Nikk Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I know there have been a lot of topics about barrel length and 28" versus 30" etc but I was wondering if the should be a correlation between how tall you are or body type and the barrel length, I've seen a lot of posts by people who are over 6' feeling longer barrels are better for them but rarely if even from some one shorter like myself talking about shorter barrels being better for them. I've had my MK70 with a 30" barrel for a couple of years. I tend to shoot crossers quite well for example and I guess that is partly because the long barrels slow my swing so I don't wizz past the target, but I am 5'7" tall or even a shade shorter than that and I feel my shotgun is unwieldy to say the least and that I'm lugging round a bloody great lump of metal. It's not really the weight but rather my left arm gets tired after a while. I'm starting to think about a 20 bore for game shooting, they sound lighter and I am starting to contemplate wether I should be getting a 28" barrel as well and the smaller bore. I got talking to a guy at the clay club the other week and whilst I was airing my thoughts he mentioned that the shorter barrel would change my sight picture and also mean I would have to give it more lead. Any thoughts on this? Cheers Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 For me its personal preferance, I do find the 30" barrel easier to sight (point) in the the right place, though do have probs with close vision and the extra 2" clears this problem compared with the 28" barrel. Though on s/a use 28" as they are equiv to a o/u 30". One thing that some one did mention that when carrying the gun through the rough ground a 28" barrel is 2" further away from the ground when carrying it broken, as you should be unless actually shooting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 sight picture won't be any different all other things being equal...balance and of course weight will be v slightly different thats all. Going from a 30inch 12 to a 28inch 20 it will be the weight in your hands which will impact most,it will take a bit of getting used to but keep it smooth and keep it moving....I switch between 20g & 12g for variety and it is only on the longer range stuff need to give it a smidge more consciously with the lighter 20g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinbox99 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 In my experience I find its all psychological! For example, i have 30" barrels on my beretta 391. Because its a semi the action is also longer, so its longer than most 30" O/U`s. I find I shoot really well with it, love it in fact, and for years preferred shooting with it than any of my other guns. However, my favourite gun atm is a cheap spanish 12bore SBS i picked up the other year. Its 27" barrels I think, so a big difference. I actually find that the gun feels lighter and quicker when I use it. I see to get on the clays quicker and hit more longer range shots than I normally would get with my 391. So in my case, whilst I previously thought the longer 30" barrels were the reason I got on so well with my 391, in actual fact it doesnt really make any difference to me. I think its more about gun fit and your confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 i prefer short guns, but i`m 6ft tall. my nova 28" is just silly long. wish i could drop a ft off the end. its like waving a fence post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 No correlation to physical size its far more to do with your style of shooting and balance preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) I would hazard a guess that you do very little if any dry mounting at home to build the muscles necessary. This is imperative if you don't actually shoot that much. If you do, your muscles will build within a few weeks if your style is correct. I'm only 5ft 7in and I shoot many different guns in my job, from game guns to big heavy 32 inch K80s and I find no problems with any of them in the weight department because I have built the muscles over time. If you find your arms are aching a lot then have the balance checked on the gun and then learn to balance yourself correctly and learn to shoot without holding the gun up for more than about 4 x seconds maximum. A good coach may come in handy there. I'm also wondering exactly where you have your left hand positioned on the forend. A little far forward maybe ? Shooting has to be worked at. It all takes time so don't hurry it but just get on with it. Edited October 29, 2012 by COACH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I suppose I put my left hand quite far forward on the foreend as well which probably has something to do with it. You're right Coach I don't do that much dry mounting at home so need to do more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerob Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 im very small at only just 5'5 and i have used a few guns i much prefer shorter barrels my semi is 26inch barrel my sxs is under 28inch my hush power is longer than both and i find that not only with my size the bigger barrel touch the ground and get knock about but the gun seems to be to big for the whole part of me and i shoot best with my semi 26inch and have used a 30 inch 686e sportier and done a lot worse on a 75 bird sporting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Yep i get that as well Rob. Anyway I have a lesson booked on Wed so I'll have a chat with my coach. I'll have a try on his 28" 20 bore and see how I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 i dont find any difference,i use 3 different guns depending on what i,m shooting, in the syndicate shoot i use 28 brl 20b,but use em all on pigeons in the hide depends on what i feel like usein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garjo Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Agree with coach - got an MK70 30" - at first found it heavy - dry mounting helped a lot - builds muscles as well as muscle memory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmar fudd Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 i'm 5'10 and all of my guns are 28 inch except my sxs which is 26, however im on the lookout for a silver pigeon 3 and am starting to sway towards 30 inch barrels since people have mentioned the pointabilty etc also had people say they are better for driven game, not sure if theres any truth in the second part though fudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SX-TERMINATOR Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 General Rule of thumb is if you stand the butt on the floor next to you and the chokes are higher than your eye line its too long... or is that skis...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinbox99 Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 General Rule of thumb is if you stand the butt on the floor next to you and the chokes are higher than your eye line its too long... or is that skis...? lol!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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