Barrel Length

[StillLearnin]

I have been wanting a side by side for quite some time now and hopefully I'll have made up my mind by Christmas. I am looking at a Stoger Uplander http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/uplander.tpl

with screw in chokes but I am not sure about barrel length. I currently have a 12 ga. semi auto with a 28" barrel and I like haveing the extra length.

So what advantage if any is there in have a 26" barrel other than .1 lbs and 2" ??

Keeping in mind I'll keep my semi-auto

[AJ]

Re: Barrel Length

A shorter barrel will handle quicker. It has less mass out in front of the shooter so its easier to get swinging. On the downside, its easier to stop swinging also. This leads to shooting behind targets.

Longer barrels are harder to initiate the swing, but are easier to maintain the swing.

The longer the barrel is the farther the front bead (front sight) is from the shooters eye (rear sight). Anytime you can make the sights farther arpart, the more forgiving the setup is.

On your semi auto (s/a) shotgun you have a 6" receiver that adds to the overall length (OAL). On a SxS or o/u, the breech is very short and a gun with 30" barrels is actually the same length as a pump or s/a with a 26" barrel.

You can also get better patterns and higher velocity with longer barrels. On a pump or s/a, I like 26" - 28" barrels. On o/u guns, I like 30 - 32"". My unsingle trap gun has a 34" barrel.