Topic: Shotgun Barrel length

[Nomad]

 What length of barrel for hunting do most people use.
Thinking of a new shotgun for hunting season....
Would be upland as well as waterfoul..........
Home defense a thought as well.......

[ManOnFire]

In 12 gauge I really am liking my 26" with modified choke, in a 3 1/2". My remington 30" is too much. I think 26" is a great compromise and the 3 1/2 shells are awesome! For home defense 26" is still a tad long, maybe 2 barrels? but I think I am the only one around that swears by the 10 gauge.... granted I only waterfoul hunt.

[egress81]

my wife and i both use 26" 870's with the removable rem-chokes and we really like them. long enough for sky blasting at the ducks but still fast enough for quail.They are however to long for HD but,i have other things for that. you could always get second barrel since its way easy to change out a shotgun barrel.

I do have a friend who bought a turkey model 870 with a 21" barrel with Rem-chokes and he uses it for everything from ducks and geese to quail and pheasant and HD, he just changes out the chokes for whatever he happens to use it for that day.

YMMV

[Norton1]

18 1/2 inches - makes up for my age and infirmities - 

[Spiff]

18 1/2 inches - makes up for my age and infirmities - 

Or 19" and 4, 10 round magazines..............

[Precise]

I waterfowl and field hunt with a Remington 11-87 and a Browning BPS Stalker, both with 26" barrels. My tactical shotgun is a Mossberg 590 with an extended magazine, ghost rings, and a side saddle. I did own a Remington 870 at one time, but after the ejector some how bent and failed, and needed to be returned to the factory (under warranty) to be replaced since it's riveted into the receiver, I wouldn't own another one. I have become more of a Mossberg fan since the ejector screws into the receiver and can be easily replaced. The Mossberg also has dual extractors where the Remington has a single extractor.