gemini52 Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 I ask the question is the an advantage having 32 inch barrels on a sporter as opposed to 30 inch,the reason i ask is i have the chance to part ex my silver pigeon 686 for a 682 gold e which has 32 inch barrels,the gun is in nice condition and fits me really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoy1979 Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 2"s closer to the target! Other than that in my opinion and past experience no real benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterse Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 I used to shoot a Gold E, they are excellent guns and my preference was for the 32" because they are inherently a fast gun to shoot and the extra weight and length of the 32" barrels steadied it up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 None whatsoever in my opinion, but the Gold E is an inherently better gun and well worth having, especially if it fits you well. We all actively seek those little 'edges' in guns which will make us shoot better, but apart from guns dedicated for one discipline or another, I'm afraid those little 'edges' don't exist. The gun fitting you well will improve your shooting so much more than the extra two inch; buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 I used to shoot a Gold E, they are excellent guns and my preference was for the 32" because they are inherently a fast gun to shoot and the extra weight and length of the 32" barrels steadied it up a bit. I agree. The Gold E virtually started the move to lighter barrels, but in 30" they're a bit too light up front for some. Serious sporting clay shooters don't choose 32s because of some fad or trend, they buy them because they get better scores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 Most blokes wouldn't Notice the difference of 2",or would they..??. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantrem ember Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 The extra length helps with a steady swing and is good for shooting clays, 34" are even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 6, 2017 Report Share Posted April 6, 2017 You can stick extended chokes in a 30" gun and get near 32" add barrel weights to get a steady swing, the action is exactly the same all 68 series action are. If you like the gun buy it, if it's just for the extra 2" unless you shooting s lot of clays and your scores are suffering I wouldn't bother. It's what you get used to. I've seen some very good shots use short barrel guns. A lot of people couldn't tell the difference if handed the same gun they shoot with 2" longer barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 People generally don't buy guns like the Gold E is simply to show they can afford to spend more. It's a serious competition gun and very much a step up from the 686 and if you were to handle and shoot two, otherwise identical Gold Es where one was 30 and the other 32 you'd immediately be able to tell the difference. I've nothing against 686s, I've owned two myself and used them for years shooting clays, but the only 686 that can approach the 682 for handling is the SP-1 sporting with the Optima barrels and the same applies in that for many people, the 32" model is more stable than the 30". Ultimately it depends on the gun of course but things evolve. There's no great "got to have 32" to be competitive" attitude but, thanks in large measure to the influence of the Gold E, most modern sporting guns have lighter barrels than their predecessors. Even Brownings have moved on from the 'pig on a shovel' feel of the pre-725 era so that now, 32" barrels are becoming commonplace on new Brownings. I recently tried a modern XS Ultra with 32" barrels, weighing 8lb 3oz and it balanced and handled very nicely whereas the older versions from 2003 were sluggish and cumbersome in comparison - even in 30" form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Ultimately it depends on the gun of course but things evolve. There's no great "got to have 32" to be competitive" attitude but, thanks in large measure to the influence of the Gold E, most modern sporting guns have lighter barrels than their predecessors. Even Brownings have moved on from the 'pig on a shovel' feel of the pre-725 era so that now, 32" barrels are becoming commonplace on new Brownings. I recently tried a modern XS Ultra with 32" barrels, weighing 8lb 3oz and it balanced and handled very nicely whereas the older versions from 2003 were sluggish and cumbersome in comparison - even in 30" form. I'm a Browning / Winchester fan but can't say I've ever felt I was shooting a 'pig on a shovel'. It's all very subjective to ones own personal preference I feel. I much prefer 28" barrels, and all the 101's I've ever owned ( and there's been a few ) and the occasional Browning have in my opinion, handled better than any guns I've owned. One of my favourite 101's is a mint Field model with 27" barrels. It is a delight to shoot. I say this in the full knowledge that Browning/Winchester guns fit me very well straight off the shelf. I have a 32" Gamba Daytona, which is a lovely gun to wield. It's a down and out competition gun, but I'll be having the barrels shortened to 28" shortly prior to having the Teagues refitted. Each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I'm a long barrel man. 30 inches on my 410 but am looking to source some extended chokes for it. For me the gun just seems to move and handle better. Having said that, my main pigeon hide gun is an 870 Wingmaster with a 26 inch skeet barrel and not much continues to fly past in range. It is back to that basic thing. We are all built differently, different ages even and it is the gun which just feels right when you pick it up. If that gun you mention does that, then buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 (edited) With respect to the above couple of posts, the Gold E is neither a field gun, where 28s are fine, or a hide gun where again shorter barrels are an advantage. It's a competition gun primarily built for sporting - although there are skeet and trap variants - and where the handling and performance requirements are somewhat different. As I said above, on the sporting courses, 32s are commonplace and the numbers are increasing all the time. Many experienced regular sporting shooters use them simply because they get better scores. Edited April 7, 2017 by Westward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I know a retired 'keeper that regularly embarrases the yellow glasses wearing clay guys with his 26" SBS complete with deerstalker on head and pipe in mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I know a retired 'keeper that regularly embarrases the yellow glasses wearing clay guys with his 26" SBS complete with deerstalker on head and pipe in mouth. So,does that mean we should all wear deerstalkers and smoke a pipe to make us a better shot,or just to wear a different colour of glasses to yellow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Don't be silly but give it a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 You could always try stockings and suspenders but i think you might have already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 You could always try stockings and suspenders but i think you might have already? What,you mean you havent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 Not in public... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I am only 5ft 4inches in the clay world I need every inch I can get 32 goes a long way for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I am only 5ft 4inches in the clay world I need every inch I can get 32 goes a long way for me. Half way in fact! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 (edited) With respect to the above couple of posts, the Gold E is neither a field gun, where 28s are fine, or a hide gun where again shorter barrels are an advantage. It's a competition gun primarily built for sporting - although there are skeet and trap variants - and where the handling and performance requirements are somewhat different. As I said above, on the sporting courses, 32s are commonplace and the numbers are increasing all the time. Many experienced regular sporting shooters use them simply because they get better scores. There was also a time when 28's were fine for all disciplines. I'm sorry, but I have to admit I'm not convinced on the 'practical' over 'fad' element regarding the length of barrels. Manufacturers have to keep selling guns, and like any manufacturer they will try all and every aspect to maintain or increase sales. I'm pretty sure that in time we'll be hearing the same said of 34" barrels for serious competition shooters, and why not? It's only logical that if 30" has an advantage over 28", and 32" has an advantage over 30", that 34" must surely have an advantage over 32". I'm also pretty sure that 'improved handling' and 'swingability' will appear in the sales pitch somewhere. Are todays top competition shooters getting consistently higher scores than the top competition shooters of say 20 years ago? If so can that be exclusively attributed to barrel length? If the advantage is anything other than psychological then fair enough; after all, the mental aspect of shooting is very important. I'm just rather cynical and sceptical I'm afraid. Edited April 7, 2017 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I'm sorry, but I have to admit I'm not convinced on the 'practical' over 'fad' element regarding the length of barrels. Manufacturers have to keep selling guns, and like any manufacturer they will try all and every aspect to maintain or increase sales. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted April 7, 2017 Report Share Posted April 7, 2017 I'm not convinced either, I've had a few 30" barrelled guns and a few 32" barrelled guns at one time I changed from a 30" Cynergy to a 32" Cynergy awful thing the 30" was better balanced to me, it's new owner loves the thing. My current clay gun is 32" with extended chokes but a friend has a very nice DT10 with 30" barrels and it's a cracking gun to shoot. I enjoy shooting a semi auto, very light in the barrel and quick to move and stop. Just a change in how you shoot sorts this out. Look at the scores put in on the big semi auto comps. Still don't see how much different a 682 gold e action is over a 686 action the barrels are different and some have the field stock some the sporting stock. The 686 has got to be better because Beretta tell us the 692 is better and both have higher numbers than the 682 The 32" fashion will move on to some other before long, got to sell more guns somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-dot Posted April 8, 2017 Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 In an ideal world all birds would fly overhead but the downfall of long pointable guns is crossing targets which shorter and lighter guns get on the swing easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted April 8, 2017 Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 Not sure I agree with that, Red-dot. Long crossers? 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.