Which do you prefer? 28" or 26" Barrels

K Williams · 03-03-2010, 06:40 AM

What length barrels do you all prefer on your shotguns? 28" or 26"? Does the 2" difference really help/hurt range & patterning? I currently have a Mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel, but I'm considering a Benelli SuperNova with a 26" barrel. Thanks.

Colorado Luckydog · 03-03-2010, 07:04 AM

If you are shooting decoyed birds, the 26" barrel will be fine. I prefer the 26" because it feels better to me and I'm able to get on the birds quicker. I shoot a 26" Benelli 20 gauge and have no problems with geese or ducks. If you are in a pit you have to be careful not to ring your buddies ears. The shorter the barrel the easier it is to do that. Good luck and welcome to the forum!!

K Williams · 03-03-2010, 10:43 AM

Yes. I shoot over decoys in tidal wetlands. I also use the same shotgun for upland bird & small game... Thanks for the welcome.

Pygmy · 03-03-2010, 03:51 PM

There is definitely no difference in a 26 " and 28 " barrel as far as performance and patterning are concerned..

Patterning is a function of choke, not barrel length..

I've shot waterfowl with barrels from 20" to 32"....Some of my best shooting ( my ONLY triple on ducks plus several triples on geese) was done with the 20" barrel..

All in all, I think it is a matter of personal preference... A 26" barrel seems to swing best for me, either in a repeater or an over/under..

Sheridan · 03-04-2010, 11:01 AM

I have a O/U and a SxS both with 26" barrels for hunting in tight cover.

Everything else is 28".

K Williams · 03-05-2010, 08:27 AM

Thanks for the replies & info.

outdoorsmen · 03-08-2010, 06:39 PM

26 in all of mine except my o/u which is 30

cwsims84 · 04-11-2010, 10:52 AM

im shooting a 28" browning silver... and before that i shot a 26" pump. so to me its just a matter of acclamating to what your shooting. I did fine with both.

Widgeonator · 04-20-2010, 12:37 PM

i would really like to get a gun with a 26", but i think the new nitromags are 28's. Probably a stupid question, but can the barrels be cut down at all? have a gunsmith cut down a 28" to a 26"?

harter66 · 04-22-2010, 01:34 PM

I shot a 26" BPSfor years now I shoot a 28" O/U both in 12ga seems to me to not make any difference at all . I do have a 28" bbl for the BPS but just didn't care for it . Can't say why it just didn't feel whatever it was that the 26" felt like. I always liked the feel of my Moms 28" mod 12 though. Personal choice I think you just have to try each 1 on for yourself , like me you might find you like the longer bbl on 1 but not the other.

Bbls can be cut and choked or refitted with threaded chokes but it may be less costly to buy the shorter/longer bbls. I was going to have the short BPS bbl fitted with brilly's when I found the 2nd bbl with 3 chokes for $25 more than the work and 2 chokes.