28"

 

Personally I would not get anything shorter than a 28 and would look for a 30.

 

+1 on what GrizzlyAlan said....

My go to bird gun is a 20 gauge Citori White Lightning with 28" barrels.

 

Barrels in general are getting longer in popularity, so resale value will be much better with a 28" one. It's almost impossible to get a good price for a 26" 12 gauge O/U. I know you plan to keep it forever, but that doesn't always last. Mark

 

What everyone else said, short barrels don't work for me.

 

I was thinking 28" or 30"

 

I'd go 30 if you can find them. A friend has a 28 ga Beretta with the 30 inch barrels and it feels great to me.

 

It's harder to find a field gun with 30" barrels, at least with Brownings. You have to look at Sporting guns to get 30" barrels. Mark

 

Also thinking Beretta Silver Pigeon. 28" and 30" are available in field models. Will the 30" be to long?

 

A SXS or OU with 30" barrels is still shorter than a pump or semi. Longer barrels make more sense for the two-barreled guns.

 

No it isn't to long unless maybe you are hunting some super thick cover and even then it's only two inches.

 

I like 30's -- the newer guns are light and the longer barrels swing and balance better. Plus resale value is much higher. On the flip side if you buy used, there are screaming deals on older 26" and 28" barreled guns.

 

Jack,

I agree. I have "located" a 28" 20 gauge 687 at what I believe is a very good value. It has hardly been used, is about a year old, and has upgraded engraving and very nice wood. The same money buys me a new silver pigeon 1 with 30" barrels. No question the 30" barrels will be nice for "clays". However, our hunting will likely include Grouse and Woodcock in northern and perhaps upper Michigan.

If I purchase this gun how much will and extra set of "sporting" barrels cost me?

 

There is nothing wrong with the 28 inch barrels and a good value is a good value.

 

There is nothing wrong with the 28 inch barrels and a good value is a good value.

+1 From me on this. 28" barrels work well, and are easier to sell than shorter barrels. If you want longer barrels, there's no reason not to get them, other than it may cost a bit more to buy, and be a bit more difficult to sell.

 

I use 28" on O/U and 26" on semi's and pumps. I guess if it were a dedicated grouse/woodcock gun I might consider 26" barrels since (at least here in Minnesota) you can be shooting in very thick cover, but I use 28" barrels for that too.

Your question was "All around" so 28"

 

Fads come and go...
Just ask any teenage girl

There once was a pretty famous chap...
Named Churchill... managed a little English gunshop
decided to buck prevailing wisdom... long barrels
Built guns with short barrels... called them XXV's
Felled lots of pigeons... even had a method of shooting named after him

Who is now to say what is the best????

 

28" for all around

 

If you're going to be shooting clays, pheasants, waterfowl, or anything where you're following the target with a smooth swing then I'd agree that longer barrels are a plus. However, you mentioned hunting grouse and woodcock in the UP so I'm going to disagree.

I live in the middle of the UP and have been hunting here for over 45 years. In my experience the key for hunting those birds is quickness. They both flush explosively and the window of opportunity is very short. You're mostly snap shooting by instinct with little or no chance to track the bird in flight.

That gives a big advantage to the short and light gun over long and heavy. I've had a lot of success with 26" barrels on doubles and singles but recently switched to 22" and am liking it. I'm even looking over the choices in 20" coach guns since they might be even better for where I hunt.

You're likely to find that the ideal multi-purpose gun doesn't exist, and if you want to do everything you'll end up with more than one gun.

 

28" for both O/U's and autoloaders. Because they're readily available...

 

+1 to what Bud Tugly says. Same thing here in this part of Wisconsin. A quick snap shot is more the norm than the exception. In more open terrain, it's a different story. Just my personal experience.

 

My vote goes for the 28" for an "all-around" gun.

 

I like 28" also on a s/s or o/u.

 

28" is a good all around length for upland birds. I shot a 24" Browning Upland Special for a good many years and it was perfect for quail and woodcock. I didn't like it for doves though.

 

I use 28" on my O/U.