Shotgun question

[HydrillaGorilla16]

In the market for a new shotgun and was wondering how much advantage a 20" barrel would give me over say a 26 or 28? Gun would see 80% of its use chasing coyotes and the other 20% turkey hunting

[dan25]

Shorter barrel would be a necessity if you were mainly gonna use it for coyote hunting. I am an avid coyote hunter and a shorter barrel for maneuvering is very nice.

[HydrillaGorilla16]

That's what I was leaning towards, but what kind of velocity/range will I be giving up for the 20"? is it enough to really notice?

[dan25]

Most turkey guns have shorter barrels and are meant for killing Turkeys at long range. I wouldn't worry about it.

[drake322]

There is a couple factors to consider. Total length of the gun and what your main target will be. It took me several years to learn a shorter bbl is not always better. I shot skeet for years with 28-30" bbls. Would swap over to my duck gun and miss the hell out of them at times. Talked to a friend and he said put your duck gun up next to you skeet gun and measure. Full 8". So, I traded for a gun with a length close to my skeet gun. Swing felt so much better and I improved my kill ratio on ducks. Seems like a no brainer but it does effect your success. Second, if the main use of the gun is on turkeys or coyotes, the quick swing factor of a shorter gun will make a difference. Just make sure it is choked correctly for the bore size. Most new guns today come back bored.

[Babe Winkleworm]

Old 870 pump will kill any of em

[adchunts]

For coyote or turkey, 20" works great. I doubt you would see any significant decrease in velocity over a long barrel, as shotgun powder is fast-burning. For moving targets (duck, quail, pheasant, etc.), I like a 26" or 28" barrel. The extra weight on the end helps follow-through on moving shots.

Just a word of advice on short-barreled shotguns...duck blinds are not the place for them. I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear from a guy that thought his short barreled, ported turkey gun would be great for duck hunting. Lesson learned the hard way...I have that conversation early with any potential blind-mate now...and wear hearing protection always.

[yetti462]

Old 870 pump will kill any of em

My old 870 express is a machine. Love that gun. Best $150 I ever spent.

[DixieChicken]

You want a DP-12! Oh yeaaaahhhh... Arnold would have done NICE with that puppy!

Kept telling my wife I needed one, didn't work. BUT.... she told me to buy a bass boat so I'm not complaining.


http://www.stdgun.com/dp-12-double-b...h-the-works-2/

[d'Wayne]

You'd have a hard time getting close enough to a coyote around here to use a shotgun.