What is a good barrel length??

[Woodrow88]

I am going to buy a new barrel for my 870 to rabbit and bird hunt. What is a good size?? 26 or 28 inch..............Thanks

[Brod_Man]

This is just my personal experiance, but i have a youth rossi .410 that throws a...well doesnt throw much of a pattern at all, but my high standard .410 with 26in. barrel throws a good patten.(my rossi is like 18") what im saying is a longer barrel throws better patterns further. just from my experience. also my dads 26in. barrel on his 12ga. pattern is worse than than his 28" barrel. so id say go with 28.(both of his guns are 870's) (best pump shotgun ever)

[Howler]

Actually the pattern that any given shotgun throws is more dictacted by the load and choke than by the length of the barrel.

In other words, you could take a 26" barrel with changable chokes in it and get all kinds of different patterns out of it. Even simply by changing shot size and shot load will make the pattern vary.

The length of YOUR shotgun should be dictated more by its planned use. In other words, many guys like a 30" double barrel for shooting sporting clays because the extra weight induces good follow through on the shot. And then there are guys that like a 26" chrome lined double barrel for pheasant and quail hunting because it's much lighter to carry all day and is better suited for snap shooting quail in tight spots.

IMO, flip a coin and let it decide for ya. Just make sure that you get abarrel with change-able choke tubes and you'll be fine.

[Diggerr]

I prefer a 21 in.

[North Texan]

I prefer shorter barrels, all else equal. Like Howler said, choke and load dictate the pattern more than barrel length. A shorter barrel is easier to carry and quicker handling, and doesn't give up a noticeable amount of velocity to a longer barrel.

[coolbrze0]

We've got 5 870s, 4 12 gauges and 1 20 gauge youth model. All but the 20 ga. and 1 12 have 26" barrells. I'd def. get the 26 over hte 28, but it's personal preference. I told my brother that and he bought one w/ a 28" and regrets it bigtime every time he takes it to the field...

[Woodrow88]

Thanks for the advice guys. Think I'll go with the 26