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

Your line of sight should be about a 1/4" to 3/8" over the back/top of the reciever....you should see quite a bit of rib....if you're just seeing beads the gun has too much drop for you.

Seems if you're not toting a 32 inch on the clays range you're out of step. For your use (same as mine, I have a 28) a 28 or 30 inch would fit the bill.

For general use, I would want 30" barrels, but I could live with 28" barrels

30”

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So I'm pretty sure I want a Beretta What I don't know is if I should get a sporting model or a field model. I plan to use it equally for both. Thoughts?

For the most part because of weight difference they don’t interchange all that well. 8+ pound spotters don’t carry all that well in the field.

Extended chokes are under the rib and add nothing to the sighting plane in that you don’t see them. And flush or extended may vary so much in weight, one may or may not balance better or worse than the other. I've had fixed choke guns, extended chokes and flush choke...Given a preference I would take fixed...and the big advantage of extended is they can be removed by hand without a tool. Some say they pattern better...they may or may not.

Beretta offers both field and sporting models . The silver" pigeon" and "silver pigeon sporting" I think there is a slight difference in the weight and the action .

the sporting models may have more of a raised rib and weight more .

Sporting guns designed to be loaded only when you are in the box don't have automatic safetys . Most field guns have an automatic safety that is on when you load and close the action . This is just a matter of preference .

You mentioned that your looking for an all around gun for ducks over decoys I don't think the Berettas have a 31/2 inch chamber that you may want .

In regard to flush or extended choke tubes you can purchase a set of Carlsons and have both.

My ideal of the perfect all around gun would be 28inch barrels with extended and flush choke tubes, 3 1/2inch chambers and recoil pad .

I have zero interest in shooting 3.5" shells ever for anything.

Try a Cynergy. Browning built a Beretta for people that like their feel and fit. I love mine and use it for everything from grouse and woodcock to geese and all summer long shooting sporting clays. For me the 28" swings better than the 30"

I own a Beretta Silver Pigeon 12 gauge 3” 28 inch barrels, love this shotgun. Be aware if you shoot left-handed, the stocks come with right-hand castoff. If your gun comes that way plan on spending another $450+ for new ones.