Shotgun barrel length?

It's not too long. It's long enough.

A few inches either way isn't going to matter unless you go too short and dont' get all your powder burned.
 
I'd recommend determining what [size-shot] & how far you plan on shooting a coyote. Once you determine that. Then pattern your shot at various yardages. As well as, check the [down-range energy] of your shot.

Patterning, IMHO is just not enough info. I would determine if your shotgun & shot-load has what it takes.

I don't know how experienced you are. But coyotes can often soak up alot of punishment, before DRT.

edit; I didn't mention barrel length or choke size. Because, you didn't mention how far. You plan on shooting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
 
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24 inch.The longer barrels give you a better sight plane but the shotgun shell itself has already done what its suppose to do.Rifles are a different as you gain a little more velocity. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
28" is a good length for a comprimise of all hunting situations you might encounter.

Not that long for flushing grouse, not that short for a nice long sighting plane for clays or goose, just right for ducks over decoys.

In an O/U I go with 30" barrels because of the lack of a reciever making them feel shorter and 28" for semi's and pumps.
 
I like the 24" barrels. Shotguns are for close, thick, cover and quick reacting coyotes, IMHO. 24" inches is long enough to give full ballistic properties, short enough to manage in the brush, yet long enough to give some semblence of swing and balance. One consideration is that many good aftermarket chokes are not flush fitted and add another 1 1/2" - 2" inches to the overall length of the barrel.
 
I would think 35 yards would be a maximum distance. The shotgun would be for those few places that are just to brushy for a rifle.

I am looking at getting another shotgun and cutting down the barrel. Would be into this setup for $100 gun and gunsmith cost to cut and thread for a choke.
 
Hi MH Wash i would try the one you have. If all you are going to shoot is 35 yds the one you have should work. What choke is the barrel now? Just find you the right load. VM
 
I agree with Varmint Master. That barrel length is fine for what you will be doing. At 35 yards with a full choke, my 30" barrel has a shot spread of almost 2' with Winchester Supreme #4 buck. It is deadly. Plus the 28" barrel is just right for pounding all those pheasants you have down there.
 
You've been given some good advice above. Unlike rifled barrels, shotgun barrel length has no effect on the velocity and range of the projectiles. A shorter barrel is more managable in the thick stuff. But a 28" barrel will certainly work. I think 26" and 28" are good all-around barrel lengths for everything from canvasbacks to coyotes. But if you were looking to get a dedicated coyote shotgun, or deer or turkey shotgun for that matter, you might want to get a 24" barrel gun. But you've got a good all-purpose gun. What you might want to look at is your choke in conjunction with the load your using. What type of choke you use will determine how tight your pattern is.
 
Law enforcement barrels are almost always 16-18" for a reason. They swing quick and are very easy to move around in tight quarters. Any barrel 18" and longer will be at max velocity and best shot pattern, and longer will only help a smooth swing and have a longer site plane.
 
I bought a 21" Benelli and heard it all about it being to short. After hunting pheasants, Quail, turkey, dove and coyotes with it I figure it kills just as good as a 28" barrel or longer, even does as good on the skeet range. I did buy another gun mainly for the skeet range and it has a longer barrel, it's 24".
 
It has to be over 18" to be legal. Like others have said try what you have. It seems that at $100 plus gunsmithing you might be into something that's hard to recoup if it doesn't pan out. This is also coming close to the price of low end new or maybe even a good or unfired used. What affect does cutting have on the forcing cone.
 
The barrel length has nothing to do with how far the shotgun will shoot; the choke dictates the spread of the pattern at different ranges.
The powder has burned when the shotwad has traveled 18ins. up the barrel, so don't worry about unburnt powder, unless you're shooting blackpowder, then you'll need a 28-30in. barrel so all the powder will burn in the barrel....
 
I have always been told that any shotgun barrel over 18" is just personal preference. A short barrel will work as good as the longer barrel. You need to find the right choke/load combination. that is what I've been doing for some time now and finally got an awesome combination with my Beretta 686, #4 buckshot with a .660 choke out to 40 yds. Next month am going to buy another choke to see if I can improve the pattern!!
 
For gobblers and predators I want short barrels, rifle sights, and choke tubes to keep the pattern dense. I use 21 to 26 inch barrels.
Wing shooting is a different story.
 
The thing about all the powder being consumed within 18" of barrel may be true with standard type target/game loads. I think the short barrel trend was mostly a matter of handling ability for cops in tight places than for hunting. Shotgun makers picked up on the short barrel handling abilities in tight places and translated that to thick cover in hunting situations and offered that as an attractive option with the thought in mind that nearly all the ballistic properties were kept intact. The slight velocity loss wasn't much with the loads of the day and the ranges most loads/chokes were capable of putting together a complete pattern.

The newer high velocity hunting loads that have been developed in the last few years that most turkey and predator hunters are interested in seem to need a bit more tube. I've noticed a trend away from the shorter barrel lengths on turkey guns and more emphasis on mid-length barrels. Seems there are fewer 20" - 21" turkey hunting barrels and more 22" - 24" options than in years past. The interest in shooting at longer ranges for waterfowlers, turkeys, and now us predator hunters have spurred the direction of the newest high velocity shotgun loads with the large shot sizes. There may not be any difference in patterning ability between a 18" barrel and a 24" inch barrel, all things equal. However, there will be a difference in individual pellet energy. The ability for enough pellets to reach the target with enough energy to penetrate deeply for sure kills is what the "long range" shotgunner of large critters strives for. Thus the success of high velocity loads, plated lead shot, and new shot material that is denser than lead such as Hevi-Shot.
 
Hi GS you are Right. I go out to Anderson Custom Shotguns and Chokes. Alot and on turkey guns you can take the same gun one with 24 inch barrel and one with a 26 inch barrel. Same ammo same custom choke the 26 inch barrel will put more shot in a 10 inch circle @ 40 yrds . I use to use a 21 inch barrel but move up to a 24 inch barrel becasue of the pattern being better. VM
 
My Benelli is an 18" barrel and my Mossberg is a 24". I like the 18' tube the best, with a modified choke in it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I've shot a couple of yotes out past 40 yards now and did just fine with the 18" tube. It's a great brush gun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Barrel length is nothing more than personal preference. But a long barrel is hard to swing in tight spots..
 
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