Jason Dutch Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Hello all Just thinking about buying my first semi-auto but im unsure of a couple of points. 1. The gun in question has a 26in barrel but when held next to a 28inch over and under the beretta teknys stonecoat in about the same size... So would this 26inch semi be ok for me size wise? 2. Does a 26inch barrel mean I cant shoot as far as say a 28inch silver pigeon? Do I buy a semi auto in 26inch, 28 or 30??? Any other tips would be great too. Thanks for reading J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tod Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 buy whatever fits you, if you are unsure how to tell this try mounting the gun several times and see if you are looking down a straight barrel every time and the stock isnt getting snagged in your clothing, if you are new to shooting go to a good gunshop who should advice you on gun fit, as for barrel length, it matters little, a short barrel will get you quicker on a target and ideal for a hide gun or shooting skeet where as a long barrel has more pointability, the range comes from the choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Like with all barrel lengths its down to personal preferances and how you feel they handle. One thing that is important to remember a 26" barrel in a s/a is equivalent to a 28" o/u due t the way they are made / designed. In a o/u the trigger group iss effectivily in the stock behind the trigger, while in a s/a you can say its above and forward of the trigger, thus making s/a's appear to be 2" longer. So your 30" s/a is equiv to a 32" o/u. In o/u my preferance is for 30" barrels as for me that is what I find handle the best for me, while in s/a's I go for 28". Another thing to look at is the stock length tend to be shorter on s/a's well worth trying a good range of them to find out what suits you the best. Next may be do you want to have a inertia or gas recyling s/a. Inertia are a bit easier to clean, while gas are meant to softer on the recoil. I have owned both types of cycling s/a and not noticed much if any difference in the recoil. Cleaning wise after learning how to clean a gas cycling s/a theres not a lot of difference apart from that you need to check the gas ports are clear and the slides are oiled on a gas cycling s/a. A lot of s/a's prefer 70 mm cartridge lengths and some can be cartridge fussy, my benelli would cycle any thing I put in it while the escort likes a more pnchy cartridge though still running this in and it is starting to like the less punchy cartridges. What you may notice for the first few cartridges is the cycling of cocking lever out of the corner of your eye, this effect will soon disapear. If you go down the s/a route some grounds prefer that you use a safety flag / plug in between stands, I prefer the plugs as with the flag you have to release the bolt to stop the flag from dropping out and the plugs can be easier seen. Edited November 19, 2012 by BerettaSV10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Dutch Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 thanks guys, much appreciated... but would a 26inch s/a mean it will limit me to not as many birds out on the field where as a 28inch or 30inch be more long range. so confusing lol J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Only shooting clays at the moment and can't say I have noticed any difference when using a 28" benelli s/a and 30" beretta o/u, though I am hitting more with the 28" escort as it suits me the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Length of barrel gives no advantage in range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tod Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 thanks guys, much appreciated... but would a 26inch s/a mean it will limit me to not as many birds out on the field where as a 28inch or 30inch be more long range. so confusing lol J. forget about range and barrel length, the only thing that will limit you is your ability, as said a short barrel will enable you to get on a target quicker than a long barrel, thats why you dont see trap shooters using 26" barrels and skeet shooters using 32" barrels, use what you find best, its all about pointability, you will pick a close bird up and track it quicker with a short barrel where as you will track a far bird better with a long barrel, range comes from the choke you use from cylinder through to full, just find a compramise that suits you and your style of shooting wether it be clays, pigeons or wildfowl etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) Just get the 26" barrel and enjoy it great in a hide and overall length of mine is only an inch shorter that my 32" barrelled beretta with its extended chokes in. You can always put a long extended choke in for more weight in front or even get screw in barrel extention. I use a kicks high flyer modified choke in mine for Wildfowling but leave it in for everything. As Ed Solomans said no disadvantage with range. Figgy Edited November 20, 2012 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 wish i got a 24" supernova, its like waving a broom at stuff. could do with loosing a few feet of the end. thats the only thing i regret about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 thanks guys, much appreciated... but would a 26inch s/a mean it will limit me to not as many birds out on the field where as a 28inch or 30inch be more long range. so confusing lol J. Basically at the furthest end of the barrel from you is choked, a lot of semis are multi choked. Fitting the most open choke (widest hole) should be a wider spread of shot at a shorter distance, a tight choke like full (narrowest hole) should keep the shot closer together for longer given in theory longer range. The barrel length has not much to do with range of the shot. I have a 26" s/a and it shoots everything my 30" u/o can do. Not sure about others but I very rarely change the choke in any of my guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr salt Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 plastic wad will give longer range than fibre. choke is choke (spread) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 I shoot with 28" barrels on my sxs and o/u and had a auto with 28",i then whent on to buy a 26" barrel auto but it has a 3 &1/2" chamber and an extended choke for steel.I shoot as good or as bad with all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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