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I am thinking I want a new duck gun this year and have decided on an A400 extreme plus but can’t decide on 26 or 28” barrel on this one. Ever since switching to a 3.5” Capable receiver I have been shooting a 26” barrel. My older guns were beretta 301 and 303’s were 28”. Been shooting 26” in my M2, SBE 2 and sx3. Yes I know my M2 is not a 3.5” gun. I have always thought I prefer the shorter barrel for faster swings but I have time and figured I would see others opinions on it before ordering. My hunting partners are about 50/50 26 vs 28. I shoot 3.5 very rarely but have decided on this model anyways. I sold one to my main hunting partner earlier this year and liked it so I decided to go back to beretta. His was a 28” and felt good which is were this question stems from. Thanks for the input

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Do you want to handicap yourself, or do you want all the advantages you can get? If you want to handicap yourself buy the 26, if you want all the advantages buy the 28.


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In my opinion the way the gun feels and handles is the key and not all guns are the same. I settled on a Benelli M-1 years ago and haven't felt the need to upgrade to the M-2. I don't need or want 3 1/2" shells. In fact I have two M-1's, one with a 24" and the other 26" barrel. I bought them used and liked them well enough that I sold everything else but an 870 which is the HD gun with a shorter barrel on it.

Compared to the 11-87's and 1100's I'd owned previously the receiver on the Benelli is longer and the LOP on the stock is a bit longer. The barrel length on the Benelli's is actually 26" and 24". If you measure a Remington barrel they are all a bit shorter than advertised. At the end of the day my 26" Benelli is within a fraction of an inch of the same OAL of a 28" Remington and with similar handling qualities. My 24" Benelli compares more closely to a 26" Remington.

If I were still using Remington then I might go 28". But with the Benelli, especially where and how I hunt 26" is as long as I want. The 24" gun gets used more. It is for turkey, upland game, and quick shots while duck hunting on beaver ponds. Shots tend to be close and a quicker gun is more important than a longer barrel to me.


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Whatever your comfortable with, I've killed ducks with everything from 21" to 30". How the gun fits and how well you shoot it is far more important than barrel length.

21" barreled 870 here is the third refinish on the stock, salt water is tuff on the Rem and a 26" barreled SKB 100 my two favorites for a long time.

[Linked Image from imagizer.imageshack.com]

My current favorite for the past 10yrs Husqvarna 51 with 29 1/2" barrels 2 1/2" chambers and use 7/8th oz of ITX shot in it.

[Linked Image from imagizer.imageshack.com]

Then every once in awhile you need to take something else out 28" Manufrance Robust.

[Linked Image from imagizer.imageshack.com]

Like I said there is no perfect barrel length, how it shoots for YOU is more important.

Last edited by erich; 07/27/20.

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Barrel length helps determine balance. I prefer a 26 on a shotgun. If you like weight forward, you might want a 28 or more.


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Like a few others have said, it comes down to how the gun feels for you. I have a Win SX2 with a 28" barrel, Rem 1100 and 870 with a 26" and have used my dad's 1100 with a 30" barrel quite a bit. I've killed ducks with all of them, but prefer the 28" on a dedicated duck gun. If it were going to serve purposes (ducks, rabbits, upland) as my 870 does I'd go 26" for a bit more versatility.

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On that specific shotgun, I definitely like the feel of the 28”. Hard to make definitive statements in generalities, at least for me, as it’s a question of feel - that difficult to quantify quality that combines balance and dynamics. On a Benelli Montefeltro, for example, the 26” barrel feels best by far to me.

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On my Benelli Montefeltro, I definitely prefer a 24” barrel.

I’ve cut several of my Remington’s to a 23” barrel. Only have one shotgun left with a 28” barrel. Only reason I haven’t cut it down is because it’s a pristine like new model 1950’s era 870 in 16 gauge.

My advice is to buy which ever barrel length swings and points the best for YOU. Everybody is different. Fit and point ability is my more important than barrel length in being able to hit any flying target, IMHO.


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As stated already, individual firearms are different.

I find with semiautos that the receiver is sometimes so long, the 26" closely resembles a 28" in balance.

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I just read the whole thread. JMR said exactly what I said. Listen to him.

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Appreciate the responses guys. I was thinking along those lines. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The 28 felt good in my buddies gun so that’s why I am asking. I didn’t have a 26 next to it to compare though. It might of felt good or better as well.

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PM answered


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Originally Posted by shootAI
I am thinking I want a new duck gun this year and have decided on an A400 extreme plus but can’t decide on 26 or 28” barrel on this one. Ever since switching to a 3.5” Capable receiver I have been shooting a 26” barrel. My older guns were beretta 301 and 303’s were 28”. Been shooting 26” in my M2, SBE 2 and sx3. Yes I know my M2 is not a 3.5” gun. I have always thought I prefer the shorter barrel for faster swings but I have time and figured I would see others opinions on it before ordering. My hunting partners are about 50/50 26 vs 28. I shoot 3.5 very rarely but have decided on this model anyways. I sold one to my main hunting partner earlier this year and liked it so I decided to go back to beretta. His was a 28” and felt good which is were this question stems from. Thanks for the input




Try some of each and see what you like, but personally i would go 28....Highly doubtful a 26inch in the A400 will give you any advantage in swing speed.... Also personally, 3.5 inch shells are for those who like a little self-abuse....and the recoil does nothing for most in getting back on the stock for additional shots....

Last edited by battue; 07/29/20.

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How much velocity will one lose in 2"s?

How fast do you think my 870, 18.5" deer barrel will shoot 3" Black Cloud BB rated 1450 fps?


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2inches? None you will ever notice. And the Ducks won’t either.

Last edited by battue; 07/30/20.

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Originally Posted by BS2
How much velocity will one lose in 2"s?

How fast do you think my 870, 18.5" deer barrel will shoot 3" Black Cloud BB rated 1450 fps?


None but you are losing a smooth swinging gun and a long friendly sight plane. shell speed matters very little but your sight picture and swing mean the world.


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Originally Posted by MontanaCreekHunter
Originally Posted by BS2
How much velocity will one lose in 2"s?

How fast do you think my 870, 18.5" deer barrel will shoot 3" Black Cloud BB rated 1450 fps?


None but you are losing a smooth swinging gun and a long friendly sight plane. shell speed matters very little but your sight picture and swing mean the world.


The 18.5" barrel is 30 fps slower than the 28". Just fired them thru the Oehler chronograph.

Smooth swing and long sight plane don't mean crap, when you have a large pattern with a lot of shot in it!


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Originally Posted by BS2
Originally Posted by MontanaCreekHunter
Originally Posted by BS2
How much velocity will one lose in 2"s?

How fast do you think my 870, 18.5" deer barrel will shoot 3" Black Cloud BB rated 1450 fps?


None but you are losing a smooth swinging gun and a long friendly sight plane. shell speed matters very little but your sight picture and swing mean the world.


The 18.5" barrel is 30 fps slower than the 28". Just fired them thru the Oehler chronograph.

Smooth swing and long sight plane don't mean crap, when you have a large pattern with a lot of shot in it!


Easy to decipher who shoots and who doesn't on here.


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MCH,
Relax and stay off that knee..the poster probably has pointing down to an exact science..they just place a finger real close to their nose and point..natural move, with a little practice..

Then you line up those bumps on the barrel; take a fine aim on the target and hit the trigger. You have this big pattern and a lot of shot taking care of the hitting....

This crap isn’t hard. 😉


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Originally Posted by MontanaCreekHunter
Originally Posted by BS2
Originally Posted by MontanaCreekHunter
Originally Posted by BS2
How much velocity will one lose in 2"s?

How fast do you think my 870, 18.5" deer barrel will shoot 3" Black Cloud BB rated 1450 fps?


None but you are losing a smooth swinging gun and a long friendly sight plane. shell speed matters very little but your sight picture and swing mean the world.


The 18.5" barrel is 30 fps slower than the 28". Just fired them thru the Oehler chronograph.

Smooth swing and long sight plane don't mean crap, when you have a large pattern with a lot of shot in it!


Easy to decipher who shoots and who doesn't on here.


This gun has shot little Teal buzzing across the sky! It doesn't have bumps, it has rifled sights. You don't have to have a long barrel to have a good swing!

When you are a kid and only have one gun, you learn to make it work!

Last edited by BS2; 08/02/20.

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