The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 23, 2013, 12:52 PM   #1
.50cal packer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 11, 2006
Posts: 154
why so short???

Why is it, that rifled barrels for shotguns are so much shorter than average barrel length of most shotguns? 26"-28". Is the rate of twist a deciding factor?
.50cal packer is offline  
Old January 23, 2013, 01:21 PM   #2
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
Rifled barrels are made for deer hunters, who generally want a shorter, more maneuverable firearm than a shotgun with a 30" full choke barrel.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old January 23, 2013, 01:49 PM   #3
chewie146
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 853
Exactly. Turkey, deer, and varmint hunters generally need something "quick." People who hunt certain birds like the swing characteristics of the 28 and 30 inch barrels. Personally, I hunt everything with 18-22" barrels. Those long barrels bother me. I'm no expert wingshooter, though. Plus, I think a duck is just a liver with wings, and I don't like liver. Most of my shots are under 30 yards.
chewie146 is offline  
Old January 23, 2013, 01:59 PM   #4
.50cal packer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 11, 2006
Posts: 154
I'm aware of the purpose for their use. But thank you for bringing that up. Maneuverability, I could see working well, with the shorter barrel. Although duck blinds, I've been in, were pretty tight as well. Yet the standard for that is a 28", and yes I realize that it's a choked barrel in use there. I didn't know if there were ballistics involve with this or not. If maneuverability is the main reason for them, then this was a stupid question, and apologize for the thread...

Last edited by .50cal packer; January 23, 2013 at 02:09 PM.
.50cal packer is offline  
Old January 23, 2013, 02:09 PM   #5
BigD_in_FL
Junior member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: The "Gunshine State"
Posts: 1,981
Quote:
Exactly. Turkey, deer, and varmint hunters generally need something "quick.
They want something that is about the same as their rifles, most of which have 22" barrels. these guns are aimed like a rifle, so rifle characteristics make more sense. target and upland guns are pointed and need to move in any direction, the longer barrels aid in the swing to target scenario
BigD_in_FL is offline  
Old January 23, 2013, 09:04 PM   #6
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,792
When shooting at moving game such as ducks the longer barrel effects balance. You can swing the gun smoother and the longer sightig plane helps get on target. You point a shotgun when shooting birds, or clay's

When hunting deer or turkey you are aiming your shotgun like a rifle. The added barrel lenght is simply not needed for this.
jmr40 is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 11:04 AM   #7
hogdogs
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: October 31, 2007
Location: Western Florida panhandle
Posts: 11,069
Not only is the length not needed but the added weight way out on the end makes the offhand aiming a much tougher exercise... I shoot slugs from both a mossberg 500 20gauge and an old side by side stevens gun...

Both are short barrels with the 500 having 18 inch and the stevens having a 20 IIRC...

The balance in the hands while the gun is in mount is great for longer term holds on target like when waiting to convert a "Texas Heart Shot" into a boiler room shot...

Brent
hogdogs is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 03:18 PM   #8
twilly
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 30, 2012
Posts: 4
The best producing partridge gun that I ever used was/is an old Stevens sxs with 19 inch barrels....especially early in the seaton when there are still a lot of leaves on the trees and your shots are usually close in. I cheated a little by loading the barrel with a smaller shot and the second larger for greater 'reach'.
twilly is offline  
Old January 24, 2013, 04:10 PM   #9
chewie146
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 853
To the OP.

Hey man, it wasn't a stupid question. It was seeking information on the unknown.
chewie146 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.05660 seconds with 10 queries