Thread: Barrel length?

Hey team,

Abit of an odd question, how much does barrel length effect things? 26 -28"
What's better, much difference?

Cheers bevan

Very much caliber and factory ammo vs reloads dependent

Better and different in terms of what, bevan?

Longer gives more speed. So better, right? How much is dependent on a lot of things and very hard to predict accurately.

Longer is also more awkward to carry around, take through bush etc... So that's worse, right?

I'm looking at a 20g at the moment, and it has a 26" barrel, my old 12g had a 28". I was just wondering if I would notice a difference. Obviously the difference between 12 and 20g. But is a 26" effective on ducks/pheasants etc

I'm not expert on this, but have done a bit of recreational clay work at clubs.

Barrell length on a shot gun does not change velocity of the shot, the powder is much too fast burning.

It does change how it "points"

Longer barrels have more weight further away from you, at the muzzle.

That means that they will be slower to start moving, eg left to right, and slower to change direction of movement. It also means that they are smoother in their movement. So moving left to right for example, you catch up with the clay target, fire when you need too, and you keep moving left to right (follow through) once you have fired.


Shorter barrels are "whippy". They are not as smooth in their movement ( often referred to as their arc), but are faster to get moving and change direction.

If you can, pick up the one you are looking at, shoulder it, and dry fire it on some imaginary moving targets, see if you like it.

the advantage of a 28" barrel over a 26" barrel is the duck is 2" closer to muzzle...end of story
its all about which one fits you best.

Put a 2 inch recoil pad on then it's the same distance from the target

Or buy a extended choke that gives a extra inch or so outside the end of barrel

Over thinking it, it’s a shotgun nothing special about it. You won’t notice any performance difference between the two lengths.

I was running 28" barrels for all of my shottys except my Churchhill O/U which was 30".

I went and fondled some of the 3 gun style shottys which typically have a maximum barrel length of 24". Alot are 18,20,22 inch in this style of gun.
Ultimately from using a 24" gun I've found it way quicker to pick up, points alot easier than a 28" and I'd never go back. I've found the 3 gun style shottys with oversized controls, beveled loading gate etc makes them a no Brainer for hunting as it's so easy to reach the controls etc.

I hope this helps

I personally find short barrel is better for more unexpected "instinctive" type shooting if that makes sense. Kinda "theres one........bang" style of shooting
That said I shoot clays way better with heavy 32 inch barreled gun.

Really its about what you find works best for your particular style of shooting. The duck and pheasants wont notice the difference and essentially its the same shot going the same speed and will do the same thing on target if you do your bit.

Ive shot mallard hen rocketing out from under my feet with my pump action 28" barrels..how close??? you ask...well the wad was inside bird...all of about 6 feet from muzzle....its ALL about gun fit..every thing else is cosmetic

Also if you are trying a new shotgun for "field/rough style shooting" as opposed to clay I find shooting randomly generated simultaneous pairs is a good way.

Especially if the trap operator gives no indication of whats coming next.

years back I had pleasure of being trap man for the day...one of the sit on throwers with single arm capable of doubles,I learnt I could tilt whole set up either way and really throw curveball clays..the guys shooting loved it as had no clue what was coming out...a real simulated situation,none of this 100% know whats coming stuff.