semi-auto or O/U for an all around shotgun.

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troy fairweather said:
stopped by fur fin and feather on the way up to my dads, they had a citori 20ga with the 24 inch barrels, some bluing ware wood was nice looked like it was carried more then shoot, and they were asking $800. if it was a 26'' or longer and i had the money i would have picked that up.
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My 1990's vintage skeet competition gun has 28" barrels. I recently bought a current manufacture Browning with 30" barrels which I have not shot yet. I want to get a set of sub gauge tubes for it before I shoot it. I shoot my Citori with the 20 ga tubes installed better than in 12 ga without any tubes in the gun. The slightly heavier gun with tubes installed just swings better for me at my level of skill.

As a side note, when I was shooting competitively, I would shoot 20 ga in the 12 ga events as my 20 ga averages were better than my 12 ga averages.

I originally bought a field grade 20 ga Browning Citori with 26" barrels around 1990's. I shot it for a while before I got the 28". It was too easy to swing it too fast at times. But, we got a a shortened stock that fits my 5'-2" wife well and she shoots the gun well.

As said, I would not go any shorter.

Remember, at least with skeet,"the swing is the thing". Generally, stopping the swing too soon is a major cause of misses and short, lighter barrels do not have the inertia to keep the swing going.
 
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George P said:
24" is WAY too short, especially for a light field gun - the barrels will start really fast and will stop even faster
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Really, never seen one wear out. What a shame to see so many folks buying so many short barrels and training with them all the time for defense. I wonder if the manufacturers know this. I guess I should sell my Mossberg 500 or get a new barrel? Funny thing is I have seen hunters that have used them for years and theres never wore out. At how many shots through a small barrel go before it wears out? 1000? But then again, I know this may come as a surprise, but not all folks that buy shotguns are heavy trap shooters. I have a Bennili lightweight with a short barrel, I wonder why it has not worn out? No have not put 60,000 rounds trap shooting, but it has been shot shot for years, not much maybe 500-1000 shells a year. I guess I should get rid of it soon.(lol, no way) Thanks for the expert advice. I have a friend that was going to buy a short barrel for defense, I will give him your advice. (actually NOT)
 
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Jeb Stuart said:
Really, never seen one wear out. What a shame to see so many folks buying so many short barrels and training with them all the time for defense.
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Short barrels on shotguns do not wear out any faster than longer barrels.

It is easier to get a short barrel shotgun to swing than a long barreled shotgun but on the other side, it is easier to stop the swing of a short barreled shotgun than a long barreled shotgun. In clay target shooting, stopping the swing too early in a shot is a major cause of missing the target. Once you get a longer barreled shotgun moving, the additional inertia due to the longer barrel help the shooter keep the gun swinging as he makes the shot.

Generally, for the same overall length of a shotgun, a pump and semi-auto will have shorter barrels than an over/under. This is due to the length of the action.

When I was competing in the 1990's, most folks shooting over/unders had a 28" barrels while those shooting semi-autos had a 24" barrels. Today, barrels have gotten longer. Many target over/under shotguns have 30" and 32" barrels.

For bird hunting, barrel length and overall weight of the gun becomes a compromise between faster handling versus keeping the swing going. A 26" barreled over/under is a pretty short shotgun.

A semi-auto with a 24" barrel will have a longer overall length.
 
cfullgraf said:
Short barrels on shotguns do not wear out any faster than longer barrels.

It is easier to get a short barrel shotgun to swing than a long barreled shotgun but on the other side, it is easier to stop the swing of a short barreled shotgun than a long barreled shotgun. In clay target shooting, stopping the swing too early in a shot is a major cause of missing the target. Once you get a longer barreled shotgun moving, the additional inertia due to the longer barrel help the shooter keep the gun swinging as he makes the shot.

Generally, for the same overall length of a shotgun, a pump and semi-auto will have shorter barrels than an over/under. This is due to the length of the action.

When I was competing in the 1990's, most folks shooting over/unders had a 28" barrels while those shooting semi-autos had a 24" barrels. Today, barrels have gotten longer. Many target over/under shotguns have 30" and 32" barrels.

For bird hunting, barrel length and overall weight of the gun becomes a compromise between faster handling versus keeping the swing going. A 26" barreled over/under is a pretty short shotgun.

A semi-auto with a 24" barrel will have a longer overall length.
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Anyone that hunts in the Swamps and Brush like I do, would quickly change their mine on a short barrel Shotgun which by the way is the only weapon we are allowed to hunt with in my neck of the woods. A long barrel becomes a nightmare. Hard to carry, hard to maneuver etc. And most game is taken within a 25 yds or less. For myself a short barrel is Ideal. And again, No it is not used for Skeet or Trap.
Thanks for your post cfullgraf
 
As a side note, when I was shooting competitively, I would shoot 20 ga in the 12 ga events as my 20 ga averages were better than my 12 ga averages.
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many shooters experience the same thing, especially when using tubes in a 12 gauge gun - heavier gun with lighter loads equal less recoil and thus less fatigue when shooting hundreds of rounds in a day
 
Jeb Stuart said:
Really, never seen one wear out. What a shame to see so many folks buying so many short barrels and training with them all the time for defense. I wonder if the manufacturers know this. I guess I should sell my Mossberg 500 or get a new barrel? Funny thing is I have seen hunters that have used them for years and theres never wore out. At how many shots through a small barrel go before it wears out? 1000? But then again, I know this may come as a surprise, but not all folks that buy shotguns are heavy trap shooters. I have a Bennili lightweight with a short barrel, I wonder why it has not worn out? No have not put 60,000 rounds trap shooting, but it has been shot shot for years, not much maybe 500-1000 shells a year. I guess I should get rid of it soon.(lol, no way) Thanks for the expert advice. I have a friend that was going to buy a short barrel for defense, I will give him your advice. (actually NOT)
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No one said anything about them wearing out; I was talking about swing dynamics on a field gun; nothing to do with HD
 
George P said:
many shooters experience the same thing, especially when using tubes in a 12 gauge gun - heavier gun with lighter loads equal less recoil and thus less fatigue when shooting hundreds of rounds in a day
Click to expand...

Yes, even with a clamp on barrel weight, I could never get my shotgun without tubes to swing the same as with.
 
Just wanted to add one more thing- when I think of "all around shotgun", wingshooting, clays, and also shooting slugs comes to mind. The idea of shooting slugs from an over/under is odd to me :) Not that it can't be done and the like, just the thought of it.
 
I have been doing it this summer with no problem however it is mostly 00 buck that we use where I live. I think there has been a big misunderstanding on what some folks use a shotgun for verse others. Shotgun threads seem to go right to trap shooting and that is how they are judged when a post is made. I do not trap shoot, I do not want a trap gun for what my heritage of hunting for decades is. And when I do go Duck hunting I will not use the same gun. Yes, I have longer barrel guns but they do not go into the swamps with me. They are carried more than Shot. No one shoots 100 rds a day.
Yes, we have a few area where we can use slugs. Not many, but in some areas only in a tree stand. And for that gun, no I do not use the short barrel ov. I use a 20ga with a rifled barrel and it has done a great job. For home defense I use the Mossberg with a 18" barrel, and train with pistol grip, and standard stock.
I am NOT a expert in trap shooting and fine trap shooting gun. I never said I was. I am not a expert hunter although I have been in the woods and swamps for decades. I sure as hell have experience caring one an using a shotgun for what my needs are. Try carrying a long barrel in those places. Low braches will knock the gun all over the place. Hard to swing a barrel in thick crap. And I have shot deer in thickets from 10 yds.
You want a high end gun that shoots 1,000 rds fine and want to bash short barrel shotguns or ov's. Then please next time you are in my town look me up and we will head for the Swamps and do a little deer hunting. And you can then tell me what I should be carrying. And then we can have a nice cold beer. On you.
 
Kookla said:
Just wanted to add one more thing- when I think of "all around shotgun", wingshooting, clays, and also shooting slugs comes to mind. The idea of shooting slugs from an over/under is odd to me :) Not that it can't be done and the like, just the thought of it.
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When you consider that many of the African double guns were SxS or O/U shooting rounds more powerful than a slug, it doesn't seem too weird.....
 
Jeb Stuart said:
I have been doing it this summer with no problem however it is mostly 00 buck that we use where I live. I think there has been a big misunderstanding on what some folks use a shotgun for verse others. Shotgun threads seem to go right to trap shooting and that is how they are judged when a post is made. I do not trap shoot, I do not want a trap gun for what my heritage of hunting for decades is. And when I do go Duck hunting I will not use the same gun. Yes, I have longer barrel guns but they do not go into the swamps with me. They are carried more than Shot. No one shoots 100 rds a day.
Yes, we have a few area where we can use slugs. Not many, but in some areas only in a tree stand. And for that gun, no I do not use the short barrel ov. I use a 20ga with a rifled barrel and it has done a great job. For home defense I use the Mossberg with a 18" barrel, and train with pistol grip, and standard stock.
I am NOT a expert in trap shooting and fine trap shooting gun. I never said I was. I am not a expert hunter although I have been in the woods and swamps for decades. I sure as hell have experience caring one an using a shotgun for what my needs are. Try carrying a long barrel in those places. Low braches will knock the gun all over the place. Hard to swing a barrel in thick crap. And I have shot deer in thickets from 10 yds.
You want a high end gun that shoots 1,000 rds fine and want to bash short barrel shotguns or ov's. Then please next time you are in my town look me up and we will head for the Swamps and do a little deer hunting. And you can then tell me what I should be carrying. And then we can have a nice cold beer. On you.
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I quite agree. In the old days, when deer were scarce and we used dogs to drive them out of thickets, the shotgun was king. Singles, doubles, pumps and autos were all used to great effect. There were very few centerfire rifles in this area then, and even fewer were used on the drives since the ammunition was more costly. Most all of the old timers only had one shotgun and one rifle. The shotgun was usually a single or double from 10 down to 16 gauge. Smaller guns were considered kids guns here. Many fine old guns had their barrels bobbed to remove the choke, making them well suited for buck, ball (slugs), or shot. They used them on everything from quail to deer, and the shorter the better to them. The rifle (most always a 22 LR) was only used for shooting squirrels and killing the winter hogs. The shotgun filled the gaps and did the lions share of the work. Today, though, that doesn't seem to be the case. I blame this on the availability of low-priced center-fire rifles. So often now, shotguns are looked on as something to either shoot trap (which I do often, for the record) or defend your home from two legged invaders. Their inherent utility is usually overlooked. So many people want to discount them, especially those that haven't ever tried hunting other game with them, or (perhaps more so) those who have tried but due to lack of understanding, knowledge, and/or proper equipment, failed in their endeavour and then want to blame it on the gun. It is a poor craftsman that blames his tools, so they say. The same applies here, and to what Jeb said as well. Swamps, thickets, cane brakes, and briar patches aren't the place for a 36" 10 gauge. Trust me, I tried. 22 to 26 inches is ideal for that work, the less choke the better. That said, that gun wouldn't be worth a damn on a trap field, but we shouldn't expect it to be. Bottom line is, everyone has a different definition of "all around shotgun". My all around, from birds to bucks, would be a short barreled repeater. But that's me. What fits everyone else may well be different.

Mac
 
MacAR said:
I quite agree. In the old days, when deer were scarce and we used dogs to drive them out of thickets, the shotgun was king. Singles, doubles, pumps and autos were all used to great effect. There were very few centerfire rifles in this area then, and even fewer were used on the drives since the ammunition was more costly. Most all of the old timers only had one shotgun and one rifle. The shotgun was usually a single or double from 10 down to 16 gauge. Smaller guns were considered kids guns here. Many fine old guns had their barrels bobbed to remove the choke, making them well suited for buck, ball (slugs), or shot. They used them on everything from quail to deer, and the shorter the better to them. The rifle (most always a 22 LR) was only used for shooting squirrels and killing the winter hogs. The shotgun filled the gaps and did the lions share of the work. Today, though, that doesn't seem to be the case. I blame this on the availability of low-priced center-fire rifles. So often now, shotguns are looked on as something to either shoot trap (which I do often, for the record) or defend your home from two legged invaders. Their inherent utility is usually overlooked. So many people want to discount them, especially those that haven't ever tried hunting other game with them, or (perhaps more so) those who have tried but due to lack of understanding, knowledge, and/or proper equipment, failed in their endeavour and then want to blame it on the gun. It is a poor craftsman that blames his tools, so they say. The same applies here, and to what Jeb said as well. Swamps, thickets, cane brakes, and briar patches aren't the place for a 36" 10 gauge. Trust me, I tried. 22 to 26 inches is ideal for that work, the less choke the better. That said, that gun wouldn't be worth a damn on a trap field, but we shouldn't expect it to be. Bottom line is, everyone has a different definition of "all around shotgun". My all around, from birds to bucks, would be a short barreled repeater. But that's me. What fits everyone else may well be different.

Mac
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Very Well Said!! And thank you.
 
George P said:
My only issues with Benellis is their inherent issue with light loads. My Beretta A400, OTOH, will ALWAYS cycle my 3/4oz reloads
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Well, personally with five Benellis (all semi) over 40 years and that includes skeet, not sure about what you mean.
I shoot skeet and any informal competition to improve my hunting so I just buy normal, typically bargain, shotgun rounds.
but there's also this:

upload_2019-8-7_21-35-6.png
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...0571/beretta+a300+outlander+sporting+12+gauge

upload_2019-8-7_21-39-15.png
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...ity+35+semi-auto+max5+shotgun+12ga+28\"+41100
 
the a300 and franchi should be good for me, i like wood and bluing. but fo a gun that's going to do everything the synthetic maybe the best choice for me. the franchi is only about $70 more then the a300, the franchi seems thinner witch i like. still have to pick both up and feel.
 
SharpDog said:
Well, personally with five Benellis (all semi) over 40 years and that includes skeet, not sure about what you mean.
I shoot skeet and any informal competition to improve my hunting so I just buy normal, typically bargain, shotgun rounds.
but there's also this:

View attachment 854076
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...0571/beretta+a300+outlander+sporting+12+gauge

View attachment 854077
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/415002968/franchi+affinity+35+semi-auto+max5+shotgun+12ga+28\"+41100
Click to expand...
My gas guns will work with my 3/4oz 12 gauge reloads; Benellis won't work with those.
 
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