Preferred Barrel Length 20ga O/U
- Thread starter Barnfixer
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BigBlue 94
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Depends on use. For trap and skeet, and turkey or goose hunting a long barrel is preferred to keep the shot pattern dense as long as possible. For hunting pheasant or rabbit in the woods, i would want maybe a 24" barrel. Something real short that swings fast.
entropy
Member
28" or 30" for clays games & pheasants, 26" for grouse and bunnies.
entropy
Member
Ones used for clays games, yes. Field guns have stayed in the 26-28" range, though for waterfowl and pheasant 30" is popular.
That is not the reason. Modern choke tubed guns induce most of the constriction in the choke only, though some competition guns do have a "pre-choke", if you will, constriction before the choke. A 21" barrel with a Turkey choke in it will still shoot as tight a pattern as a 30". I know a guy who shoots a 26" 870 with the Full Rem Choke in it, and the last year he shot, he was higher in the club top ten than I was.
The reason for longer barrels, particularly on games guns, is swing dynamics. They smooth out the movement toward the target, and the added "sight radius" (remember the shooter's eye is the rear sight) doesn't hurt either.
BigBlue 94
Member
^^^ makes sense
tactikel
Member
Upland game in heavy cover (Grouse,Woodcock, Quail), skeet, 26”. Pheasant, sporting clays, Rabbit, 28”. All else longest barrel length offered. IMHO.
A 26" barrel on a double is about the same overall length as a repeater with a 23" barrel. For what I do a 26" barrel is about as much as I want on a pump or semi-auto. But on a double that might be a little short for many uses. Just keep that in mind.
But that said, I'd still go with a 26" barrel on a 20 ga double. I don't see that gun being used for clays games or long passing shots where a longer barrel helps with swing. To me a 20 ga double is a very good gun for one specific task and shorter barrels suit it well.
The Happy Kaboomer
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My 12 & 20 wear 28" barrels for everything.
ColtPythonElite
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For the OP's intended usage, my vote is for 30"
Lo-Profile
Member
My vote is for 30 or 32.
My Sporting Clays gun is 32" 12g
My Skeet gun is 30" 28g
My Sporting Clays gun is 32" 12g
My Skeet gun is 30" 28g
earlthegoat2
Member
To me, 20 ga implies field use. 20 ga shotguns on scaled receivers are very handy for hunting.
A do all barrel length for me is 25” as that is what my game gun has. I used a Citori Upland with 24” barrels for awhile as well and would recommend it.
A do all barrel length for me is 25” as that is what my game gun has. I used a Citori Upland with 24” barrels for awhile as well and would recommend it.
guyfromohio
Member
I think 26” or 28” would be your best bet. My 26” 12-gauge is my go-to for everything but trap…but that’s because I have a dedicated 32” trap gun.
I prefer shorter barrels for almost everything except Trap, which I haven’t shot in many years. My O/U and SxS are both 26 because I’ve had longer barrels and didn’t like them as much. My pumps and semi-automatic are 18 - 20 inch with screw-in chokes, and I like them a lot. I set them up that way on purpose.
Riomouse911
Member
In the O/U department of my safe, the 28 ga wears 28” barrels, the 20 sports 26” tubes and my 12 is back to 28”.
The 26” barrels do make for a handy walk about gun, but IMHO the 2” longer 28” aren’t much different. I’d stay with the 28” as a good “do everything” O/U shotgun barrel length.
Stay safe.
The 26” barrels do make for a handy walk about gun, but IMHO the 2” longer 28” aren’t much different. I’d stay with the 28” as a good “do everything” O/U shotgun barrel length.
Stay safe.
My tubed skeet gun that I competed with in the 1990's-2000's is a 28" long barrel. I did well with that length winning my class HOA one year at the Georgia state championship.
Recently, I've purchased some new shotguns. I have a 30" Citiori 725 Skeet that I'm getting tubed but the project has not yet started. Based on the following comment, I feel the 30" barrels will work well.
I have also bought a 32" 12 gauge and 28 gauge shotguns and feel the barrels are too long.
Bottom line for me for now, I still shoot the tubed 28" Citori the best at skeet.
Recently, I've purchased some new shotguns. I have a 30" Citiori 725 Skeet that I'm getting tubed but the project has not yet started. Based on the following comment, I feel the 30" barrels will work well.
I have also bought a 32" 12 gauge and 28 gauge shotguns and feel the barrels are too long.
Bottom line for me for now, I still shoot the tubed 28" Citori the best at skeet.
glassman
Member
I have two trap guns. one with a 32" barrel and the other with a 34". I shoot the shorter barrel much better than the 34. It swings better and helps me with my timing. Once the gun is on my shoulder, sight radius becomes moot. When I call for the target, I don't look back at the barrel. I trust that my hands will go where my eyes are looking.
doubleh
Member
Agreed. My use was for quail and dove and the 26" barreled 20 ga. is light and fast to get on target. Follow thru is easily adjusted to. I really liked the light weight as our blue quail require a lot of waking and running which is beyond me now. It has become a dove only gun.
I think 26" for twenty gauge and 28" for twelve gauge are proper lengths for double barrel shotguns. Both my side by side shotguns reflect that opinion. I would like to try a 32" twelve gauge (likely an over and under) to see the difference though.
I just bought a used Winchester 101 20ga with 28" barrels. It is a very nice shotgun and I shoot sporting clays with it. I would have preferred 30", but it was used and had 28" and a very good deal, so budget made the 28" OK. I would never buy a 26" shotgun, except maybe a .410. One day I was trying out some shotguns in a gun store and the sales guy handed me a 26" 12ga and a 30", and insisted I could not tell the difference once it hit my shoulder. I swung several models and he then asked me what I thought. He got a bit miffed when I said, "I can tell you don't shoot shotguns much." I bought the 30".
guyfromohio
Member
After years of spending tens of thousands of dollars on guns (maybe more, I’m ashamed to say)….collecting…shooting…desiring the newest/coolest…the rarest/collectible….the most specific/dedicated….my advice is get the one that you like and use the heck out of it. Get comfortable and it can be your everything gun. My 26” maple Citori was bought as “eye-candy”, but when I culled my herd, it became my hunting/skeet/sporting clays gun. Each ding and scratch is now “character” instead of a blemish. Buy one and get really good at it.
OP
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Barnfixer
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Not long ago I picked up a 32” citori for clays and love the gun and shoot it well. Being new to me it feels a little heavy and bulky but feels great when shouldered and swings nice. That said, I’m not sure if I’d like it for a day of bird hunting. That’s way I’m asking about a 20ga. I think the same gun I have, but in a 20ga and a little shorter barrel would be a fun and perfect gun in the field. Thanks again for all the input!
I have an unfortunate tendency to stop my swing, and have found longer barrels help overcome that bad habit. Every gun is a compromise, however, and shorter is often handier and quicker in the field. I would spec a 28" barrel on a double twenty, and use it often to become and stay proficient with it.
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