Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns OVER UNDER BARREL LENGTH?

If you could have only one general purpose over under for ducks over decoys, doves, non serious sporting clays even occasional trap and skeet what barrel length would you want in a 12 gauge?

Either 28 or 30 inches. 28 with extended screw-in chokes, 30 with flush-fitted chokes.

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Would the advantage go to the 28 because extended chokes pattern better?

Maybe yes. Maybe no. In theory they should because the transition through the choke is longer, if the choke portion is tapered through the entire length of the tube. Wouldn’t know without using an internal micrometer.

The only sure way to know is shooting patterns.

I totally agree, for the op's parameters

If the shotgun is properly backbored, its not going to matter.

I have a Benelli 828u. Extended or flush, the chokes pattern the same. Twice I've had friends who didn't believe me (pro extend camp) test them on paper and now they believe. Of course this is one o/u hence one example.

So maybe a 28 and have a set of both flush and extended so it was better suited to skeet with the flush and trap with the extended flush for the ducks in the swamp and extended for the doves?

Get out and handle them, barrel length is a very personal choice and it also depends on the shotgun, I have a o/u with long lightweight barrels that handles well for me my goto would be 26" and I have a sxs with 25" that is one of my favorite upland guns including wild pheasants.

Good point.

32

Used it in that length for years for everything a person uses a shotgun for. Never felt at a disadvantage.

Handle them and see how they balance for you. Depends on barrel wall thickness, density of the wood, how you hold a gun, etc. I have owned doubles I really liked in every length from 26" to 32"

28 inches for the most part.

28”, had some 26” and that’s to short for many but not all uses

I've shouldered several Brownings and they never line up for me. All I see is rib. When I throw up a Berretta all I see is beads which should hit where I'm looking and not high. I'm confused by the different Berretta models and what's for what and why. What model(s) would make a good all purpose shooter?

Some ranges have rentals and that's a good way to get a feel for what you do and don't like.

Have hunted with a Franchi Falconet, 24” barrels choked Cylinder and Improved Cylinder for the last 48 years.

28” for hunting