Barrel length for sporting clays?
- Thread starter Remander
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Armored farmer
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I would prefer the 30s on a break action, 28s on a reciever.
Imho
Imho
George P
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And I prefer 32 on either. The only way to determine which is best is to SHOOT them. Go to your local club with a flat of Win AA or Rem STS; give someone a box as a thanks, shoot a box for a round (and give them the empties if they reload) and shoot as many various guns as you can, even ones you can't afford
I currently shoot a Beretta 682 Supersport with 30" barrels, wish they were 32" barrels as I have shot other guns with longer barrels and really like how they swing and feel for me on the target range. I have a 30" on my Rem 11-87 and love it, that is actually a bit longer than 32''s on an O/U. Now if it were going to be an all-a-round gun that you may hunt with also, 28 or 30 might be better.
CopperFouling
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I'm 5' 11" and shoot a 30" O/U for clays. I was between the 28" and 30" barrels, tried a 30," and liked it. I think that's a nice barrel length for clays because it balances and swings well. Admittedly, I have not had a chance to shoot 32" barrels yet.
entropy
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I get to shoot a lot of excellent Trap guns by just asking and supplying shells and beverages. And I always offer mine.
George P
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Yep, amazing how nice folks are at shotgun clubs when it comes to letting you try their gun
MtnCreek
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Baretta barrels are light. 32" balances very well.
Make sure you're getting a current production gun with optima hp choke tubes.
Make sure you're getting a current production gun with optima hp choke tubes.
22250Rem
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I like the 32" barrels on my Browning Citori but had not considered barrel length when I bought it. Was only concerned with the usual stuff like length of pull, etc.
Ya gotta do your own experimenting. Anything between 28" and 32" will work fine for somebody. But, beware of sales people. A guy tried to sell me a 26" in spite of me telling him repeatedly that I prefer a longer sight plane. I shoot a Benelli 28" and a Browning 30" O/U at Sporting Clays and my scores are not significantly different.
Jessesky
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I have a beretta 686 30” sporting model. I bought it used and that’s what had me fall into that barrel length. I would like to have 32”s. I do like how they point.
If shooting skeet as well I would choose 30”.
Also the resale value for 32” is much better currently because longer is “on trend”.
If shooting skeet as well I would choose 30”.
Also the resale value for 32” is much better currently because longer is “on trend”.
Wis-Harpo
Member
Up until last Monday, I shot a Remington 1100 in 12 and 20 gauge for Skeet and Sporting ( 12 gauge for Trap). Both have 28 inch barrels. I got a sale on a Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporting at Sportsman's Warehouse last Monday that had 30 inch barrels. I had a choice of 1 shotgun. They must have had it too long, and put it on sale. Not fantastic wood, and not plain wood. It has different color grain streaks, and to be rude-- a knot mark that gives it character. I had been looking at it for about 1 1/2months. It started out at $2200, then last week it was $1900, then last Monday it was $1600. It has the Optima HP chokes-- 5 included with the shotgun. It came with IM--M--IC--Skeet--and CL. After I bought it, I got a message from Beretta for 10% of on anything. So I got a barrel rest ( toe pad) a choke tube plastic box, and a Light Modified HP choke tube. When I hunt pheasants in South Dakota I always use LM for lead or steel shot. It is slightly barrel heavy--- very slightly. I like the balance very well. I patterned it with the Skeet and IC chokes at 20 and 30 yards with hand loads and Rem 27 yard handy cap loads. Hand loads with 1 oz of # 8's, Rem 27 yard #8's also. It patterned 50/50-- just like both my 1100's. I shot a few clays on the Sporting field, mental advantage gave me a few birds.This Friday it will be Trap and Skeet with the club regulars. Now I have to pattern my hunting loads. I HATE the pattern paper.
Wis-Harpo
Member
Question--- The Beretta manual say the HP chokes are for High Performance steel loads. Does that mean any STEEL load can be used in the Modified or more open chokes ?
I started shooting competitive skeet with a 26” 20 ga Citori. I upgraded to a 28” tubed Citori Skeet grade and did well with the gun although I could never get it shoot well without the tubes installed so I shot 20 ga in the 12 ga events.
I’m currently experimenting with a 30” and 32” Citori to see what works best for me. The 32” gun seems to feel much like the 28” gun with tubes installed. Still checking things out.
Anyway, if you can try out different guns with different barrel lengths, you will get a better feel of what works best.
George P
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Unless you're shooting targets under 21 yards or so, Cylinder is WAY too open for most sporting clay presentation. "Spray and Pray" is not the best way to score well. A LM (.015) is a great all around choke, especially in a one barrel gun like a semi or pump
d2wing
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Long Barrels are popular for trap but for Sporting Clays 28 are what I chose in a Berretta Onyx o/u. For upland and Clays some guys go 26 inch.30 is considered on the long side for clays a lot of guys prefer them especially if they shoot trap. You want balance and quick handling for fast doubles. The Olympic standard is about 29 inches. A long barrel smooths out the swing helps make up for poor follow through on trap and are popular for that reason. But trap is a big slow target that doesn't require very fast direction changes. I sometimes shoot with a professional state champion in Sporting Clays. I couldn't even see some of the targets he hits on the pro course. I would go 28. You can add weight or extended chocks later if you want. Some guys do prefer 30 though. Anything longer is a trap gun.
eastbank
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I,m amazed how fast some of the young shooters are and how high the scores they post are, one young man shoots a semi 20 ga with 44-46 scores time after time with no choke tube changes another young man shoots a pump 12 ga and he and the other man shoot together and their scores are very close. I think they would also be good shooters with a o/u, but prefer a semi auto-pump.
guyfromohio
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Barrel length is more about how YOU swing it. It does not affect accuracy or precision. It is truly a matter of what feels good to you. I like my 32" trap gun, my 30" clays and skeet gun, and I generally hunt with a 26" because the only pheasant I have access to are game farm raised.
You got a great deal. I also went with the 30 inch barrels after handling several brands and models of O/U at stores. Checked prices at some local places plus by calling and through Davidson's Gallery of Guns, which gave me bids from half a dozen local stores.
Bass Pro, which is usually high around here compared to locals, had a sale on Silver Pigeons that started at $1750. The particular one I chose (there are a number of SP models with small differences in features, engraving, etc.) was $1899 ($250 off their list price). Bud's online would sell a Silver Pigeon for $1819 and ship free, but I'd still have a transfer fee and couldn't look at the guns to pick the best wood like I was able to do. Plus I earned a bunch of Bass Pro points.
My first outing with it was great. Very pleased with the gun. Going from my Yildiz to the Beretta seemed to make more difference than I thought it would.
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