Barrel lenght

1goodshot · September 18, 2006, 04:47 AM

I got a Remington 870 12 gauge that I want to use for turkey this year, what barrel lenght do you recomend? It can handle 3 1/2 shells. Id like to put a 20'' on it but dont know how much velocity Ill be giving up.Will I still be able to kill a turkey at 40 yards?

hoghunting · September 18, 2006, 08:08 AM

From all the tests that I have seen, the shotshell reaches its max velocity approximately 18" in the barrel. The longer barrels are for more forward weight for swinging on targets. A 20" barrel won't cause any velocity loss.

Dave McC · September 18, 2006, 08:33 AM

Not enough loss to matter.

Ruger4570 · September 18, 2006, 10:40 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about any meaningful increase in velocity, It just isn't going to make much difference at Turkey ranges. I am not real big on abbreviated barrels and prefer 28" barrels, but your 20" will be fine and do the job, if you do your part of course.

September 18, 2006, 04:47 AM	#1
1goodshot Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2001 Location: chandler,az Posts: 929	Barrel lenght I got a Remington 870 12 gauge that I want to use for turkey this year, what barrel lenght do you recomend? It can handle 3 1/2 shells. Id like to put a 20'' on it but dont know how much velocity Ill be giving up.Will I still be able to kill a turkey at 40 yards?

September 18, 2006, 08:08 AM	#2
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	From all the tests that I have seen, the shotshell reaches its max velocity approximately 18" in the barrel. The longer barrels are for more forward weight for swinging on targets. A 20" barrel won't cause any velocity loss.

September 18, 2006, 08:33 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Not enough loss to matter.

September 18, 2006, 10:40 PM	#4
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	I wouldn't worry too much about any meaningful increase in velocity, It just isn't going to make much difference at Turkey ranges. I am not real big on abbreviated barrels and prefer 28" barrels, but your 20" will be fine and do the job, if you do your part of course.