Choosing barrel length

[5bites]

As I said in my other post I'm pretty green so I have several newbie type questions.

Is their a good all around barrel length for turkey? I'm likely getting a gun that shoots 3.5's and will be hunting in a blind. I'd like the shortest one I can get away with but want to be prepared if I need to take a long (50+yards) shot. I'd choose accuracy and pattern over comfort and convenience of a shorter barrel.

[allaboutshooting]

I have found that a 26" barrel seems to be just about perfect for hunting. There are shorter barrels of course but they can be a challenge to pattern.

I do have some shorter barrelled guns that pattern well but for me they are the exception. Many of the inquiries that I receive on how to get better patterns come from shooters of shorter  21" - 23" - 24" barrelled guns.

Personally, I will often choose a 28" barrel for hunting. The extra inches don't really get in the way for me and I like the added length to reduce muzzle whip and balance of the gun.

As long as you spend some time at the range to learn exactly how your gun patterns at each distance and keep your shots to the distances that it's effective, you should do just fine, regardless of barrel length.

Thanks,
Clark

P.S. I never advocate any shot over 40 yards and like to keep my shots between 25 & 30 yards. The real fun is calling them in and being able to watch them and hear their vocalizations.

[5bites]

Another great answer Clark. I'll keep this in mind while I'm shopping.

[TauntoHawk]

with todays modern turkey loads and shotguns you can get a lot out of a little. I've never felt under gunned when toting a 21" barrel shooting 3" shells. With a clean barrel, quality choke, and a sight that I know will hit where I point it. It folds birds at any Ethical distance.

that said I think a 24" is a nice happy medium and a few extra pellets from a 3.5" never hurts

[SumToy]

26 inch is a good all around barrel. 

[Skeeterbait]

If you hunt timber, think about going on the shorter end.  A lot of times the tree I need to set up on has another tree or sapling close by and a long barrel makes it more likely it will get in the way of your swing.  If you want to shoot barrel sights, go longer.  The extra length reduces aiming errors.  If your going to use some type of optic sight, no problems what ever length you choose.  Remember you are going to add 1-2 inches with the choke you choose.  So a 24" barrel it likely to be 26" with choke.  24-26 is probably most common.  With modern shells your not effecting velocity all that much with barrel length.  Some claim a barrel under 24" is harder to find a good pattern, but that doesn't mean the right shell and choke won't give you great patterns, may just have to experiment a little more.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

I have found that a 26" barrel seems to be just about perfect for hunting. There are shorter barrels of course but they can be a challenge to pattern.

I do have some shorter barrelled guns that pattern well but for me they are the exception. Many of the inquiries that I receive on how to get better patterns come from shooters of shorter  21" - 23" - 24" barrelled guns.

Personally, I will often choose a 28" barrel for hunting. The extra inches don't really get in the way for me and I like the added length to reduce muzzle whip and balance of the gun.

As long as you spend some time at the range to learn exactly how your gun patterns at each distance and keep your shots to the distances that it's effective, you should do just fine, regardless of barrel length.

Thanks,
Clark

P.S. I never advocate any shot over 40 yards and like to keep my shots between 25 & 30 yards. The real fun is calling them in and being able to watch them and hear their vocalizations.

Well stated. 

[redleg06]

If you hunt timber, think about going on the shorter end.  A lot of times the tree I need to set up on has another tree or sapling close by and a long barrel makes it more likely it will get in the way of your swing.  If you want to shoot barrel sights, go longer.  The extra length reduces aiming errors.  If your going to use some type of optic sight, no problems what ever length you choose.  Remember you are going to add 1-2 inches with the choke you choose.  So a 24" barrel it likely to be 26" with choke.  24-26 is probably most common.  With modern shells your not effecting velocity all that much with barrel length.  Some claim a barrel under 24" is harder to find a good pattern, but that doesn't mean the right shell and choke won't give you great patterns, may just have to experiment a little more.

I agree with a couple of post on this topic but tend to agree that going a little shorter can make the difference in maneuvering in tighter situations and just a little easier to carry. 

The OVERWHELMING majority of the shots I take are 30-40yds away so the extra little bit of pattern that I might get by getting the extra barrel length, to me, isnt worth it. I pattern my gun/choke/load combo quite a bit and feel like I'm not losing all that much.  Like others have said, the heavier than lead loads + great choke options available, IMO make an extra 2" of barrel much less of a factor than it was 20years ago when your only real options were Lead 4's or 6's  and limited choke options.  Wont argue that the longer barrel still gives you a slight advantage (in MOST cases, not all) in patterning, just that those added pattern advantages may not be enough to make you choose them over another gun that you like better or feel more comfortable with.

It's all relative to what you are comfortable with.  I shot 26" barrels for most of my years turkey hunting and then switched to a 20" barrel (PG choke makes it about 21 1/2") and love it.   

[paladin]

good question and a common thread topic. I have been where a barrel was too long(sapling on the right)but have never missed a bird due to "too short" of a barrel.
If you want the best pattern go long. If you want the best gun go short but be prepared to work a little to get a good load/choke combo.
Also the action type will make the gun longer. single compared to pump or auto.
I have barrels from 18 to 26 but the 24s are used most. the shortest gun is a 20" encore.

[njdevilsb]

I don't have a preference for one over the other.  I have 2 main guns I carry in the spring right now.  One has a 20" barrel and the other a 28.  Maybe I lucked out, but I didn't have much trouble getting good patterns from my 535 with the 20" barrel.  If you do enough tinkering, you will find a good combination for a shorter barrel.  The 28" is on my 870 20 gauge.  I haven't run into any problems so far trying to maneuver the longer barrel, but that doesn't mean I won't in the future.

[WildTigerTrout]

IMO 24" to 26" is the perfect barrel length for a good balance between portability and shootability ie. getting good patterns without alot of experimenting.

[chatterbox]

IMO 24" to 26" is the perfect barrel length for a good balance between portability and shootability ie. getting good patterns without alot of experimenting.

This. I have a 20" barrel, but if I had a choice, I would've gone with a 24" barrel. The great equalizer between long and short barrels are the HTL loads and the high quality chokes that we have on the market now.

[5bites]

Any of you guys ever had a longer barrel cause a problem in a blind?

[DirtNap647]

on my 835 i prefer the 26" dont understand why mossberg doesnt make the 26" in an 835 anymore though but i hunted high and low found a 26" on an old 835 then put it on a new frame truely a great shootin gun