sv-mark Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 I am going to be buying an o/u in 30inch for clays, but also getting a semi for clays and hunting (hides and walking) I was thinking of a 26 inch for the semi as I don't want a massive gun that will be getting caught on the hide or arwkward to carry around, but does the shorter barrel on a shotgun effect the range and pattern? also do you think I would be making the right choice as I was told I should have a 28inch as this would be the same length as a 30inch o/u and would feel the same when swinging. what does everybody normally use and what do you think of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 If you buy two totally different guns ie; an o/u or a semi you will never shoot to the best of your ability. You will be much better off buying one that suits you best and what you are going to use the most. If recoil is a problem , go for a semi, if not an o/u is more user friendly and is a lot more reliable. The length of the barrel depends how tall and strong you are I think an awful lot of shooters shoot a gun that's too long for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sv-mark Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 I am 6 foot and 16 stone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 30" Barrels should suit you OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisecobandit Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Im 6 ft 5 and shoot a 30" o/u for game and sporting clays but use a 28" semi auto for wildfowling.They feel a similar length having 2" shorter barrels on the auto to 30" on my o/u's My missus's auto escort has 26" barrels (she's just started learning) which is fun playing with skeet etc but i think having 26"barrels you may regret it if you where shooting sporting etc. I think you would be happiest with 28" as its a good general all round length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 i`ll second 28.i use 28 in an auto and 30 in an o/u. but yet again every one is different. try a few out.i tried a round of sporting with a 26 "391 belonging to my mate. never again.2" can make a world of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autolover Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 think blaser makes a good point about having a semi and a ou. having recently got back into shooting i decided to go auto i have also owned berretta 686 lanber sporter and winchester 101 at the same time i also had a berretta 391 and remi 1187. i have recently took up pigeon shooting and glad i have stuck with auto. i also did a round of skeet after not doing it fora couple of years and got a 22/25 and felt right at home with my 303 sporter, it is a 30inch barrell and does feel long only just fts in a standard shotgun case i should have gone for 28 in the end its down to personel choice,a lot of my mates wont even look at autos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 I kinda agree but disagree with some of the above. I have a 28" 20g Beretta O/U and a 26" 20g AL391 which I have set up to match the O/Us stock dimensions. I find very little if any difference between the handling of them. My advice FWIW is get an Auto with the barrel 2" shorter than the barrels on your O/U as the recever on an auto is aboutu that much longer. This then makes the overall length about the same and keeps teh swing characterists as similar as possible. I've found after many expensive mistakes that its best to get the O/U and SA from the same maker as they tend to have an average stock measurment that they use for thier guns. Makers dont agree on this point so they all vary a bit from on another. As to your question about range and pattern, barrel length makes no difference at all to that. That is only affected buy the choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhunter Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Something like my 391 could be a good compromise, 26" with a 1" extended choke. I use it for pigeons and clays and don't do too badly on either. JMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sv-mark Posted April 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 thanks for the replys I enquired about 26inch barrels with GMK over the weekend and they sent a reply back stating they only do a 28inch in the UK so that has sorted that decision out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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