bgidd,The length of the barrel has nothin to do with the pattern in todays guns with todays shells.The advantages to a shorter barrel are the gun is lighter,easier to move without bangin brush,The only disadvantage with a shorter barrel is with a shorter sight plane some people have a tendancy to shoot hi.This can be fixed with rifle sights or a scope or just remember to bury your cheeck into the stock.I think you'll like a shorter barrel.My gun has a 21"barrel and I love it.