otherwayup Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Hi, Is a 30" barrelled Hatsan 3.5" semi 2" too long? I'd assumed I get a 28" when the time came (only really NEED one next wildfowl season). Not owned a semi before and I have only ever shot my 30" B525 O/U which is fine on the driven stuff. Will I regret getting a 30" semi for wildfowl and pigeons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 No idea, I'm in the same predicament Mate of mine has the 26" Xtrema and he says thats the size I should have gotten instead of the 30 Looking for a second barrel but no luck so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Will I regret getting a 30" semi for wildfowl and pigeons? So many answers to that line... ...but to keep it clean for once, I doubt it would cause an issue. It's not the most dynamic form of shooting, long periods of sitting around followed by a burst of action...if you're lucky. They reckon that you should shorten your barrel length by 2" when buying a semi auto, so you have currently have the equivalent of a 32" barrelled gun. If that's not an issue then no worries. It's not like you'll be walking through woodland getting the gun snagged all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otherwayup Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 No idea, I'm in the same predicament Mate of mine has the 26" Xtrema and he says thats the size I should have gotten instead of the 30 Looking for a second barrel but no luck so far Is yours a 30" Xtrema which you find too long? Have you tried his and found it much better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otherwayup Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 ... They reckon that you should shorten your barrel length by 2" when buying a semi auto, so you have currently have the equivalent of a 32" barrelled gun. ... Don't you mean I have the equivalent of a 28" semi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Is yours a 30" Xtrema which you find too long? Have you tried his and found it much better? I've tried it and it was lighter which was nice as I'm quite short No idea if I'd shoot any better with it or as we were shooting randomly just to test out recoil difference between mine with the kick-off pad and his without Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Remember a semi has a long action so a thirty inch barrel is a bl00dy long gun compared to a 30" OU. I've got one semi at 30" but 26" or 24" would be perfect IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) Don't you mean I have the equivalent of a 28" semi? A 28" semi auto will be (roughly) the same length as a 30" O/U or SxS, so if you have a 30" semi it's about the length of a 32" O/U etc, etc. I use a 30" O/u at clays, but have used a 28" Benelli Super Black Eagle and they're very comparable in feel, I would buy a 28" or 26" gun personally, probably a 28 but would have to handle both to decide. Edited November 16, 2011 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Hi, Is a 30" barrelled Hatsan 3.5" semi 2" too long? I'd assumed I get a 28" when the time came (only really NEED one next wildfowl season). Not owned a semi before and I have only ever shot my 30" B525 O/U which is fine on the driven stuff. Will I regret getting a 30" semi for wildfowl and pigeons? Yeah, the semi barrel starts at the front of the reciever that adds a fair bit of length over a 30" on a break action shot gun. You wont get a 28" barrel auto into a lot of std gun slips let alone a 30" and they are awkward in the confines of a mud hole or hide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Hi, Is a 30" barrelled Hatsan 3.5" semi 2" too long? I'd assumed I get a 28" when the time came (only really NEED one next wildfowl season). Not owned a semi before and I have only ever shot my 30" B525 O/U which is fine on the driven stuff. Will I regret getting a 30" semi for wildfowl and pigeons? Why a semi when you have 3" steel proof gun already? http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/185060-what-3-chamber-steel-proof-ou/page__p__1567374__hl__clydebuilt__fromsearch__1#entry1567374 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_evil Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I might jack in my Beretta semi for the Cynergy camo 3.5 Had a think and I don't need two 3.5" guns so if I jack one in I can buy a high powered air rifle Might miss the extra shot though, not sure …… £400 short of my target for buying the Browning right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I have a Browning Gold s\a with 30 inch barrels. Its great for shooting in good light at steady targets and swings very well. But its not so good at snap shots in the dark. Its also a bit clumbersome on decoyed pigeons. Given the choice I would get one with 28 inch barrels. However as I mainly use it for daytime shooting wildfowl it does the job fine. For pigeons I have a nice light Kestrel game gun bought second hand for less than £100 so both bases covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otherwayup Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Why a semi when you have 3" steel proof gun already? http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/185060-what-3-chamber-steel-proof-ou/page__p__1567374__hl__clydebuilt__fromsearch__1#entry1567374 When I took the 525 on the marsh last Feb, it got soaked; too nice for that kind of thing as far as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangey Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Hi, Is a 30" barrelled Hatsan 3.5" semi 2" too long? I'd assumed I get a 28" when the time came (only really NEED one next wildfowl season). Not owned a semi before and I have only ever shot my 30" B525 O/U which is fine on the driven stuff. Will I regret getting a 30" semi for wildfowl and pigeons? i have always used 30"semis and shoot far better with the longer barrel,currently using a 30"maxus,i do a lot of pigeon decoying and never have a problem with longer barrel in the hide . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I use a 30" Winchester sx2 3 1/2" for wildfowling that is quite heavy but the balance of the gun is perfect. If you are small build then it may pose a problem but I have no problems. Obviously they are longer than a traditional s/s or o/u but it really hasn't seemed to affect my shooting. Many Wildfowling guns are made heavy (ie my old AYA no3) due to the extra thump in the loads they handle. I can see no problem with getting a 30" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaddy525 Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 the thirty inch barrel will aid keeping patterns tight t long ranges for wildfowling, Why do yyiu think all the old big guns like 8 bores have 36-40 inch barrles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ciaran Posted January 8, 2012 Report Share Posted January 8, 2012 The length of the barrel should really affect you. The only problem is that when it is shorter alot of people have a tendancy to snap at the bird then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted January 9, 2012 Report Share Posted January 9, 2012 Sadly, with modern nitro powders the full velocity of the shot is developed at about 18 inches from the breach and longer barrels won`t actually have any beneficial effect on your shot pattern or velocity at long ranges. In very technical and theoretic terms,longer barrels used with steel shot may actually hinder both owing to the effects of friction and shot interaction. Old, large bore guns had long barrels to ensure the complete combustion of relatively slow burning black powder. The only propellant available when many were built, and in any event, they used lead shot which, in larger shot sizes could employ the low velocity principle. I use a Benelli SBE2 and a Supernova, both with a 26" barrel which, in handling terms, roughly equates to a 28" barrel in a fixed breach gun. It`s really a matter of personal preference and shooting style but the old days where duck gun = long barrels no longer applies balistically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duck hunter Posted January 9, 2012 Report Share Posted January 9, 2012 i have a 30 inch hatsan escort and all i shoot with it is wildfowl and pigeon and i hav had no problems with and would reccomend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Right&Left Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 I use an SX3 3.5, 28inch.. I find with the extra length of "lock" on an auto instead of a traditional O&U / SBSm, 30inch is just too long... but thats only my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winterwolf Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Ive got the escort 30" semi, and had no problems..... apart from the ******* actually to tall for my gun cabinet... bit of a pain having to split it down. My old 30" lanber o/u fitted in fine.... Not sure if thats the same with all standard cabinets or just my buffalo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Ive got the escort 30" semi, and had no problems..... apart from the ******* actually to tall for my gun cabinet... bit of a pain having to split it down. My old 30" lanber o/u fitted in fine.... Not sure if thats the same with all standard cabinets or just my buffalo. Don't do wildfowl but I don't have a problem in the pigeon hide although I do give myself a bit of extra room in the build. My 30" maxus also has both extensions on the stock so, yes, it is too long for the cabinet. Luckily I have a tallish one with a shelf. I've cut a section out and the gun fits in nicely now. As for getting a long enough slip..had mine made to measure for less than £20(fleece-lined canvass and leather end) It really is just a matter of getting used to it IMO. GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 I have 30" maxus and it can be a bit annoying because the steel proffed choke is external so its more like a 32 but a longer barrel does keep the swing going which is vital for geese, my advive would be 28, not 26 in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 I have 30" maxus and it can be a bit annoying because the steel proffed choke is external so its more like a 32 but a longer barrel does keep the swing going which is vital for geese, my advive would be 28, not 26 in my opinion. Easy enough to get a flush choke or similar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 I have a Winchester SX2 and Invector Plus chokes, the only choke that adds 2" to the length is the Imp Mod, which is 3/4, dont think I will be using it that often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.