best bbl length for quail/grouse

[Satchel]

Browning sells a BPS with 22" bbl, also BPS with 26" and 28" bbls.
Which would be best for birds, short or long?

[SwampWolf]

I'd go for the 26" barrel for most "upland" game, certainly quail and grouse. I'd even consider a 24" barrel but I think the 22" version is a mite abbreviated. If pheasants are thrown in the mix, I'd think about the 28" length.
I believe the kind of cover you typically hunt in would be the biggest determining factor when deciding on barrel length. The thicker it is, the shorter (within reason) I want my barrel. The shorter barrel is less likely to get caught up in obstructions and affords a quicker swing on those typical "snap" shots.

[ArmedBear]

Remember: a BPS with a 22" barrel is about as long as a Citori with a 26" barrel.

It's not as heavy as the Citori, but what is?:)

[Ed/Pa]

Agree with Swamp Wolf on this one, he's right on the money!

[bensdad]

+1 to SwampWolf.

Set your priorities... easy movement vs. good sight radius.

[skeeter1]

I've got 26" IC/M barrels on my SKB SxS double upland game shotgun, and they seem about perfect. Another one I have has 28" M/F barrels, and that one is used at the trap range. It's too heavy and unwieldly for upland game hunting, IMHO, and too expensive for sitting in a duck blind on a rainy day.

[Dave McCracken]

My first repeater was an 870 with a 30" barrel. I did OK on pheasant with it as such but quail were a bit of a prob.

Some time later I hunted quail with an 870 with an 18" barrel and thought it was great on quail but not quite so good on pheasant. I did not take into account the fact that I was shooting better.

These days my hunting guns wear barrels from 26" to 30" and I may just be shooting as well as I ever will.

I doubt there's a hardnfast rule here. Shun the extremes and you'll probably be all right...

[eliphalet]

Owned several shotguns in the 26 to 30 inch barrel length then I bought a 870 special field with a 21 inch barrel with a English style stock. For upland birds, quail, pheasant, chucker etc I will never go back to that longer barrel. To each his own and I would recommend get what feels right to you, but for me 21 is plenty.