In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Barrel leanth vs choke
Kenthetoolman
Member Posts: 839 ✭✭✭✭
I have been shooting pistol and rifle most my life but am looking at getting my first shotgun. How much does barrel leanth affect the spread of your pattern?
I am looking at a couple of shotguns one with a 20 inch barrel and one with a 30 both with interchangeable chokes. Given the same choke in both what would the different barrel leanths do?
I am looking at a couple of shotguns one with a 20 inch barrel and one with a 30 both with interchangeable chokes. Given the same choke in both what would the different barrel leanths do?
Comments
However, the longer barrels will help you track a target better for trap, might be a bit long for skeet where you track one direction and then switch to the opposite direction quickly.
From 20 to 30 inches is a wide span, and you don't mention what the gun will be used for. If you opt for the 30", make sure that the weight of the barrel doesn't make the gun front heavy and unbalanced.
Some years ago I did a 26" vs 32" with the same screw in chokes (exact same actual tube)at 40 yds. Could not tell (within reason)the difference in the pattern. Did not check the vel.
Best of luck
What matters most is the barrel DIAMETER, specifically the muzzle diameter, and that's what the screw in chokes control.
The important of barrel length is a few things:
a. It affects how the gun swings. Longer barrels swing slower (and more deliberately) which is why sport shooters like them in some disciplines (eg sporting clays, etc). Shorter barrels swing faster.
b. It affects gun balance, with longer barrels, obviously, having a center of gravity a little further out towards the muzzle. A lot of this is personal preference.
c. Shorter barrels offer better handling in tight quarters, and easier storage (or even potentially concealment). This is why "combat" type shotguns usually have short barrels of 18 or 20" (or even less, for NFA-type law enforcement guns).
d. The shorter the barrel, the closer to your ear, and the louder the gun will seem.
leave the multi chokes system alone, unless you change you shooting practice from skeet to field etc. Get a fixed 3/8" choke it will do all, the tighter 1/4 will give you more distance 1/2 better spread. 3/8 in the middle .IMO 26/28" barrel is perfct for swing & Field use. Longer the barrel better the pattern, as it leaves the gun later & keeps the barrel shape before the spread.
Your are talking in english terms there mond... I would go with a Modified as a catch all choke. But it is something you have to play with lots of folks I hunt with like Improved cylinger which i think is 1/4 choke in monds terms. I think modified translates to 3/8 or half.
26 or 28 are good sporting lengths.. only less if for home defense or a smaller person.
It also depends on shot you are throwing lead will pattern different than steel or heavy shot...
quote:Originally posted by mond
leave the multi chokes system alone, unless you change you shooting practice from skeet to field etc. Get a fixed 3/8" choke it will do all, the tighter 1/4 will give you more distance 1/2 better spread. 3/8 in the middle .IMO 26/28" barrel is perfct for swing & Field use. Longer the barrel better the pattern, as it leaves the gun later & keeps the barrel shape before the spread.
Your are talking in english terms there mond... I would go with a Modified as a catch all choke. But it is something you have to play with lots of folks I hunt with like Improved cylinger which i think is 1/4 choke in monds terms. I think modified translates to 3/8 or half.
26 or 28 are good sporting lengths.. only less if for home defense or a smaller person.
It also depends on shot you are throwing lead will pattern different than steel or heavy shot...
Thanks for the translation, Best Mond[;)]
On a standard type shotgun barrel all choke constriction is located within just the final 2' or so before the muzzle. In other words, if you were to cut off the last couple of inches of a 32 in. full choke barrel you would be creating a really long cylinder bored barrel.
Complete powder combustion with a shotgun occurs within around 18-20 inches of barrel. Any more barrel than this is only to influence sight plane length, balance, smoothness of swing, etc.