shotgun barrel length
- Thread starter WPH
- Start date
derbyacresbob
Well-known member
Yes there is, you can shoot your foot much easier with the 20" barrel. If I had to use one of those barrel lengths it would be the 24" barrel. Longer shotgun barrels are easier to point straight than shorter shotgun barrels.
With the slow burning powders commonly used in heavy hunting loads, there will be a velocity loss. Generally, you can expect somewhere between 7 and 10 fps. loss for every inch shorter than the standard 30" used in establishing published loads when using the slow burn rate powders.
The velocity loss, if any, should be less with loads using faster burn rate powders commonly used in target loads.
There may be a small difference in pattern performance, but if that's the case in your gun, much of that can be overcome with the use of a good choke. And, you won't normally any difference in actual use in the field, anyway. We got better patterns with our 28" - 30" barrels than we did when using our 21" and 22" turkey barrels. But, the turkeys and fox never noticed.
The velocity loss, if any, should be less with loads using faster burn rate powders commonly used in target loads.
There may be a small difference in pattern performance, but if that's the case in your gun, much of that can be overcome with the use of a good choke. And, you won't normally any difference in actual use in the field, anyway. We got better patterns with our 28" - 30" barrels than we did when using our 21" and 22" turkey barrels. But, the turkeys and fox never noticed.
bea175
New member
I used to really like shorter barrel shotguns around 24 inch and they work well for stationary target and straight away flushing shots but as i got older i now tend to go with nothing shorter than 26 inch and prefer 28 or 30 inch barrel for most of my wing shooting. You will hit more passing shots at game birds with the longer length barrels.The longer barrel gives you a better follow through and sight picture and most shotguns balance better with the longer barrel length. My Benelli Super 90 Turkey gun has a 26 inch barrel and works great. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
blinddog
New member
A lot opf the "kmowledge " about shotgun barrel lengths is straight from the black powder era. You stated you want this gun for turkeys right? Modern turkey loads are very close to what has been used for decads as defensive/offensive loads by the military and police all over the world ie SHORT BARRELED guns! With heavy loads of large shot. Now don't get me wrong here I have no probmen with 26, 28 even 30 inch bareled shotguns for upland game and waterfowl the shells that are designed for these species is also designed for longer barrels with longer sight radius. In a turkey blind 20 or 24 inch is all the barrel you need fince usually you need a gun that is as manuverable as possible, yoiu seldom shoot turkeys flying past you or away or whatever you usually call them in as close as you can and use a decoy to hold them in position at the same time you have to be as well concealed as you can, moveingt around to get that lang barrel in to position will give away your position as well as school the gobbler. Or yote for that matter. I have a 20 inch stoeger sxs that I use for turkey,yotes, and quail. I have a 28 inch 835 for upland game and waterfowl and I am considering another 20 " to use just for turkey since the SXS has fixed Mod and imp chokes I want to try some of the ex full turkey chokes and some of the non lead hevi shot, This new gun is most likely going to be one of the 835 Tacticool tiurkey guns. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
shooter44n45
New member
I have a 21" barrel and i like it alot for shooting the walking mobile critters. For anything in the air I prefer 28-30" barrels.
I really dont think you will notice any performance difference between the 24 and 20. Short guns manuever through brush better, thats for sure.
I really dont think you will notice any performance difference between the 24 and 20. Short guns manuever through brush better, thats for sure.
GC
Well-known member
Quote:
I am purchasing a Mossberg 835 turkey shotgun. Is there a performance difference between a 20" and a 24" barrel?
Yes there is a slight performance difference. Usually not enough to be a significant factor regarding velocity. In fact, you may loose more velocity from screwing in a really open choke vs. a tightly constricted one, than from switching to a shorty barrel! Tight chokes give more velocity, sometimes as much as 100 fps more than a cylinder bore. You probably would not loose that much velocity going from a 28" barrel to an 18 1/2" inch barrel.
Longer barrels "may" pattern better, or, they may not depending upon the individual shotgun, choke, and load. Shotguns are such individual creatures there can be that much variation between specimens.
Choosing barrel length is very dependant upon what purpose you intend to put the shotgun to work at. The really cool thing is, you can get different barrels and make your shotgun handy in the brush when turkey or coyote hunting, or, a smooth swinging waterfowling gun in the duck/goose blind. Another barrel swap and you can have a fully rifled, scope sighted, slug gun for big game. Shotguns are soooo cool because the can do so many things so well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I am purchasing a Mossberg 835 turkey shotgun. Is there a performance difference between a 20" and a 24" barrel?
Yes there is a slight performance difference. Usually not enough to be a significant factor regarding velocity. In fact, you may loose more velocity from screwing in a really open choke vs. a tightly constricted one, than from switching to a shorty barrel! Tight chokes give more velocity, sometimes as much as 100 fps more than a cylinder bore. You probably would not loose that much velocity going from a 28" barrel to an 18 1/2" inch barrel.
Longer barrels "may" pattern better, or, they may not depending upon the individual shotgun, choke, and load. Shotguns are such individual creatures there can be that much variation between specimens.
Choosing barrel length is very dependant upon what purpose you intend to put the shotgun to work at. The really cool thing is, you can get different barrels and make your shotgun handy in the brush when turkey or coyote hunting, or, a smooth swinging waterfowling gun in the duck/goose blind. Another barrel swap and you can have a fully rifled, scope sighted, slug gun for big game. Shotguns are soooo cool because the can do so many things so well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
GC
Well-known member
Steve,
I think that has some merit when discussing field loads and the like, though I always thought the length to burn the complete powder charge was closer to 18". However, with the advent of higher velocity shot charges, and, especially the newest fast magnum loads of heavy charges of shot - longer barrels do go faster. With fast magnum charges of heavy shot loads there can be a velocity increase right up to about 28" of barrel. Anything over that is only there for the swing factor. The difference between a 24" and a 28" is very slight. As I mentioned, even different chokes affect the shot velocity and can be as big a factor as barrel length. In other words a really tightly choked 18 1/2" barrel might be as fast as a cylinder bore 26" barrel. Lot's of variables...
I think that has some merit when discussing field loads and the like, though I always thought the length to burn the complete powder charge was closer to 18". However, with the advent of higher velocity shot charges, and, especially the newest fast magnum loads of heavy charges of shot - longer barrels do go faster. With fast magnum charges of heavy shot loads there can be a velocity increase right up to about 28" of barrel. Anything over that is only there for the swing factor. The difference between a 24" and a 28" is very slight. As I mentioned, even different chokes affect the shot velocity and can be as big a factor as barrel length. In other words a really tightly choked 18 1/2" barrel might be as fast as a cylinder bore 26" barrel. Lot's of variables...
Quote:
I was always told that with the fast burning powders used today anything over 14-inches was just carrying around extra weight for nothing.
Here's a couple of pics. of RSI wads, shot from a BPS10 and one from a Nova. The wad from the BPS10, shows the effects of the skirt passing by four rows of porting, two on each side of the rib. Obviously, the pressure was high enough at that point to cause a rupture of the wad skirt as it passed each row of ports. The ports began about 25 inches from the breach. The barrel, including extended choke, was 31.5 inches long.
The other pic. is of a RSI 3.5" 12ga. wad shot from a Nova, with the extended choke the barrel was 27.5 inches long.
The other pic. is of a RSI 3.5" 12ga. wad shot from a Nova, with the extended choke the barrel was 27.5 inches long.
The wad shows an inversion of the wad skirt due to the pressure behind it as it exited the muzzle of the gun.
Both loads were steel shot loads using Alliant Steel powder.
If I use faster burn rate powders, such as Red Dot, Clays, Unique, etc., these effects don't normally occur. But, the heavy turkey loads and steel shot loads use much slower burn rate powders and their effects in generating pressure goes far beyond the normal "turkey" barrel length.
The wad shows an inversion of the wad skirt due to the pressure behind it as it exited the muzzle of the gun.
Both loads were steel shot loads using Alliant Steel powder.
If I use faster burn rate powders, such as Red Dot, Clays, Unique, etc., these effects don't normally occur. But, the heavy turkey loads and steel shot loads use much slower burn rate powders and their effects in generating pressure goes far beyond the normal "turkey" barrel length.
I was always told that with the fast burning powders used today anything over 14-inches was just carrying around extra weight for nothing.
Here's a couple of pics. of RSI wads, shot from a BPS10 and one from a Nova. The wad from the BPS10, shows the effects of the skirt passing by four rows of porting, two on each side of the rib. Obviously, the pressure was high enough at that point to cause a rupture of the wad skirt as it passed each row of ports. The ports began about 25 inches from the breach. The barrel, including extended choke, was 31.5 inches long.
The other pic. is of a RSI 3.5" 12ga. wad shot from a Nova, with the extended choke the barrel was 27.5 inches long.
The other pic. is of a RSI 3.5" 12ga. wad shot from a Nova, with the extended choke the barrel was 27.5 inches long.
The wad shows an inversion of the wad skirt due to the pressure behind it as it exited the muzzle of the gun.
Both loads were steel shot loads using Alliant Steel powder.
If I use faster burn rate powders, such as Red Dot, Clays, Unique, etc., these effects don't normally occur. But, the heavy turkey loads and steel shot loads use much slower burn rate powders and their effects in generating pressure goes far beyond the normal "turkey" barrel length.
The wad shows an inversion of the wad skirt due to the pressure behind it as it exited the muzzle of the gun.
Both loads were steel shot loads using Alliant Steel powder.
If I use faster burn rate powders, such as Red Dot, Clays, Unique, etc., these effects don't normally occur. But, the heavy turkey loads and steel shot loads use much slower burn rate powders and their effects in generating pressure goes far beyond the normal "turkey" barrel length.
