I don't have a ML barrel, but do have a 20 incher for my turkey gun (standard encore). Really like it for turkeys. Very compact, would make and excellent gun for still hunting a woods. Short barrel might reduce some velocity. Also, you are taking quite a bit if weight from the gun, so be prepared for serious recoil. However, the PH comes with Limbsavers. My turkey gun could only be shot 3 or 4 times before I wanted to quit. I placed a Limbsaver pad on my receiver and now I can shoot all day. That pad "kicks butt", I know, play on words. But I stand by that purchase.