With heavy shot loads I have seen uneven gas seal flare in 21" barrels disrupt patterns. The same loads in 26" barrels with the same choke tube showed virtually no flare and patterns commensurate with choke. The culprit, excess muzzle pressure with slow burn shotshell powders. Admittedly, this is a seldom seen problem, but it does happen with shorter barrels.
With ordinary field loads, I agree that shorter barrels make little difference other than handling qualities.
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