I read all over the place about 20" deer, 20" or 21" turkey and also 21" special purpose deer or turkey. But I always read home defense for the 18" barrel. Po' me only have an 18" 870 marine. Does that mean I cannot venture outside "home defense" with my 18" shotgun? In other words what are the limitations of an 18" 870 shotgun in the field of shotgun sports? Or, does the statement: beware of the man with only one shotgun" does not apply if the only one he has has 18 inch barrel?
Limitations of an 18.5" Barrel?
- Thread starter hunter44
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dfariswheel
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It depends on the sport.
If you're goose hunting, an 18" cylinder bore probably isn't going to do the job very well.
Things to keep in mind: Years ago the NRA Dope Bag did a test with a Marlin Goose Gun with the 36" barrel. They attached a choke device on the barrel then patterned and chronograph it. They then cut the barrel down in 1 inch increments and tested again.
Their results said that anything that was going to happen ballistically in a shotgun barrel was going to happen within 18".
Anything over 28" and you started to LOSE due to friction.
Things didn't really go to hell until the length was under 12".
Length has little, or nothing to do with tight patterns. An 18" full choke barrel will shoot tighter patterns than a 28" modified choke barrel.
The idea that longer barrels shoot "harder" or "farther" is a left-over from black powder days when longer barrels burned the powder better than short barrels.
The biggest determiner of capability is the choke. If you have a screw-in choke, or can have one installed in your barrel, you can use an 18" barreled gun for a wide range of sports.
Although the longer barrels swing and point better than the short barrels and you may not excel, you can use a short barrel.
Back in the 50's the Winchester factory rep used to use a short Model 12 as a quail gun. He could have any Winchester gun he wanted, setup any way he wanted, including the expensive Winchester 21 double. His choice was the Model 12 with an 18" cylinder bore barrel.
People ragged him about his "riot gun"....until they saw him shoot.
While everyone else had to wait until the birds were far enough away not to be blown to bits, he was fast off the mark, shooting as soon as the bird was up, and at very short range.
He was deadly and always got his limit.
So, if you have an 18" cylinder bore, pick your sport, and give it a try, you have nothing to lose. The secret is knowing your gun. Take it to the range and pattern it with various shot at different ranges. This will indicate what it will do, and what it won't be suitable for.
Patterning will probably tell you that the cylinder bore isn't too good for turkey hunting, goose hunting, or trap.
It will be good for quail, deer, possibly skeet, and.........?????
If you're goose hunting, an 18" cylinder bore probably isn't going to do the job very well.
Things to keep in mind: Years ago the NRA Dope Bag did a test with a Marlin Goose Gun with the 36" barrel. They attached a choke device on the barrel then patterned and chronograph it. They then cut the barrel down in 1 inch increments and tested again.
Their results said that anything that was going to happen ballistically in a shotgun barrel was going to happen within 18".
Anything over 28" and you started to LOSE due to friction.
Things didn't really go to hell until the length was under 12".
Length has little, or nothing to do with tight patterns. An 18" full choke barrel will shoot tighter patterns than a 28" modified choke barrel.
The idea that longer barrels shoot "harder" or "farther" is a left-over from black powder days when longer barrels burned the powder better than short barrels.
The biggest determiner of capability is the choke. If you have a screw-in choke, or can have one installed in your barrel, you can use an 18" barreled gun for a wide range of sports.
Although the longer barrels swing and point better than the short barrels and you may not excel, you can use a short barrel.
Back in the 50's the Winchester factory rep used to use a short Model 12 as a quail gun. He could have any Winchester gun he wanted, setup any way he wanted, including the expensive Winchester 21 double. His choice was the Model 12 with an 18" cylinder bore barrel.
People ragged him about his "riot gun"....until they saw him shoot.
While everyone else had to wait until the birds were far enough away not to be blown to bits, he was fast off the mark, shooting as soon as the bird was up, and at very short range.
He was deadly and always got his limit.
So, if you have an 18" cylinder bore, pick your sport, and give it a try, you have nothing to lose. The secret is knowing your gun. Take it to the range and pattern it with various shot at different ranges. This will indicate what it will do, and what it won't be suitable for.
Patterning will probably tell you that the cylinder bore isn't too good for turkey hunting, goose hunting, or trap.
It will be good for quail, deer, possibly skeet, and.........?????
plateshooter
Member
I have an 18" defender. I had the local smith thread the barrel for Rem Choke tubes. Now the gun pretty much works for everything for me. I use it for sporting clays, IDPA shotgun, and rabbit and bird hunting on rare occasions.
LostOneToo
Member
My son, who is in last year of college, shoots skeet with a Mossy 500 that has an 18" barrel. Not sure what loads he uses but he claims to be quite good at it.
He said his buddies kind of ragged him til they saw him shoot the first time....
He said his buddies kind of ragged him til they saw him shoot the first time....That depends, I prefer the quick handling of the shorter bbl. I don't have any use for a long bbl as I don't intend to shoot trap or hunt at long range. For me the 18" is the best possible length, I have improved my scores at sheet with the 18" as opposed to the 28" Ithaca 37 that I used to have. They both handle nice but once you get used to the shorter bbl, it can be faster than a long one. Also, the short bbl is perfect for pheasant, dove, rabbit and home defense.
I think a 18" bbl shotgun is far more versatile gun than a long bbl of say 30" or so.
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
As mentioned, a short barreled "Riot" gun does a pretty good imitation of a Quail gun. Same for Grouse, Woodcock, or any other soft skinned bird taken at close range.With some tubes, great all around upland shotgun.
Goose loads out of short barrels are heavy on blast.Other than that, no real disadvantage ballistically, but one has to work at keeping the swing going more than with a long barrel.
Setting up an 18" barrel with tubes adds a lot of versatility, and little downside.
Goose loads out of short barrels are heavy on blast.Other than that, no real disadvantage ballistically, but one has to work at keeping the swing going more than with a long barrel.
Setting up an 18" barrel with tubes adds a lot of versatility, and little downside.
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