Did some study on preferred barrel length for clays shooting. Varied from 28 to 32. I've never had an O/U but am saving my sheckels looking for a deal. For you guys that shoot shotty at places like PHA what barrel length do you prefer?
O/U barrel length
- Thread starter REELDOC
- Start date
- Replies 10
- Views 668
My CZ is really comfortable with the 30" target barrels and extended chokes, YMMV.
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2016
- Messages
- 137
For sporting clays and trap post people are buying 30 and 32. For skeet 30 is long enough. I've Shot 28, 30 and 32. Its just personal preference. If I had one gun for all the clay games I'd get a 30. The o/u I shoot most is a 30. If you're looking at resale value, I believe 32 is is best.
I have a Citori with 26" barrels. I like it. But it swings a bit fast. Great if the clay takes a funny turn or bounce. But you can get ahead of them easy too. Longer barrel is going to swing smoother.
I have O/U's with barrel lengths from 24 to 34, just depends on what feels good to you. Go to a retailer with a large selection and swing a 28, a 30, and a 32. You'll definitely feel a difference in the weight forward aspect as the barrel gets longer.
IGNORE what everyone says is popular and buy what YOU like and feels best...
And please stop calling them "shotties", they are shotguns....
IGNORE what everyone says is popular and buy what YOU like and feels best...
And please stop calling them "shotties", they are shotguns....
Mad Dawg
Bourbon Swigler
Like others have stated, I think it depends on the clay sport you plan on shooting and what feels good to you. I shoot mostly skeet. Started with a 28" o/u and found it to be a bit whippy and choppy while swinging. Moved up to a 30" o/u and to me, perfection. Very smooth in swing, great balance. This of course depends on the gun you have for not all 30" o/u's are going the handle the same way. I've been dabbling in some trap shooting lately and find the 30" a little on the short side when trying to reach out to hit the straight away targets. The same when shooting sporting clays, a little short on the longer shots. If I had a dedicated o/u for each of the clay sports, I would shoot 30" for skeet, 32" for sporting clays and 34" for trap with both a uni-single under barrel and o/u if shooting trap doubles.
MD, barrel length has nothing to do with how far a load of shot will "reach". I hunt with O/U's that have 24" barrels and don't have any problems reaching 40+ yards on a shot.... It's swing balance and your abilities....
Play around with your loads if you reload or shells if you don't. I randomly bought some Rio blue box shells about a year ago. Put up a 46 out of 50 on the sporting clays course with a 26" barrel Citori Super light feather. Kind of wrote it off as a fluke since it's 6-8 hits above average for me. Got into reloading and my average dropped down into the 28-34 range. Picked up some random shells and got into the mid 30's again. I have not shot the Rio's on the clays range yet, but when I shot wobble trap I shot 21 out of 25 which is 4 over my highest score to that point. IMO, those Rio's just pattern really well in my shotgun. I'm going to stick with them a while and see if it's real or just me. But I've quit reloading now. You might find that what patterns in close on the skeet field is not patterning as well at distance.
I have a 26" 12ga Red Label and it's about perfect for me. I have a 28" 20 ga RedLabel and I wish it was 26". Can't imagine swinging 30" O/U very fast. I mostly shoot skeet with my O/U's and occasionally go into the field with the 20. I mostly shoot a 26" 1187 12ga at Sporting Clays where I can change the choke quickly (Carlson Extendeds) and a 20ga 1187 for birds if I dont have to p/u the hulls.
Collo Rosso
to be here happy
A little late to the party... I prefer semi-auto's and have 2 with 30" barrels for clays. They do tend to smooth out the barrel swing.
Visit a LGS, pawn shop or Cabela's that has lots of shotguns in stock. Take your time and shoulder as many as you can and see which ones fit you best. If your not sure watch a few youtube videos about gun fit and what you should see down the barrel. For barrel length find a beam in the ceiling or the line where wall meets ceiling, shoulder the shotgun and now swing the barrels and follow the line best you can. I think you'll find the longer barrel lengths work best.
Visit a LGS, pawn shop or Cabela's that has lots of shotguns in stock. Take your time and shoulder as many as you can and see which ones fit you best. If your not sure watch a few youtube videos about gun fit and what you should see down the barrel. For barrel length find a beam in the ceiling or the line where wall meets ceiling, shoulder the shotgun and now swing the barrels and follow the line best you can. I think you'll find the longer barrel lengths work best.