21" and 22" barrel length

[hoythunter]

Hey guys I was looking for some feedback from those of you who use guns with those barrel lengths in regards to noise level. Are they excessively louder than longer barrels? Have you ever experienced any discomfort in your hearing after the shot? I have been shooting a 26" 12ga with  ported choke with no problems but am thinking about switching to a 20ga with 22" barrel and non ported choke. I was wondering if I should expect any significant difference in noise level between these two setups. Thanks.

[Greg Massey]

I use 21 inch barrel and after i kill the turkey the only noise i hear is me screaming , hell yes , I'm so excited ...

[Spitten and drummen]

I dont know and dont care. Just sent the barrel to william at sumtoy to chop her off at 20". Depending on where it falls on the rib I will be ok with 21" or 22".

[PEPPERHEAD]

I have several. Can't tell any difference.

[Hobbes]

What did you say?  Could you repeat that?

[grayfox]

I use a 21" & love it. No regrets whatsoever.

[LaLongbeard]

If you've been shooting a 26" 12 gauge with ported choke, a 22" 20 gauge won't be noticeably louder. Maybe  find a non ported choke for the 20 as the ports do make a shotgun slightly louder. As you go down in gauges you also go down in noise some what, shorter barell will increase noise as it's closer to your ears.

[ShootingABN!]

I think you will be fine with that 20 gauge.

However the biggest mistake I ever made was sending my 21" 12gauge to Magna Port! I got it ported, because of less recoil??? Didn't really matter. However it did make it a ton loader!

[Gooserbat]

I have a 21" on one of my 870s and I like it. 

[Hobbes]

I've shot an 870 with a 21" barrel off and on since about 1990.  I've not noticed it being any louder than my other guns with the same ammo.  I suspect that a decibel meter would tell a different story.

I should add ..... regardless if which barrel you are shooting, use ear protection at all times.  I'm sitting here now with a constant ringing in my left ear.  It started about 6 months ago.  It comes and goes, but is showing up more and more regularly.  While probably somewhat hereditary, I know that guns have played a role.

[ddturkeyhunter]

I've shot an 870 with a 21" barrel off and on since about 1990.  I've not noticed it being any louder than my other guns with the same ammo.  I suspect that a decibel meter would tell a different story.

I should add ..... regardless if which barrel you are shooting, use ear protection at all times.  I'm sitting here now with a constant ringing in my left ear.  It started about 6 months ago.  It comes and goes, but is showing up more and more regularly.  While probably somewhat hereditary, I know that guns have played a role.

`This past spring when I took my daughter out turkey hunting for the first time I also learned something. She was hearing turkey gobbleing I was not hearing, it did supprise me because I thought my hearing was not to bad even though I am getting up in age now. So I went in to have my hearing tested last month before the end of year. And found out the bad news, a lot worse then expected. But he did come out and ask me if I was a hunter, because one ear was quite a bite worse. Other then during actually hunting I do wear hearing protection. But as far as the rest of my hearing, thirty years of cutting wood with chain saws for work didnt help. I will be trying the Walker's Power Muff Quads this year to help hear and dampen when I do shoot at a bird.

[hoythunter]

I thought about walkers power muffs also. If the bird is not in sight can you tell which direction he is and how far with them.

[1iagobblergetter]

I've shot an 870 with a 21" barrel off and on since about 1990.  I've not noticed it being any louder than my other guns with the same ammo.  I suspect that a decibel meter would tell a different story.

I should add ..... regardless if which barrel you are shooting, use ear protection at all times.  I'm sitting here now with a constant ringing in my left ear.  It started about 6 months ago.  It comes and goes, but is showing up more and more regularly.  While probably somewhat hereditary, I know that guns have played a role.

`This past spring when I took my daughter out turkey hunting for the first time I also learned something. She was hearing turkey gobbleing I was not hearing, it did supprise me because I thought my hearing was not to bad even though I am getting up in age now. So I went in to have my hearing tested last month before the end of year. And found out the bad news, a lot worse then expected. But he did come out and ask me if I was a hunter, because one ear was quite a bite worse. Other then during actually hunting I do wear hearing protection. But as far as the rest of my hearing, thirty years of cutting wood with chain saws for work didnt help. I will be trying the Walker's Power Muff Quads this year to help hear and dampen when I do shoot at a bird.

Same here. My son can hear alot of the time Gobbles i wouldn't if he wasn't with me. Direction is hard also sometimes to differentiate.
If hearing loss is from shooting my audiologist told me your worse ear is usually the one opposite of the receiver.
Now it's just a matter of trying to keep the hearing I have..Wish I could lose the ringing though. Lol..
I would shoot whatever you want and just protect your ears.
26in.20in. or whatever =s hearing damage period without .