Does length matter...?

[Yorkiets]

Is barrel length a personal thing or is there an objective advantage in different disciplines?

Does it depend on the rest of the gun - balance etc?

I’m going to give sporting clays a bash; advice seems to say 30” barrels, but I can’t seem to get the root of the reasoning behind this.

Thanks in advance

 

[JDL]

I think it’s mainly personal preference, but can’t deny 34” isn’t the most obvious choice for olympic skeet.

For me balance and weight are more important than barrel length.

I can easily switch within the 28-32” range, and I think most shooters can.

Just try a few different guns with different barrel lengths, and I’m sure you’ll have a preference for a certain gun.

If you’re in doubt, 30” will be a safe choice.

 

[Will Hewland]

Any gun with any barrel length can be balanced or unbalanced. (By design or by added weights). Also, longer barrels can be lighter than certain other shorter barrels, so there are no rules about that either. Mainly, longer barrel length is about an enhanced ability to see where you are pointing, in the same way you extend your arm to point at something carefully. 32” is very popular for sporting clays. 30” is fine, 28” is starting to become a blunter instrument..

You will find shooters who swear by (or swear at) certain guns, but usually the biggest reason is that they are suited to / used to, that gun.

 

[FreeShot]

+ take into account the dynamics of a single gun - while it can be perfectly balanced it may still swing awfull or vice versa.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

a common complaint

http://www.shootclayforum.com/topic/21766-barrel-length/

 

[Yorkiets]

Thanks all for the responses. 

So lots of opinion and preference, but still no solid reasoning. Ah well. 

I’m going for 30 inch then all else being equal.

 

[Will Hewland]

Thanks all for the responses. 

So lots of opinion and preference, but still no solid reasoning. Ah well. 

I’m going for 30 inch then all else being equal.

Not quite fair. It’s a solid fact that a 32” is a more defined way to measure out a gap on a longer clay..

 

[Yorkiets]

Not quite fair. It’s a solid fact that a 32” is a more defined way to measure out a gap on a longer clay..

No criticism intended, Will. All advice is valuable to me at the moment and I’m grateful for your input.

All I meant to say is that advice varies to the extent that it’s difficult for a novice to make decision. I had a lesson with an instructor who advised 30 inch, but didn’t go in detail as to why, I guess its a compromise thing, sight line vs handlability (if such a word exists).

I’m going to book a session to get fitted for a gun so perhaps the fog will clear a bit for me. Hope so.

Thanks again.

Steve.

 

[Will Hewland]

No criticism intended, Will. All advice is valuable to me at the moment and I’m grateful for your input.

All I meant to say is that advice varies to the extent that it’s difficult for a novice to make decision. I had a lesson with an instructor who advised 30 inch, but didn’t go in detail as to why, I guess its a compromise thing, sight line vs handlability (if such a word exists).

I’m going to book a session to get fitted for a gun so perhaps the fog will clear a bit for me. Hope so.

Thanks again.

Steve.

Agreed, it’s a compromise and the individual gun makes for a whole comfort package. I originally had a 28” gun that I chose because I hadn’t shot before and it felt easy to hold. As soon as I started shooting regularly I went to 30” then a year later 32”. I confess I did that mainly because MOST top shots use 32” and I thought I should try and get used to it.

 

[Yorkiets]

Here’s the most cogent explanation of barrel length I’ve found.

hope it helps those with the same questions as me.

 

[rocky]

So when talking about barrel length altering the gun’s handling characteristics, is the salient point the total gun length or how much of the gun is barrel?

 

[chippy]

So when talking about barrel length altering the gun’s handling characteristics, is the salient point the total gun length or how much of the gun is barrel?

You can add weight to either end of a gun to balance it. But a 32" barrel gun with a 13" stock is going to be out of proportion as is a 28" barrel gun with a 17" stock.

 

[rocky]

You can add weight to either end of a gun to balance it. But a 32" barrel gun with a 13" stock is going to be out of proportion as is a 28" barrel gun with a 17" stock.

Yes this is what intrigues me, how can a 30 (or whatever) inch barrel be advised without knowing the full spec of the gun? Also wouldn’t an auto have a longer action further complicating things?

 

[Gazz]

Interesting read and some very constructive comments, its just a pity I did not get a chance to read these before my account was verified .

I have just today received my SGC and have had my eye on a secondhand starter gun.  I have a very short reach and the gun fits extremely well but carries a set of 28" multi-choke barrels.  I have taken the plunge and bought it this morning and hope it turns out as I hope but I need to give it a fair chance at the shooting ground in  two weeks time.  I have been using a 30" gun during my lessons, but once I picked up the 28 it felt so comfortable and natural.  I am not planning to be a serious shot, so hopefully this little starter will suit me just fine.  incidentally its a Miroku 7000 and is in fantastic condition.

 

[westley]

Any gun with any barrel length can be balanced or unbalanced. (By design or by added weights). Also, longer barrels can be lighter than certain other shorter barrels, so there are no rules about that either. Mainly, longer barrel length is about an enhanced ability to see where you are pointing, in the same way you extend your arm to point at something carefully. 32” is very popular for sporting clays. 30” is fine, 28” is starting to become a blunter instrument..

You will find shooters who swear by (or swear at) certain guns, but usually the biggest reason is that they are suited to / used to, that gun.

Skip full then eh, Will   ?

 

[MartynB]

Interesting read and some very constructive comments, its just a pity I did not get a chance to read these before my account was verified .

I have just today received my SGC and have had my eye on a secondhand starter gun.  I have a very short reach and the gun fits extremely well but carries a set of 28" multi-choke barrels.  I have taken the plunge and bought it this morning and hope it turns out as I hope but I need to give it a fair chance at the shooting ground in  two weeks time.  I have been using a 30" gun during my lessons, but once I picked up the 28 it felt so comfortable and natural.  I am not planning to be a serious shot, so hopefully this little starter will suit me just fine.  incidentally its a Miroku 7000 and is in fantastic condition.

You’ve answered your own question really , the gun is comfortable , you like it , you will have confidence in it . Nothing at all wrong with a Miroku,  squillions of them and it’s Browning badged brother have been sold . If you every feel you want a bit more weight at the front end there are dozens of aftermarket companies who will sell you “ extended “ after market choke tubes that will turn your 28” gun into a 29” or a 29 and a bit

 

[Gazz]

You’ve answered your own question really , the gun is comfortable , you like it , you will have confidence in it . Nothing at all wrong with a Miroku,  squillions of them and it’s Browning badged brother have been sold . If you every feel you want a bit more weight at the front end there are dozens of aftermarket companies who will sell you “ extended “ after market choke tubes that will turn your 28” gun into a 29” or a 29 and a bit

Thank you Martyn, your comment has reassured me and I know my doubts are driven by my own total lack of knowledge.  I really am looking forward to using it for the first time and knowing it will take a little time to become consistent with it, hopefully .  Thank you.  Gary