Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: Craig on April 27, 2015, 02:42:51 PM

Title: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: Craig on April 27, 2015, 02:42:51 PM: looking for a new turkey gun. Whats everyones favorite length on your shotgun?
24"
26"
28"
or something different?
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: lokidog on April 27, 2015, 02:50:46 PM: For a dedicated turkey gun, I would go with the 24". My Benelli has a 28" and when I stick an extended choke tube in it, I am always smacking branches when it is on my shoulder. If I had it to do again, for an all-purpose gun, I would go with the 26". :twocents:
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: Yelper Guy on April 27, 2015, 02:55:20 PM: My brothers Benelli Nova has the 26" barrel, mine the 28".
He uses a Carlsons turkey choke and has a tighter, farther pattern than mine with the full choke.
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: RadSav on April 27, 2015, 03:08:52 PM: For me it's a 27.5" Aluminum/Carbon barrel with MaxHunter vanes and Savora broadhead :chuckle:

I've always wanted a Winchester NWTF Cantilever Turkey gun. For me that would be a 20 gauge, but both it and the 12 have the same 24" barrel length. Same length riffled slug barrel sounds sweet for those multi-season deer opportunities too!
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 27, 2015, 04:21:25 PM: 28"
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: Nature Boy on April 28, 2015, 02:24:04 PM: For many years I hunted turkey with my 3.5" chamber 28" barrel duck gun. Then I got tired of lugging that long heavy gun around the woods. A couple years ago I configured what I consider the perfect turkey gun for my style of hunting. It's based upon a Remington 870 Tactical using a 18.5" barrel with a Primos Turkey choke and a aimpoint micro. It holds an effective turkey pattern to beyond 40 yards. Very easy to maneuver through the woods with this set up. I do give up a some velocity with such a short barrel but the birds I've taken didn't seem to notice.
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: RadSav on April 28, 2015, 02:27:54 PM: Quote from: Nature Boy on April 28, 2015, 02:24:04 PM
For many years I hunted turkey with my 3.5" chamber 28" barrel duck gun. Then I got tired of lugging that long heavy gun around the woods. A couple years ago I configured what I consider the perfect turkey gun for my style of hunting. It's based upon a Remington 870 Tactical using a 18.5" barrel with a Primos Turkey choke and a aimpoint micro. It holds an effective turkey pattern to beyond 40 yards. Very easy to maneuver through the woods with this set up. I do give up a some velocity with such a short barrel but the birds I've taken didn't seem to notice.

I was told on a number of occasions that slowing down your turkey loads is advisable anyway. Sounds like a nice setup to me.
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 01, 2015, 01:55:24 PM: 28" er.
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: tgomez on May 03, 2015, 08:01:24 PM: 28" does just right for me. Perfect for grouse, pheasent,quail,chuckar,ducks,geese,turkey. I recommend a full choke or x-tra full choke, keeps you patterns nice a tight!! Besides that a 6 ft 4 man shouldn't carry around shotguns with small barrels, subject to camp jokes!! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: jasnt on May 04, 2015, 06:20:28 AM: Can't say it's my favorite but the 18 1/2" w/ changeable chokes has been working good for me. Much easier going threw the thick stuff packing this shorty! W/extra full I'm getting 56-60 pellets in an 8" circle at 40 yards with 5 shot 1 3/4oz. Looses it quickly after that tho
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: dawei on May 09, 2015, 04:20:07 PM: Quote from: Craig on April 27, 2015, 02:42:51 PM
looking for a new turkey gun. Whats everyones favorite length on your shotgun?
24"
26"
28"
or something different?

26" for me on my Mossberg® Mdl500C and my Remington® SPR220 (Baikal® IZH-43).
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: Smokepole on May 09, 2015, 05:49:53 PM: 5 1/2 is enough for me. It's not how long it is, it's how you use it. :tup:
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: RadSav on May 09, 2015, 06:08:10 PM: Just don't get caught shooting turkeys with it ;)
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: kevinlisa06 on May 09, 2015, 08:06:33 PM: My first 2 years hunting Turkey I used an old New Haven 12ga with a fixed 28" barrel. My 3rd year before season I purchased a Mossberg 835 12ga with a 24" barrel and love it. I have tried the newer chokes and shells but they don't pattern any better than the factory choke .695 with Remington 4x6 3" shells.
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: Smokepole on May 09, 2015, 09:16:33 PM: Sorry that wasn't very helpful. :chuckle: I would go with 26". Long enough to do the job & short enough to bust the brush. :twocents:
Title: Re: Favorite barrel length?
Post by: carvermoe on May 10, 2015, 08:15:03 PM: Mossberg thug 22in with10g overbore.3inch 12g. 50yrd turkey thumper