Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: hogman22 on February 17, 2014, 05:03:05 PM

Title: Barrel length
Post by: hogman22 on February 17, 2014, 05:03:05 PM
What barrel length is the best? I'm new to turkey hunting and fixin to buy a Mossy 835 in either a 20inch or 24imch barrel. Just wondering which was best. Thanks for you input.

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Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: drum817 on February 17, 2014, 05:20:29 PM
I'd say the "average" for most guys turkey gun is 24".  I have an 835 with a 24" but I also have a Weatherby with a 18.5" (20" including the choke)...Which I LOVE!!!  In my opinion it also depends on your style of turkey hunting too.  If you hunt more field edges then a longer barrel won't matter.  If you hunt thicker cover where movement is limited then a shorter barrel might be a better choice.
Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: troutfisher13111 on February 17, 2014, 05:23:14 PM
It's all personal preference. Read the advantages and disadvantages to both shorter and longer and decide which one best suits your needs.
Title: Barrel length
Post by: eddie234 on February 17, 2014, 06:31:35 PM
It seems the longer barrels give better patterns.


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Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: Skeeterbait on February 17, 2014, 07:00:07 PM
24" 835's pattern very well.  The shorter barrels can pattern well but seem to be more picky about shell and choke selection.
Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: Byhalia on February 18, 2014, 09:47:20 AM
go with  the 24"  !! 
IMO, everything is a personal preference though...just gotta know your gun and trust it.
Cause if you don't...it doesn't matter on barrel length.
Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: hs strut on February 18, 2014, 06:54:38 PM
i must be the odd man out i found that my 28'' barrel patterned better than my 24'' barrel know matter the choke or shell though i have seen the short barrels pattern well so to me it seems you might want to let the gun tell you what it likes
Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: WildSpur on February 18, 2014, 07:24:12 PM
Imo if you are hunting either one will suit you fine.  I personally have the 835 with the 20" barrel and it carries like a carbine.  I really like it.  If you want to really get into patterning for fun I would not go shorter than 24".

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Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: chatterbox on February 18, 2014, 07:31:12 PM
Quote from: WildSpur on February 18, 2014, 07:24:12 PM
Imo if you are hunting either one will suit you fine.  I personally have the 835 with the 20" barrel and it carries like a carbine.  I really like it.  If you want to really get into patterning for fun I would not go shorter than 24".

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I agree. I have a difficult time getting the superior patterns that guys with longer barrels are getting.
However, I can still get roughly 200 pellets in the 10" circle at 40 yards with my Hevi-13 3-2-7's. That will kill any turkey walking at ethical hunting ranges. Good enough for me.
Title: Re: Barrel length
Post by: surehuntsalot on February 19, 2014, 09:52:04 PM
I can't make my mind up,I have a 21" barrel on the 20ga 870
26" on my 835 (and love it) and a 30" full choke barrel on my 1100 and I love hunting wit all of them.