Thread: Barrel length?

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.