23" vs 26" for patterns???

[shuey270]

My son wants an 870 shur shot turkey with the 23" barrel. will this pattern as good as a longer,say 26"?

[surehuntsalot]

with the right choke it can

[allaboutshooting]

My son wants an 870 shur shot turkey with the 23" barrel. will this pattern as good as a longer,say 26"?

You've already had a good answer. The choke tube can make a big difference and it's also good to remember that it's really all relative. A good pattern to one shooter may be an excellent one to another and not so good to another shooter.

With a few exceptions, I've had better patterns with 26" barrelled guns than with shorter ones but again, it's really all about what you're looking for in a pattern.

I like to look at density and not numbers. I want a pattern that does not have holes in it. If it has 2" or larger holes scattered throughout it, regardless of the numbers, I don't consider it a good pattern.

It's really about spending some time at the range to see just how each gun/choke/shell combo shoots.

Thanks,
Clark

[grayfox]

My hunting buddy bought his 870 with a 26" & later bought the 23" to put on it.  Both shot great patterns.  He likes the 23" much better because it made the gun easier to carry in the woods.  Every gun may pattern different.  I personally would go with the 23" unless you just want a longer sighting radius.  I think if he is only going to use it for turkey hunting he will like the 23.  If he might want to use the gun also for say dove or duck hunting too, I would get the 26.

[FL-Boss]

I have had both the 23in pump, 24in auto sureshot.. and a bunch of other Rem 1187 26in.   I would get the 23in.. just better to carry.  Pair it up with Heavy shot and the IC or Jellyhead =  good to go!

Ammo and Choke are more important than a few inches of barrel size IMO.

[va wingbone]

My son wants an 870 shur shot turkey with the 23" barrel. will this pattern as good as a longer,say 26"?

You've already had a good answer. The choke tube can make a big difference and it's also good to remember that it's really all relative. A good pattern to one shooter may be an excellent one to another and not so good to another shooter.

With a few exceptions, I've had better patterns with 26" barrelled guns than with shorter ones but again, it's really all about what you're looking for in a pattern.

I like to look at density and not numbers. I want a pattern that does not have holes in it. If it has 2" or larger holes scattered throughout it, regardless of the numbers, I don't consider it a good pattern.

It's really about spending some time at the range to see just how each gun/choke/shell combo shoots.

Thanks,
Clark

x2 density is key

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

[shuey270]

tHIS WILL BE FOR TURKEY HUNTING ONLY.

[nyhunter]

I have a 23", 24", 26" 870 SM all 3 shot great with both lead and H-13. The 23" out shoots the other 2 with both lead and H-13, Not by much tho, but none the less it does out shoot them my guns really shoot well with the fallowing chokes, jelly head .660 kicks .655 and I.C .665. Of those three the jelly head is hands down the best pattering choke in all 3 guns with H-13 and lead. hope this helps good luck

[shuey270]

Thanks!! He has a Jellyhead and I have a Kicks.

[Gobble!]

I use a Indian Creek .665 with a 23" barrel and it patterns on average over 300 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards with Hevi13 #7s. Misjudged the distance on a field bird last year and made a farther shot then I like to take but the bird went straight down.