Lone_Gunman
Member
What are the optimal barrel lengths for a 12 gauge for these sports?
Is 28" too long? Would I be better off with a 26 or 24"?
Is 28" too long? Would I be better off with a 26 or 24"?
Optimal barrel length for Skeet/Trap/Clays
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Will Fennell
Member
long=good
I shoot a 32" barreled o/u for all clay target sports. The trend is long, with some guys shooting 34's for sporting.
I shoot a 32" barreled o/u for all clay target sports. The trend is long, with some guys shooting 34's for sporting.
Lone_Gunman
Member
What is the advantage of the longer barrel in this setting?
It would seem to me that the shotgun would swinger quicker with a shorter barrel.
It would seem to me that the shotgun would swinger quicker with a shorter barrel.
Hornet 6
Member
I use 32" in 12g as well (or 30" in 28g), the speed of the swing is all to do with balance.
The nice thing about the longer barrels for crossers is it make it easier to keep the swing going, and not stop as you fire.
Neil.
The nice thing about the longer barrels for crossers is it make it easier to keep the swing going, and not stop as you fire.
Neil.
Dksimon
Member
I have a 28" and its great for sporting but i dont shoot many clays with it. I would say anything over 28 and you should be fine.
Although, my younger brother shoots trap with a 26" and hes pretty dang good so im not sure what to tell you. I guess its up to personal preference
Although, my younger brother shoots trap with a 26" and hes pretty dang good so im not sure what to tell you. I guess its up to personal preference
I keep reading that the longer, 30" or 32", barrels are better for the clay sports. But it seems to me that a 32" over/under has an overall length of either a 28" or 30" semiautomatic. I assume that the barrel length is really not that important. Isn't the overall length the important characteristic that determines the swing characteristics? And, isn't a 32" over under very similiar to a 28" or 30" semiautomatic in that regard?
Two Cold Soakers
Member
You are absolutely correct.
However, a shorter bbl also stops much quicker, making it easy to miss behind the target.
A longer bbl has a built in follow-througher. Swinging through the bird smoothly (or keeping ahead of it) is a critical part of clay games consistency.
I have used 28" successfully on Skeet and Sporting, but a 30" made things more consistent. Swinging a 26" (this was on an A5) was short and jerky.
Try one for a while and see what works.
oneounceload
member
my best clay shooting is done with an O/U and a 32 inch set of barrels in 12 gauge, 30 inch in 20 (cause they didn't have 32's when I got that gun)
As mentioned, smooooooth swinging is what it's all about - short, whippy barrels are harder to control properly
As mentioned, smooooooth swinging is what it's all about - short, whippy barrels are harder to control properly
I have not got to shoot in awhile but I liked the 26" myself.
My son shoots sporting clays and uses the 28"
The guy that got me interested in sporting clays swears by the 26
another guy loves the 30 but he shoots more skeet.
We walk a path and the clays pop up from everywhere some of the clays are comming right at you. You get a short amount of time to get a shot off. Not sure what you call it but it is a blast and the 26" works real well for me.
I think a longer barrel would work better if I were shooting from the line and they were comming out of the house or someone was throwing them, we do some of that also but I like the other better.
My son shoots sporting clays and uses the 28"
The guy that got me interested in sporting clays swears by the 26
another guy loves the 30 but he shoots more skeet.
We walk a path and the clays pop up from everywhere some of the clays are comming right at you. You get a short amount of time to get a shot off. Not sure what you call it but it is a blast and the 26" works real well for me.
I think a longer barrel would work better if I were shooting from the line and they were comming out of the house or someone was throwing them, we do some of that also but I like the other better.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
The Beretta here has 32" barrels, and I may be shooting the best I ever have done.
Some 32" barrels are nose heavy. Try a few out and see what works for you.
FWIW, Rebecca Etchen is one click bigger than Tinker Bell. She has 32" barrels on her Silver Pigeon and kicks everyone's butt.
PS, when Will Fennell talks shotguns, we should listen....
Some 32" barrels are nose heavy. Try a few out and see what works for you.
FWIW, Rebecca Etchen is one click bigger than Tinker Bell. She has 32" barrels on her Silver Pigeon and kicks everyone's butt.
PS, when Will Fennell talks shotguns, we should listen....
OAL matters.
A 32" trap single is about as long as a 28" 870.
Balance and weight distribution matter, and they can be tailored to a particular use.
A 32" Beretta O/U like Dave's is a fine-swinging, smooth gun, but it's a buggy whip compared to a 34" Perazzi trap single -- which is a wonderful trap gun, but utterly useless for anything but regulation American Trap. Even for Wobble, I wouldn't want to use it.
For an all-around gun, I'd personally lean towards something like a 30" O/U, but my 28" Beretta 12 Gauge shoots trap just fine, and everything else from Chukar to 5-stand. The little old 26" 20 Gauge O/U I bought used for quail actually works fine for trap, if you slow it down -- but it wouldn't be my choice for the purpose. And Beretta's 32" O/U's are still quick enough, while adding that wonderful smoothness to the swing.
If you can, try some guns.
A 32" trap single is about as long as a 28" 870.
Balance and weight distribution matter, and they can be tailored to a particular use.
A 32" Beretta O/U like Dave's is a fine-swinging, smooth gun, but it's a buggy whip compared to a 34" Perazzi trap single -- which is a wonderful trap gun, but utterly useless for anything but regulation American Trap. Even for Wobble, I wouldn't want to use it.
For an all-around gun, I'd personally lean towards something like a 30" O/U, but my 28" Beretta 12 Gauge shoots trap just fine, and everything else from Chukar to 5-stand. The little old 26" 20 Gauge O/U I bought used for quail actually works fine for trap, if you slow it down -- but it wouldn't be my choice for the purpose. And Beretta's 32" O/U's are still quick enough, while adding that wonderful smoothness to the swing.
If you can, try some guns.
With every respect to Will and Dave, as Tab said, whatever works for you.
However, ever the maverick (I shoot swing thru rather then sustained lead), I like 26-28" barrels for skeet as I need to get that barrel moving quick and keep it moving with my style of shooting. Also, I find it easier to stop and pick up the second bird on doubles.
On the other hand, for trap I shoot a 34" BT-100 w/an 8 oz barrel weight or 30" 11-87 with a 4 oz weight, since I tend to pick up the bird late out of the trap and ride it before taking the shot (sort of a built in 20 yd Handicap at the 16 yd line!).
I don't shoot clays much, so won't comment.
I also prefer 24"-26" barrels for most birds, the exception being pass shooting waterfowl. My primary for that is 30" fixed full choke 870, but that might be replaced by a 30" Browning Superposed aquired last year that is choked full and "fuller" !
As always, YMMV.
However, ever the maverick (I shoot swing thru rather then sustained lead), I like 26-28" barrels for skeet as I need to get that barrel moving quick and keep it moving with my style of shooting. Also, I find it easier to stop and pick up the second bird on doubles.
On the other hand, for trap I shoot a 34" BT-100 w/an 8 oz barrel weight or 30" 11-87 with a 4 oz weight, since I tend to pick up the bird late out of the trap and ride it before taking the shot (sort of a built in 20 yd Handicap at the 16 yd line!
). I don't shoot clays much, so won't comment.
I also prefer 24"-26" barrels for most birds, the exception being pass shooting waterfowl. My primary for that is 30" fixed full choke 870, but that might be replaced by a 30" Browning Superposed aquired last year that is choked full and "fuller" !
As always, YMMV.
mgregg85
Member
I prefer a light 20ga with a 28" barrel.
I shoot skeet, trap, and clays with a 28" field Citori gun. I recently got a 30" Beretta 686 and I shot like crap on the skeet field. I shoot great with my 28" O/U. I shoot skeet great with a 28" Beretta Black Onyx O/U.
sporting clays? I shot the same decent scores with a 28" O/U and a 30" O/U. I shot like crap with a 28" semi.
trap: I shot high 30's out of 50 with my Citori but shot only 20/50 with a Beretta Urika 2 30" semi
right now I'm experimenting with different chokes for the clay games and different loads as well.
sporting clays? I shot the same decent scores with a 28" O/U and a 30" O/U. I shot like crap with a 28" semi.
trap: I shot high 30's out of 50 with my Citori but shot only 20/50 with a Beretta Urika 2 30" semi
right now I'm experimenting with different chokes for the clay games and different loads as well.
Virginian
Member
I like 28" for everything but skeet or trap, and it doesn't matter if it is a pump, a semi, or a SxS. You need to decide what you prefer on your gun.
There is no one correct answer to the question about which barrel length is optimal for skeet, trap, and sporting clays. There are just too many other variables to answer that question definitively for everyone.
However, having said that, I will offer the following view point. For most male shooters, an O/U with 30" barrels or an autoloader with a 28" barrel should work very well for the 3 shooting games listed above.
However, having said that, I will offer the following view point. For most male shooters, an O/U with 30" barrels or an autoloader with a 28" barrel should work very well for the 3 shooting games listed above.
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