERSONALLY seen such a drastic difference as to make me justify a longer barrel. But again, what I value in a turkey gun maybe different than the next guy or the next.
I shoot a 20" barrel 870 and load it with TSS 9's and I'm ok with shooting a 350 count pattern even though I might be able to get 400 out of that load with a longer barrel... :drool:
"Turkey Shoot" guns are limited in length because...longer shoots better.
It is easier to find a good load choke combo with longer barrels.
With all that said I reccomend the shortest barrel you can buy.
When the bird is to your right and you swing the gun and the last inch smacks a tree you will understand. I have an 18", a 20" and some 24s.
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/number6doug/Snapbucket/61FA0EC1-orig.jpg)
870SM, 24" bbl, .660JH 3.5 inch Hevi 6's. 256 in 10 @ 40 (lazered):
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/number6doug/Snapbucket/CCD7024A-orig-1.jpg)
Paladin just out of curiousity - how about some pics of your various rigs
Quote from: bird on March 07, 2012, 07:31:24 PM
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1100798.jpg)
All patterns 40 yards taped and laser. PG .670 and a 23" 870SM Read the paper....
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e119/birdhunter50613/Guns%20Calls%20Decoys%20Mounts%20and%20More/P1100881.jpg)
(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x49/redleg06_photo/haters-gonna-hate.gif)
Those are some really nice patterns you put up bird and I agree with you. Just because you have a shorter or short barreled gun does not mean you won't be able to get it to shoot as good as a longer barreled gun will. They all can take some work and may like a certain choke/load combo but you just have to find that by experimenting with different choke/load combo's. You may find some barrels short or long are just flat out shooters others need more time and experimentation.
Quote from: MrB0000M on March 07, 2012, 12:51:40 PM
my experience i prefer the longer barrel for pattern wise, although the shorter is a little easier to maneuver
Thats my experience as well. Provided I do the work and testing..I'm able to achieve higher numbers out of the longer barrels. Seems to be the consensus with most folks. Longer barrel is more stable for me in wing shooting for sure, I can't tell any difference shooting something stationary.
My experience is all thing being EQUALL the longer barel will shoot some tighter, but probaly not enough to matter in the field and as far as more acurate? Well that's one I can't say for sure.
If your blind hunting might as well go longer and can use it for non turkey hunting as well. If your in thick cover most likely your shot is shorter as well so short barrel is easier to get on the neck of the bird w/o hitting a bunch of underbrush. I hunt in a blind and run 28", but use the same set-up (minus the red eye and turkey choke) for upland game as well.
Ive already posted to this thread but feel i have more to add! The thread started out questioning better patterning in relation to barrel length and it turned into more of a personal preference thing! I will squash any argument if a longer barrel throws a better pattern with a single fact...(NWTF Still Shoots allow a barrel to be no longer than 30" If a longer barrel didnt help then this sanction wouldnt be there :whip2:
Quote from: mnbirdbuster on March 09, 2012, 12:14:44 PM
Ive already posted to this thread but feel i have more to add! The thread started out questioning better patterning in relation to barrel length and it turned into more of a personal preference thing! I will squash any argument if a longer barrel throws a better pattern with a single fact...(NWTF Still Shoots allow a barrel to be no longer than 30" If a longer barrel didnt help then this sanction wouldnt be there :whip2:
Yup
Quote from: mnbirdbuster on March 09, 2012, 12:14:44 PM
Ive already posted to this thread but feel i have more to add! The thread started out questioning better patterning in relation to barrel length and it turned into more of a personal preference thing! I will squash any argument if a longer barrel throws a better pattern with a single fact...(NWTF Still Shoots allow a barrel to be no longer than 30" If a longer barrel didnt help then this sanction wouldnt be there :whip2:
:you_rock:
Quote from: mnbirdbuster on March 09, 2012, 12:14:44 PM
Ive already posted to this thread but feel i have more to add! The thread started out questioning better patterning in relation to barrel length and it turned into more of a personal preference thing! I will squash any argument if a longer barrel throws a better pattern with a single fact...(NWTF Still Shoots allow a barrel to be no longer than 30" If a longer barrel didnt help then this sanction wouldnt be there :whip2:
That could also be used to keep someone from fabricating a barrel = to the yardage for the shot. Poke the target and shoot! 8-) I'm sure in part they want to have the limit be what the normal selection of barrels are for guns and avoid "I'm bigger then you" contest on pushing the length limit. Would love to see someone show up with a say 25 yrd barrel, thread together and have one heck of a cantilever counter weight to avoid shooting the ground.
:z-guntootsmiley:
getting testy in here today! never understood why it mattered if you got 600 hits in a 6 inch circle if that circle is 8 inches left of where you aimed. i count the pelets in the turkeys head...just my 2 cents
I have a nova in a 26 inch barrel , and love the way it points - I would like to mention it is a Italian style profiled barrel and this tends to be lighter than most 26" american counterparts - I suggest if you are at a store try a 23 or 24 inch Mossberg or Remington and shoulder it , and then compare it to a 26 inch Nova and you be the the judge on the pointing abilities - numbers are just a gauge for reference see what your shoulder tells you
A longer barrel will provide , a longer sighting plane , than a shorter one -
Conventional wisdom will indicate that a slightly higher velocity with a longer barrel , depends on the load -some say a increase of 8-12 fps per inch ?
Still shoot people like the longer barrels , I don't think its because they inherently shoot worse, proably the other way around - but members have tweaked with their setups to get some outstanding results with shorter barrels