Barrel length question....

[SSN Vet]

It seems that dedicated deer/slug barrels are typically 22" long.

Is this primarily so the shotgun can be handled in the brush better, or is it because there is no significant gain in velocity/accuracy shooting out of the longer 28" barrels?

tag on question...

It seems that most everyone that hunts deer with a shotgun uses slugs. Has buckshot been obsoleted by slugs? I never see anyone discuss using buckshot for anything other than self-defense.

thanks in advance

 

[dfariswheel]

When shooting buckshot or slugs from a smooth barrel, there is no advantage gained by using a longer barrel.
An 18" barrel shoots pretty much the same as a 28" barrel would.

The reason you rarely hear of buckshot being used to hunt deer is that many (most?) states allow ONLY slugs for deer.
Some states DO allow buckshot, but for some reason, people don't post about it much.

 

[TxClaysMan]

Yes and Yes

Slug barrels measuring 20-22 inches pretty much deliver best with the optimum internal ballistics of the various makes of slugs. That is with a cylinder bore and rifled sights. If the barrel is rifled, you can run through the different brands of slugs to find what it likes best as far as accuracy is concerned. Of course, a short barrel is better in tight cover, i.e. shotgun territory. Shooting slugs accurately through barrels without iron sights or scopes is pretty much a roll of the dice past 25 yards, although it can be done.

I believe that many places up north where shotguns are the only long gun allowed for deer, buckshot is prohibited. Down here in the South, we mostly use buckshot in the thick stuff because of ballistic advantage. It's mighty hard trying to find a clear hole to shoot through and hit even a deer sized target moving fast through the brush. They knock 'em down regularly with 12 pellets of 00 in 3" shell.