Is there any advantage to 30" or 32" barrels in skeet?

[distra]

I've been shooting a 28" barrel Browning Citori for the last couple of years and have been wondering how longer barrels might effect the skeet game? Given the same fit, would there be much difference between 28" and 32". I'd just like to get a few opinions on the transition from shorter to longer barrels.

 

[rcmodel]

Back in my day, Skeet guns were short and Trap guns were long.

Hard to get a 32" barrel swinging fast enough on a skeet range.

I have no idea what the hot set-up is now though.

rc

 

[kudu]

Since the early 90's longer has been better on skeet ranges, yes many skeet guns were 24-26" barrels. More barrel means a bit more weight forward and helps most people to keep the gun moving through the targets. I prefer at least a 30" on an O/U, but 32" is nice but harder to come by, 30" on an autoloader is pretty long, but have shot 32" barrels and they worked well for me.

 

[AJumbo]

I prefer longer barrels (30" or 32") for any sport where I need to swing the gun to get on target. After I replaced the 28" tube on my 1100 with a 30" aftermarket barrel and saw my sporting clays scores go up by 10%. Of course, I learned to shoot with a Winchester 97 with the same length barrel; I must really like overlong, overweight shotguns.

 

[jmr40]

For me, 28" on a double is about right for skeet. On a pump or auto I like 26". But I'm more of a casual shotgunner. The trend among the serious guys is for barrels longer than I like.

 

[Virginian]

I like 26" on a 12 for skeet. Changing direction on doubles outweighs smooth swinging on singles to me.

 

[RNB65]

Barrel length is entirely subjective with clay shooting. Whatever best fits your eye. I have a buddy who will only use a 26" barrel for everything and he's one of the best sporting clays shooters I know. He's not too bad on the trap range either. He's tried longer barrels but prefers the the shorter barrel.

 

[oneounceload]

I shoot a 8.25# gun with 32" barrels and have for over 15 years - no problem getting on skeet targets at all.

Longer barrels help by keeping your swing smooth and moving and not stopping as shorter, lightweight barrels tend to do

 

[Gunnerboy]

My dad has a rem 1100 in 12ga with a fixed full choke and 30in barrel and i gave him hell over that heavy goofy thing until i watched him kill a sitting grouse at 40yds with #6 lead, needless to say i keep my mouth shut about 30in barrels they actually are worth it.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I started shooting skeet and trap about three years ago and ran across a good deal on a used Beretta O/U that I figured would be a good beginner's gun. This is a field gun with 26 inch tubes. One of the club staff was giving me a tip about having to be sure to push the gun to ensure follow through "with those short barrels".

I guess it's a matter of perception. When I bought the Beretta my only other shotgun was a riot gun. Twenty six inches seemed pretty long to me.

I've used a friend's 30 inch Browning Citori for skeet. That seemed long until I shouldered a 32 inch gun with extended choke tubes. I had the feeling I could just swat the clays as they flew past!

 

[jmr40]

My dad has a rem 1100 in 12ga with a fixed full choke and 30in barrel and i gave him hell over that heavy goofy thing until i watched him kill a sitting grouse at 40yds with #6 lead, needless to say i keep my mouth shut about 30in barrels they actually are worth it.

The 30" barrel had nothing to do with that shot. An 18" barrel with a full choke would have done the same. The longer barrel adds weight to the end making it smoother swinging. No help at all on sitting targets. The barrels choke determines pattern, not the length.

 

[DaleCooper51]

For skeet and sporting, I shot a 30" O/U for a couple of years. I have come to enjoy having more of the gun weight between my hands then out front and switched to a 28" Semi Auto. It just works better for me aside from bending over to pick up empty hulls.

 

[Gunnerboy]

^ i disagree completly you take a 18in barrel with full choke and the shot will drop sooner due to a loss in velocity a 28 and 30in barrels have the maximum length to which velocity peaks having any longer barrel depending on the shot will not give you any more velocity its simple take a shotgun with a 18in barrel shoot it at 30yds then take a 30in barrel shoot it at 30yds count the pellets and youll see a huge differance i thought the same way until i did this test and there was right under 20% more pellets with the 30in barrel, ive also done the testing with 20,24 and 26in barrels also.

 

[243winxb]

Is there any advantage to 30" or 32" barrels in skeet?

No.

 

[Rancho Relaxo]

I shoot an SKB with 30" barrels for skeet. Once I had the leads and hold points figured out I found that the longer barrels made for a very smooth swing. In fact, sometimes it feels like once I get that long barrel moving it just keeps on going on its own momentum. Of course, a 30" barrel on a pump or auto is going to feel different, and might even feel front heavy because of the different balance.

Todd Bender, and probably the other top skeet shooters do so with 32" barrels now.

 

[oneounceload]

^ i disagree completly you take a 18in barrel with full choke and the shot will drop sooner due to a loss in velocity a 28 and 30in barrels have the maximum length to which velocity peaks having any longer barrel depending on the shot will not give you any more velocity its simple take a shotgun with a 18in barrel shoot it at 30yds then take a 30in barrel shoot it at 30yds count the pellets and youll see a huge differance i thought the same way until i did this test and there was right under 20% more pellets with the 30in barrel, ive also done the testing with 20,24 and 26in barrels also.

Cite your source because it is incorrect. Barrel length deals with swing dynamics, not choke density or even velocity. After 20", it doesn't matter regarding velocity. Modern smokeless powder reaches maximum pressure and velocity in a very short time and short barrel length

 

[Gunnerboy]

my source is the dead ducks,geese, grouse etc and the paper prints in my backyard i dont belive most of what i read unless i test it all ive read points to what you say ^ but when you shoot all differant lengths with the same shot do the math and pattern the shot it comes out differant than what the experts say so dont matter if you dont believe me he just asked if it makes a differance and in my experiance it does in yours it dosent so can we please stop acting like a family and more like friends everyone is entitled to thier opinions i gave mine and didnt bash on yours so lets just let Distra who started this thread decide for himself the conlcusion of his question.