Johnny Lightning
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What barrel length would you choose for an o/u for pheasant, quail, and dove hunting? I'm leaning towards a 26" or 28".
barrel length for o/u pheasant, quail, and dove hunting?
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bannockburn
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I have always liked a 26" barrel length with my upland game guns. Weight and balance are just right for me and makes for easier and quicker handling when working in areas of medium to heavy cover.
As I prefer the longer the better on shotguns and feel that 30" is about right for me and 32" on some shotguns, I voted 28". You didn't say anything about clays or games, dove hunting I find is very similar to clay games and a long barrel really helps IMO. 28" in an O/U is about the same length as a 24-25" pump/autoloader. A little weight forward is good for keeping the gun moving on moving targets, but too much is a bother to carry if balance point moves too far past the receiver. Find what is comfortable for you.
Hunterdad
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I like a 26" upland gun as well. Easier to swing in thick cover
loose noose
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I also prefer the 26" barrel of my Browning Gold Hunter, for sporting clays as it is a lot easier to swing on the fast moving clays, as well as I'm sure for quail, dove, and pheasant.
oneounceload
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Depends on the gauge in question and where you hunt. I prefer longer barrels as I hunt in more open terrain and the longer barrels give you a much smoother swing and follow through, so I would opt for 30, especially if you are talking about a 20 or 28.
Johnny Lightning
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I shoot all 12g now so I figured to stay w/ a 12g but am not totally opposed to a 20g.
gamestalker
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I often use a different one for each, dove, quail, and pheasant.
Pheasant is a 12 ga. period.
For quail I like a 12 ga., but I also sometimes use a 20 ga..
And over the last 10 or so years, I have become pretty comfortable with either a 20 ga or .410 ga for dove.
GS
Pheasant is a 12 ga. period.
For quail I like a 12 ga., but I also sometimes use a 20 ga..
And over the last 10 or so years, I have become pretty comfortable with either a 20 ga or .410 ga for dove.
GS
oneounceload
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Then you would LOVE a scaled 28 gauge.....Have a friend who hunts Montana birds every year - sharpies and pheasants - and uses a 28
Pete D.
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smile
My two 12s are an old Winchester Model 59 (28") and a Franchi 48 AL (26")....these have been my upland guns. Last year I hunted with a 16 gauge Flintlock fowler with a 42" barrel.....it weighs the same as the the 59 and the 48 = six and a quarter pounds and points like a wand.
Surprisingly, the long barrel handles quite well in the huckleberries.
Go figure.
My two 12s are an old Winchester Model 59 (28") and a Franchi 48 AL (26")....these have been my upland guns. Last year I hunted with a 16 gauge Flintlock fowler with a 42" barrel.....it weighs the same as the the 59 and the 48 = six and a quarter pounds and points like a wand.
Surprisingly, the long barrel handles quite well in the huckleberries.
Go figure.
Sav .250
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I`d be more interested in ,"what choke."
oneounceload
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Depends on the bore size, the birds being hunted, and the distances of your shooting
d2wing
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A long barrel doesn't hurt much for pheasants but the extra weight is a pain. I also prefer a well balanced gun for upland so I prefer a shorter barrel also for clays. Trap shooters and waterfowl shooters prefer longer barrels to compensate for poor swings.
Most people that do a lot of upland hunting prefer short barrels and lighter guns. I also hunt Grouse and woodcock where shorter lighter guns really help because those birds do not fly straight and are in heavy cover. Doves fly in the open but also do not fly straight. Pheasant fly pretty straight but you have to walk fat and mount fast.
Long heavy guns are good for waterfowl and trap, shorter lighter for pheasant, shortest and lightest for Grouse and Woodcock. I don't know anything about Quail but I have heard they are general hunted with lighter gauges. Remember hunting upland you have to mount very quickly and a lively fast handling good pointing gun is desired. I never liked heavy slow guns except for goose hunting.
Most people that do a lot of upland hunting prefer short barrels and lighter guns. I also hunt Grouse and woodcock where shorter lighter guns really help because those birds do not fly straight and are in heavy cover. Doves fly in the open but also do not fly straight. Pheasant fly pretty straight but you have to walk fat and mount fast.
Long heavy guns are good for waterfowl and trap, shorter lighter for pheasant, shortest and lightest for Grouse and Woodcock. I don't know anything about Quail but I have heard they are general hunted with lighter gauges. Remember hunting upland you have to mount very quickly and a lively fast handling good pointing gun is desired. I never liked heavy slow guns except for goose hunting.
d2wing
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I should point out that I am a NRA certified instructor. I am of the opinion that proper mount and cheek weld and sight picture are far more important than the gun, gauge, weight or length barrels. You must point the gun at the target and follow through. If you do it right you will hit it regardless of choke if it is in range. The length barrel has no bearing on accuracy. your follow through should be the same no matter what gun you shoot.
tactikel
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What type of action? A 26" O/U is quite a different gun from a 26" 870. For heavy cover grouse/pheasant gun I prefer a 26" for my 20ga and 12 ga OUs. My 20ga 870 Special Field sports a 21" tube to maintain the overall length I needed. If you need a pheasant/dove gun for corn or sunflower fields the 28" barrel swings really nice.
Shoulder as many shotguns (wearing the coat you will be hunting with) as you can. I went to a Gander mountain on a rainy day off to buy a Rem 877. I borrowed a hunting coat off the rack, and shouldered 6 different 12ga pumps, the Mossberg 835 came home with me, it just felt right.
To summarize, the overall length, balance, and how it swings are more important than the barrel length.
Shoulder as many shotguns (wearing the coat you will be hunting with) as you can. I went to a Gander mountain on a rainy day off to buy a Rem 877. I borrowed a hunting coat off the rack, and shouldered 6 different 12ga pumps, the Mossberg 835 came home with me, it just felt right.
To summarize, the overall length, balance, and how it swings are more important than the barrel length.
oneounceload
member
Not hardly. Longer barrels make for smooth swings. Shorter barrels may start faster, but they also STOP faster. 28-30" barrel 12s can be had at 7# or less
WestKentucky
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I'm throwing a wrench in this one. I have grown to REALLY like a heavy gun with a short barrel, especially in 20ga. The heavy helps swing naturally and smoothly but the short barrel makes it super handy. With my hand around the neck of the stock I can walk with the gun relaxed at my side and it doesn't touch the ground. On birds this translates to a quick mount from nearly any position. I did quite well this past weekend on dove with the pardner pump youth 20ga with 20" barrel I bought for my wife, and I have very much liked other defense length guns. I hate to say it but my long recoil autos have competition to get out of the safe in the form of a $200 beater pump. I do shoot a touch better with my longer barreled guns but I believe that is strictly due to experience with them.
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