dazlindazza Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 I have only been shooting for about 6 months and want to get a better gun ( I have an old Baikal sbs and want an o/u). I have found a Lanber on a website I like but it has 30" barrels. The gun I have at the moment has 28" barrels, so my question is, am I better to buy a gun with the same size barrels as I'm used to (bearing in mind I'm a relative novice) and what is the advantage / dissadvanage of longer barrels? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Just go and try it - dont worry about what length the barrels are, its going to depend how it feels for you. some 28" may feel better than 30" and vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyoftheboy Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 personal choice Dazza... depending on how long you've been shooting, I wouldn't buy a new gun just yet - I was given the advice to shoot for 12 months with your 1st gun, as you will learn a lot more about what you like/dislike..... didn't take any notice..... & have made some rather rash purchases!!! (& subsequent sales!) I had lessons with a 28" barrelled gun, bought a 28" barrelled gun (or 2).... but now shoot with a 30" barrell as I found I was always stopping the 28" gun too easily.... & therefore missing behind on crossers etc. I like the feel of a 28" as it seemed lighter & easier to move.... but means it is easier to stop! Now I shoot much better with a 30" gun...... but as I say, will be down to the individual.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 As above. My first gun was a 28" but when I changed the nicest feeling gun in the shop (swing, balance and pointability [if that is a word]) was a 32" barrel gun and that's the one I bought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlaserF3 Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 If you have a few minutes to spare read this http://www.clayshootingusa.com/html/archiv...ze%20Matter.pdf It's not the length of the barrel that matters so much it's the overall feel of the gun which makes the difference. Every weekend I see ordinary shooters struggle with a gun that's either too long or too heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyoftheboy Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 good article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 The reason that longer barrels have come into vogue is that a couple of decades back Top Sporting shooters were choosing 30 and 32" trap guns to shoot rangy FITASC sporting targets. Manufacturers responded and gradually, M/C sporting guns came available in longer barrel lengths and now 30 and 32" M/C sporters are common. The primary reasons for the sporting shooters wanting the longer barrels was that on slow distant targets the long barrels gave great "pointability" looking over the rib you saw the tram lines of a long barrel rib pointing in the direction of the shot ( if you shoot flat to the rib this advantage in long barrels is lost). Also the heavier long barrels made smooth follow through on a slow swing better. Fashion follows leaders, and the norm for sporting clay guns has moved from 28" to 30" as shooters have followed the fashion for the longer barrel. Whether or not they are using the longer barrel's advantages at their local shoot may be another matter. Balance is actually the most critical thing, I have many pupils try my 31 1/2" Perrazi MX2 and say how light the gun is, and yet it weighs in at 9 1/2 lbs, a heavy gun. It feels light as the wt is well back. Other guns with long barrels feel like swinging sacks of spuds by comparison. If you are going for longer, try different guns, look for a balance at the action, not forward of it, and make sure the comb is set to allow you to look down on the rib by at least 3mm ( the £1-00 coin test, see Clay Target Shooters Handbook), so you sight over the bead and see the rib pointing where you are shooting - don't sight through the bead silhouetted above the barrel, if you do half he reason for the longer barrel is wasted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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