23" Barrel Too Short???

Bullet Hole Bailey · 04-27-2010, 08:06 PM

Well I've used my 28" barrel for 5 years now with the Super mag and I was thinking about a shorter barrel for turkeys. Though with the price of barrels, it might be easier to buy a designated turkey gun BUT....will a 23" barrel and a high quality choke such as an Indian Creek pattern well?

I guess I am wandering if besides the actual size of the gun and weight, will there be an advantage to a turkey barrel?

thank you!!

JoeA · 04-27-2010, 08:16 PM

For the ranges turkeys are shot at, the 23" barrel will be fine. The benefits of a shorter barrel are weight and maneuvering through thick brush. My first bird buster has a 28" barrel and it felt like it stuck up a mile high behind my shoulder while walking.

Bible_Man · 04-27-2010, 08:37 PM

23" is plenty...chokes are amazing things. A buddy of mine shoots a Mossberg tactical turkey with a 20" barrel and he knocked one down at 52 yards last week...thru a little brush. Choke and load combinations do more for range than barrel length.

Todd1700 · 04-27-2010, 10:51 PM

No that's not too short. In fact many turkey hunters prefer a shorter barrel because it makes the gun lighter to carry and is more manueverable in some of the brush they have to set up in. Besides with some of the after market chokes and shells available out there now you can typically get a 23 inch barreled turkey gun to shoot some impressive patterns at 40 yards.

Gamblinman · 04-28-2010, 05:33 AM

I have 23" barrels on both my SP-10 and 870 SuperMag. They both have devastating patterns at 40 yds, and killing patterns way beyond.

Gman

OntElk · 04-28-2010, 09:45 AM

20 inch barrel on my turkey gun. Indian Creek .650 + Hevi-13 #6 in 1 3/4 oz (old white shells) = 50 yd turkey gun.

SwampCollie · 04-28-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OntElk

20 inch barrel on my turkey gun. Indian Creek .650 + Hevi-13 #6 in 1 3/4 oz (old white shells) = 50 yd turkey gun.

EDIT... that is a total lie...

That is easily a 60+ yard turkey gun.

IL-Cornfed · 04-28-2010, 10:26 AM

That 23" barrel will be about perfect for your turkey killer. I use a 24" barrel with an Indian Creek custom choke and it shoots amazing patterns with Hevi-13 Magnum Blend!

jbaham · 04-28-2010, 12:16 PM

I would recommend the 23" barrel it is easier to get around with in the woods. I have 2 10 ga shotguns for turkey a browning bps and a remington sp-10. The bps has a 28" barrel and the sp-10 has a 23" barrel with a thumbhole stock and this is my primary gun. Look into just getting a dedicated turkey gun with a barrel like my sp-10.

OntElk · 04-28-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

EDIT... that is a total lie...

That is easily a 60+ yard turkey gun.

Ya but i don't want to get the "call'em in close" folks worked up. lol (really I like 'em close too)

I'm 5'9" and my barrel is same height as my head when my gun is shouldered. Nice to know if I can walk under it then my gun will go under too.