Short vs. long barrel for turkey hunting.

[deerbasshunter3]

Which s best, and/or what do you prefer, and why?

[SteelerFan]

For turkey, I prefer a shorter barrel just for the maneuverability in the woods. Easier to carry, usually lighter (obviously), and less perceived movement when pointing at a bird. A turkey gun is an aimed fire, compared to a smooth swing shooting style used wingshooting ducks or doves.

That said - if I could only use one gun for all bird hunting, I'd go with a 26" barrel.

[paboxcall]

For turkey, I prefer a shorter barrel just for the maneuverability in the woods. Easier to carry, usually lighter (obviously), and less perceived movement when pointing at a bird.

Totally agree.  Shorter the better.  If I was parked in a blind hunting field turkeys all day I'd rather have the longer barrel but that isn't my style of hunting - running ridges requires fast set ups sometimes.

[dirt road ninja]

20-24 is about perfect for turkey in my opinion.

[1iagobblergetter]

I like the shorter barrel turkey guns also for the same reason as the guys posted above. Even out of a blind the shorter barrel wins  out in my opinion.

[deerbasshunter3]

Is the shorter barrel able to "reach out" to the distances of the longer barrel?

[dirt road ninja]

Is the shorter barrel able to "reach out" to the distances of the longer barrel?

There is no discernable difference in range between them. Pattern density and pellet penetration is what kills turkeys, barrel length has very little effect on velocity and very little effect on range in hunting situations.

[Tom Foolery]

Short barrels for me, 20"-21" on mine.


There is no reaching out velocity wise with turkey guns. 


100-200fps doesn't make any difference in rifles so it surely doesn't in shotguns.

[Naylor649]

Short. I'll stick with my 28" for the duck blind so I don't ring guys ears and 32"' for the trap range.

[BottomLand54]

It's personal preference I am 6'4" so a 28" barrel shot gun on my back is (normal) where a 28" barrel shotgun on a guy who is 5'11" might be huge...... I like 26" and 28" barrels. It's what I buy and what I shoot. Can you kill a bird just as dead with a 20" absolutely. It is personal preference I have long arms, I like a long shotgun, this might not make much sense to some but see I can carry a 28" gun around all day no problem plus my Benelli sbe2 didn't weight anything much at all. Pick a gun that feels good to you don't go looking for barrel length. If you are going to use this gun for skeet, dove, duck, etc. You may want the longer barrel as others have mentioned. It is all what feels good to you!

[SumToy]

not a lot of difference in them any more with the shells and chokes that are out.  It more what you like and feels best to you.

[BandedSpur]

My turkey guns are used for wingshooting as well, so 26" on repeaters and 28" on stackbarrels, so they balance and swing like they are supposed to. But even on a dedicated turkey gun, I would not go shorter than 26". Shorter barrels are definitely louder to the user than longer barrels. Velocity difference is not great between 26" and 21", but why not get all the "free" velocity you can. I carry a 28" stackbarrel through the nastiest cover imaginable up and down mountains all day grouse hunting in WNC, so I have to chuckle when guys talk about needing short barreled guns to get through the woods.

[longislandloco]

I never felt handicapped with a 26" or 28" gun, I never felt the NEED for a short barrel gun.

[Izzyjoe]

I also think 26" barrels are just right for an around shotgun, in my limited testing longer barrels pattern more even, but necessarily better patterns. Best thing to do is spend a lot of time at the patterning board. Shorter guns get around better in the woods, just like smaller critters do.

[Naylor649]

It's personal preference I am 6'4" so a 28" barrel shot gun on my back is (normal) where a 28" barrel shotgun on a guy who is 5'11" might be huge...... I like 26" and 28" barrels. It's what I buy and what I shoot. Can you kill a bird just as dead with a 20" absolutely. It is personal preference I have long arms, I like a long shotgun, this might not make much sense to some but see I can carry a 28" gun around all day no problem plus my Benelli sbe2 didn't weight anything much at all. Pick a gun that feels good to you don't go looking for barrel length. If you are going to use this gun for skeet, dove, duck, etc. You may want the longer barrel as others have mentioned. It is all what feels good to you!

At 6'4" I totally understand how you'd like a long barrel with your wing span lol