Right Shotgun

[newbie76]

I have a winchester 21 inch turkey federation shotgun.  I want to hunt upland birds this year. Everything I have read says you need a longer barrel......Is there anything I can do short of getting a new shotgun or a new barrel that I can do to hunt this year with that shotgun? Maybe a different type of choke?  Also, what is the reason for that longer barrel?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[wraithen]

chokes get you farther than barrels these days it seems.

[Fishnfowler]

When swinging on a flying bird, the longer sighting plane of a longer barrel aids in bringing more birds to bag.  In addition, a longer barrel has different handling characteristics that are better suited for shooting birds on the wing.  There isn't any reason you can't hunt with a short barrelled gun.

From your post, I can't tell what model of gun you have, it sounds like it could be a winchester model 21 with short barrels, or it could be a winchester with 21" barrels. 

If you can get an aftermarket barrel that is longer, and the gun you own fits you, I would recommend you save up and do that.  If you can't get an extra set of barrels, then save up, research what guns are in your price range and pick one up down the road, while hunting the rig you own.  I wouldn't let the absence of the perfect gun get in the way of enjoying days afield. 

I hope this helps. 

[AWS]

Sounds more like a Winchester 1300 Turkey Shotgun with a 21" barrel.  A 21" barrel will work just fine for upland birds.  I have a Rem  870 Express Turkey gun in 12 ga and an 870 youth 20ga with 21" barrels and they have killed alot of birds over the years.  A pump with 21" barrels handles very much like an O/U or SxS with 26" barrels.

My 21" barreled 870 alongside a Ithaca/SKB 100 with 26" barrels.

[Stilly bay]

When swinging on a flying bird, the longer sighting plane of a longer barrel aids in bringing more birds to bag.  In addition, a longer barrel has different handling characteristics that are better suited for shooting birds on the wing.  There isn't any reason you can't hunt with a short barrelled gun.

I will add that (IMO)usually barrel length is mainly a concern for double barreled guns that are very light to begin with and extra sensitive to balance issues. a pump or an auto has a lot of weight in the front and a longer reciever so a pump with a 21" barrel is more or less comparable to a O/U or SxS with 25" barrels -which is a tad on the short side for ideal balance. more forward weight (barrel length) will give you a steadier, smoother swing, allowing you to follow through on shots a lot better, which leads to more kills. less forward weight gives you a faster handling gun, which means you can start the swing a lot faster, but its stops a lot faster as well- which will mess with your follow through especially on longer shots. a lot grouse hunters would prefer super short barrels just for the fast handling capabilities, and the misconception that a shorter bbl won't get hung up in the brush - while a pheasant hunters would prefer longer bbls and smoother swing since many of their shots could be out in the open and at the edge of effective range

so that being said a 21" bbl on a pump or an auto, is a little shorter than what many would consider Ideal, but if you can hit clays with it consistently and it fits you then take it hunting and kill some birds with it!

another thing to keep in mind is: if its a NWTF gun there is a good chance its choked way to tight for upland bird applications. you want a modified or Improved cyl choke for upland birds, so I would check on that.

[T-Bone]

I would just get an Improved Cylinder or Modified choke tube.

Sources:

www.choketube.com or www.trulockchokes.com

If you feel the need for a longer barrel:

http://www.barrelexchange.com/

AWS made a great visual on the overall length between SXS's/O/U's and repeaters. Because of the difference in handling characteristics, I prefer my double guns with 28" barrels and my repeaters with no longer than a 26" barrel. The Browning BPS Upland Special and the old Remington Uplands came with a 21" barrel and people loved them. I switched my 12ga. Browning BPS Upland Special 21" barrel to a 24" Hasting Wadlock barrel and find the handling better to me.

Tom

[Johnb317]

Go shoot a round of skeet and see how you do. 
Imp or mod choke. 

Then if you want to get fancy get a 20 guage o/u for upland. 
I have an old 20 870 wing master, but 2 3/4 steel on wet side is a little light, so I shoot a 20 ruger. 
If you're knocking them down the barrel length doesn't matter 

[HerbieDerby]

IMO, as long as you can aim, and the gun shoots, it doesn't really matter as long as you're hitting the birds. I use a cheap Korean made single shot 20ga that I bought from a friend for $50. I've never measured the barrel, but it isn't real long. It puts grouse in the frying pan, so it's good enough for me.