My truck/utility/catch-all/rain/don't have an emotional relationship with, etc., gun is an Akkar 28 gauge youth model pump with a 22 inch barrel. It is a fun gun to shoot, and I often use heavy loads with it to take out crows and pigeons at considerably longer range (up to 50 yds and slightly farther) than I attempt shots at game birds. I notice no performance differences with it as compared to the 26 to 28 inch barrels I normally use.

W

 

Balance and follow through are most of what you are giving up. I don't think your squirrel or rabbit hunting will notice any difference. A little longer barrel might make a difference on some grouse shots.

 

24" 12 BUL on rare occasions for it's lightweight and choke tubes....a generalist scattergun that works well from turkey to pheasants, tho the shortgrass will find some shots made more difficult by the gun's particulars.

Have to check but I believe my beloved 26" Sweet 16 is shorter overall that a BUL with the 24"...all about balance more than inches.
But, it's mostly about whether or not you enjoy shooting a particular scattergun and any resulting confidence derived from that enjoyment and a tad bit of experience behind the buttplate.
Apart from Xs on scorecards, swatting flying stuff is little upon which to fret....less so, if the target is not flying.

If you count the home defense type of scattergun afield...those Mitty-type things would often work quite well and would also require xtra work for many swatting situations.
Just depends, at a minimum, upon at what one enjoys looking or what image one wishes to project....be it deadly as a heart attack, old-line traditional or, "it's just like fill-in-the-blank has".

As to brush-walking, a 28" Auto 5 brings few negatives in thick cover, alder or buggy whip aspen or whatever....in maneuvering or shooting.
But, short-barreled "grouse guns" can make us feel best kitted out or more able to be successful.
Neither of which is where the importance lies, to me.

Nice squawks or breakfast bacon.

 

I like to hunt pheasants with my Browning BPS Upland 16ga with a 24" barrel.

 

I don't like the balance on any shotgun with less than 26" bbls for hunting upland and waterfowl.

For slug barrels sure, but not for shot. That doesn't mean that some guys don't like shorter bbls, but generally I stick with 26" and longer.

 

I really like the short barreled shotguns for upland hunting. IMO, you're not giving up anything except extra weight. You're actually GAINING maneuverability when moving through or taking a shot in dense cover.

Someone mentioned grouse hunting. I've hunted grouse many times with short barreled guns and long barreled guns and IMO, the short barreled guns are far better.

Most grouse shots that I've had have been either a bird that explodes from under your feet and is pretty much a straightaway or a bird that is quartering away through trees and briar thickets. Long barrels are not a help in either instance and can actually be a detriment to getting the gun into action.

Dove hunting (pass shooting) is an upland bird that I like longer barreled guns for. Long barrels are good for most pheasant hunting too, but I've taken them with light, short-barreled 20 gauges also.

 

I use a 20" barreled 20ga Remington Spartan side by side for rabbit hunting over my beagle in thick briar holes or sapplings. I have no trouble finding a spot to stand and swing uninhibited with that gun, and if the need arises I can still make a 25 to 30 yard shot with it.

Sent from my Z796C using Ohub Campfire mobile app

 

That's a nice little SA.

Sent from my Z796C using Ohub Campfire mobile app

 

I use a 20" Remington 1100 Special Field 20 for grouse. It carries and handles well in thick, often steep cover. It isn't my first choice for longer open field shots but it more than holds its own in tight spots.

 

I have a Remington 12 gauge 1100 Special Field, an old model with the fixed choke, modified, 21" barrel. I like carrying it, it's really handy in the thick stuff. The trouble is, I don't shoot it very well. I think it feels a bit butt heavy, and doesn't swing well for me, but my daughter can shoot it well. So it's basically hers. :wink:

 

I agree with Ulysses. I hunt in very dense cover. Most times I get a quick snap shot. Getting through thick brush is easier with a short barrel. Also swinging a short barrel I feel it is less likely to hit a branch. Just my opinion. RB

 

Here you see me last sept. trying out the youth 20 gauge g2 shotgun with the adult stock on some doves after Tri-Star had fixed it. Short barrel, actually the whole shotgun is smallish. It worked out great even on some longer shots, choked I/C at the time...

I prefer a 27-28 inch barrel on very light shotguns for balance, but this little gun is fine with the short barrel. Balance is even better with the youth stock on it, that fits Karen just fine.

Thinking is our worse enemy when it comes to hitting our mark, if we think we cant hit anything with a short barrel we wont :lol:

 

My U/O's & SxS all have 26" barrels great for hunting and I use them for sporting clays too.

I have two 870's with 26" barrels and would not want any thing longer. My Turkey gun is an 870 with A 22" barrel and thats a pretty sweet gun for a good over all length for a pump or semi-auto shot gun.

Look for turkey barrels they are in the 21"-23" class and might work for you. Or a cheaper O/U or SxS.

 

Light guns are helped by long barrels in my opinion. Heavy guns are helped by shorter barrels.

I hunt thick chest high briers with my beagle often. I really don't notice the barrel or sling ever getting hung up. Maybe its cuz i'm 6'1 so that I can keep the gun higher than the brush without too much effort.

 

O/U's and SxS's regularly state 26" as a good barrel length for an upland gun. Don't forget, though, that they really don't have much of a receiver.

Take a 22" barreled pump or SA, add 4-5" of receiver, and what do you have? A gun the same length as a 26" double.

After that, shoot what you like.

 

I have a 20" barrel on my Mossberg 500 12 gauge. It is a vent rib screw in choke barrel. It was my only shotgun for many years. It was absolutely death on rabbits using the improved cylinder choke and 1 ounce of #6 shot. Using a Carlson's extended turkey choke, it has taken several turkeys including one at 55 yards. Shooting skeet with it, I have scored several 23s. It has worked well on squirrels and will do ok on doves. As stated, you lose some balance and follow through so a longer barrel works well for pass shooting but the shorter barrels work well for "snap" shooting.

 

Just got back from So Dak.
Shot in over 30 MPH winds. Lots of long crossing shots.
Used 28" or 30" barrels on different days.
Worked for me!

 

If I'm aiming I prefer short barrels if I'm pointing I prefer long.

 

I hunt with BPS 20 and 12 with 22" barrels. Love my BPS 16 with 24" and best gun Iv got is Citori with 24" barrels.
I goose and duck hunt with the 12 ga 22" with 3" chamber and kill just as far as the 30 and 32" barrel guns in the pit.

 

What am I giving up by using this short of a barrel? I killed a couple squirrels with it. I'm also looking at a 24" barreled SA. Thoughts on these short barrels?

A two inch longer barrel gets you about two inches closer to your target. :wink:

That's with a 24 inch M2 and a 26 inch A-5. Would those pheasants have tasted any better if I had used shotguns with longer barrels?

 

What am I giving up by using this short of a barrel? I killed a couple squirrels with it. I'm also looking at a 24" barreled SA. Thoughts on these short barrels?

A two inch longer barrel gets you about two inches closer to your target. :wink:

Actually from a engineering standpoint I must disagree with the statement above and I do so with much good humor and a :wink: :wink: because I measure the distance from where the shell is located in the chamber to the target and not the end of the barrel to the target, I do however appreciate Randy's good natured humor.

Like others have stated........
With modern shotguns and screw in chokes many excellent patterns can be had with all lengths of barrels available....this however does not mean that a 18" barrel would be a good choice in a duck pit or a 30" trap barrel with a high rib would be the best for home defense or chasing Grouse!
A 24-26" barrel on a light gun would be a normal thing to carry on a upland bird hunt.
A 26-28" barrel on a heavier gun would be a normal thing to set in a waterfowl blind with.
With that said they all would work for each.
Pick the one that gives you the best possible balance and ability to follow thru on flying targets, find the best choke load combination to match your sport, have fun and be safe.

 

Actually from a engineering standpoint I must disagree with the statement above and I do so with much good humor and a :wink: :wink: because I measure the distance from where the shell is located in the chamber to the target and not the end of the barrel to the target,

Do you use the actual length of the shell, or the unfolded length? When you 24 inch barrel becomes a 25 inch barrel with the addition of an extended choke tube, is it still really a 24 inch barrel, or now a device that will enable time travel?

 

Actually from a engineering standpoint I must disagree with the statement above and I do so with much good humor and a :wink: :wink: because I measure the distance from where the shell is located in the chamber to the target and not the end of the barrel to the target,

Do you use the actual length of the shell, or the unfolded length? When you 24 inch barrel becomes a 25 inch barrel with the addition of an extended choke tube, is it still really a 24 inch barrel, or now a device that will enable time travel?

the front of the shot charge at rest {hs#
keeping in mind that the shot in the rear of the shot charge will move first.
Every travel takes time, time travel can then be measured, but I digress; it must be measured from the point (in time) that the last pellet in a shot charge begins motion until the last pellet in a shot pattern contacts the intended target.
I have not figured out how to measure this time travel yet, but that is ok :shock:

 

My U/O's & SxS all have 26" barrels great for hunting and I use them for sporting clays too.

I have two 870's with 26" barrels and would not want any thing longer. My Turkey gun is an 870 with A 22" barrel and thats a pretty sweet gun for a good over all length for a pump or semi-auto shot gun.

Look for turkey barrels they are in the 21"-23" class and might work for you. Or a cheaper O/U or SxS.

My "all purpose/have it handy around the property" shotgun is an older 870 Special Purpose with a 26" Light Contour barrel. It carries well and is about the same overall length as my 28" 20ga O/U.

 

I've gone as far as going down to my 18.5" HD bbl. For awhile I have toyed with the idea of seeing if I can get that bbl tapped to accepts screw-in chokes. Hunting with a short bbl is so much more of a joy especially around trees and you don't have to worry about constantly bumping a longer bbl into a tree or the ground or something. Of course hunting squirrels and rabbits is no big deal with a short bbl with no choke, but for the obvious reasons I wouldn't want to waterfowl hunt with it.