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Barrel length and gun weight


staffyspen
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Hi all,

 

My 12 year old lad isn't the smallest of almost teenagers but surprisingly not the strongest!!

He is shooting a 20g escort at the moment which is just over 6lb, at 28".

I'm never going to get a gun much lighter than this granted, but I may be able to help him with balance.

What advantages/disadvantages are there to a shorter barrel? Are there any other tricks to balancing or lightening a gun even if marginally?

 

Regards

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If you can get most of the weight central it will help, the balance point should be between the hands.

 

I have a 24" barrel on my 12 bore escort and it improves the handling no end.

 

If you got him a short barrelled 20 bore O/U it would probably handle better.

 

Good luck

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You don't want a lighter gun that's for sure, if he's struggling then just concentrate on shooting the easier of the two birds twice, in time he'll grow stronger. Not convinced there would be any sense going to a shorter barrel either although putting lead in the stock can help balance a front heavy auto which they often are, you may even surprise yourself that by having more weight in the back of the gun he will actually get less tired as he progresses through a stand because the weight will be closer to his centre of gravity.

 

Short barrelled guns are very hard to shoot accurately with any degree of consistency.

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You don't want a lighter gun that's for sure, if he's struggling then just concentrate on shooting the easier of the two birds twice, in time he'll grow stronger. Not convinced there would be any sense going to a shorter barrel either although putting lead in the stock can help balance a front heavy auto which they often are, you may even surprise yourself that by having more weight in the back of the gun he will actually get less tired as he progresses through a stand because the weight will be closer to his centre of gravity.

 

Short barrelled guns are very hard to shoot accurately with any degree of consistency.

 

Really?

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Thanks,

I have read that a too short of gun will be too "frisky", also a lighter gun, but I was thinking, is a 28" barrel and just over 6lb too light or short for a 5ft 2, 8 st boy!

The sort of tip I was hoping for was a bit more weight in the stock end, thanks!!!

 

Regards

 

As others reflect, its all in the balance. A well balanced 12g with a short pull of say 13", and short barrels, 26" ideal - gives a gun with the weight well back so he can lean into it while still being able to support it - without having to "cantilever" the gun weight by leaning back.

 

26" guns are unfashionable today and usually represent good buys. Get him one and lop the stock off. Don't knock a Baikal as a choice, plenty of S/T and D/T around with short barrels

 

"Friskiness" is just a perception, long barrels have more forward weight and end inertia. Slower to get moving for faster shots, but steadier for a slow swing on a rangy target. The short barrel favours low overhead birds, and closer crossers - but it only take a steady hand to swing the same gun slowly, its just training and its only the long gun owner that will find the short gun frisky when they put more effort than's needed to get it moving. Your son will be fine with it for all ranges because he hasn't the muscle power to support or move a long gun yet.

Edited by clayman
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Clayman has given you an excellent explaination a short stocked short barrel gun is often easier for a novice especially if they struggle with upper body strength. Just make sure it balanced.

Amen to that! It is all relative - my stock is just over 13 inches and I have 28 inch barrels - feels just right for me.

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