scotty88 Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Advice required folks.... Only got my certificate in February, followed advice and bought a used gun to get me started so I bought a well used beretta 687 30" barrel. Been shooting a wee while now and found out I enjoy sporting clays and DTL, decided i had saved enough money and went out to buy something a bit newer to match the shooting Im doing. Spent hours yesterday looking and trying different guns, narrowed it down to 3, miroku mk 38, beretta silver pigeon both 30" barrels or a browning ultra xs 28" barrel. Tried all 3 at clays and on pattern plate, much preffered the browning came up better and felt right in my hands. Shot well with it. I've heard folk going on about barrel length before. After showing people my new gun i was told i should have never have bought a 28" barrel annd went for a 30 or 32. Am i showing how novice i am or does barrel length play a noticable difference? Where does the barrel length factor come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 If your happy and shoot well with it then that barrel length is right for you. Longer barrel just means more weight and a more steady swing in most cases, less whippy if that makes sense. I have guns from 24 1/2" to 32" my preference for clays is 32" but if the gun I liked and shot very well with was shorter it wouldn't put me off. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) I find heavier guns swing smoother as Figgy says above, but if you're concentrating on the target its' not a difference you'll be aware of unless you start using a light short barrelled 20 bore or similar for a change. 28" barrels are currently out of vogue, but that doesn't mean they are any the less gun for it. I have a 32" sporter, a 28" and sometimes I use a mates 26" barrelled gun. I shot very well with the latter during last season after going from the 32" model and assumed it was a 28 incher, and was pretty surprised to discover it was in fact a 26. Any gun I've bought were bought because I liked the gun and barrel length didn't even enter into it. I don't feel disadvantaged by the shorter barrels at all. In my opinion 28" is just about right for me. There was a time when everyone shot with 28" barrels as there wasn't any other length available; I don't think anyone felt they were under gunned. Then longer barrels became the norm and then longer still; what's next? You've got a good gun there despite what others say about the barrel length, and you will be able to break any target any 32" gun can, rest assured. Edited August 18, 2014 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty88 Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for the advice gents. To my feel the browning feels heavier and steadier in the swing than my old beretta 30" proved it was a good fit with the pattern plate... im over the moon with my new gun cant wait to get some more shells through it. Thanks again lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Barrel lengths have fashions, Short (25") in the 1920s, long today, everything else in between - in between. 28" is a good length. When you can hit 95 out of 100 with that - start worrying about the barrel length. Until then, enjoy. You have a nice gun - and in a sensible length. Incidentally, you don't say if you are short or tall, big or small, but 34" barrels look somewhat out of place with a very short person - just as 25" look wrong with a tall person. Where you have your left hand (righthander) will alter the feel. I am a little shorter than average at about 5"9" and 170 lbs - and find 28" feels better suited to me than 30" (I own both). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I have always shot better with a 28" barreled gun . As long as you shoot ok with it and it feels right for you , then why give a fig what others say . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty88 Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for the feedback chaps. Johnfromuk I am 5ft 10" and 13 stone, in my opinion it looks right and shoots right. So fenboy your correct, i wont bother my a**e about the others! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 there are times when 2 inches are important...in this situation your shotgun barrel length ain't one of them!....28/29/30 often hard to tell difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Thanks for the feedback chaps. Johnfromuk I am 5ft 10" and 13 stone, in my opinion it looks right and shoots right. So fenboy your correct, i wont bother my a**e about the others! Cheers At that size, I would suggest 28' is just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty88 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Haha dougal, im suprised it took so long for someone to lower the tone!! Cheers john. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Ask a woman if she would like two more inches only time they will say no is if it's on the hips. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Haha dougal, im suprised it took so long for someone to lower the tone!! Cheers john. can always rely on me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 I've never quite seen where the logic is in equating choice of barrel length to the size of the shooter. A typical 28" 425 browning will usually feel a lot more front heavy and sluggish moving than a 32" 682E or DT10 Beretta and will typically feel heavier in the hands too even if it isn't actually any heavier. Some people like that, others not so much but in any event, for the majority of people who fall within the normal spectrum of size, shape and strength, the balance and feel is far more meaningful than barrel length. If the 28 fits and feels better in your hands then go ahead, it will break clays perfectly well. Over time you may well find, like most of us, that experience brings a better understanding of what's best for you and your chosen disciplines and you may elect to change to a different gun. But that's down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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