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If you have a break action gun now, try this experiment....take the barrel(s) off the gun, then shoulder the receiver and try to follow birds flying by with just the back part of the gun.I've been shopping around for a new over/under for clay sports. Most everyone I've talked to has either implied or flat out informed me that I "want" a 30 or 32 inch barrel. I see very little benefit to a longer barrel other than weight. I'm a big guy (6'5") and it feels like most people have referenced my size when making their recommendations. I get that length of pull and shoulder comfort are important but I just can't wrap my head around the longer barrel thing? I feel like I shoot better with 28" and even 26" barrels. What am I missing?
You can do it, but it feels odd and its hard(er) to swing the gun smoothly, especially if you try to throw the gun up quickly and track the bird (like in a hunting situation).
This is the effect of barrel length, or rather, the lack of it.
Trust me, I rock a 20 ga. single with a 25" barrel and its like there's nothing out there at all.
Took me a few years to get used to it because the lack of barrel length made the gun very whippy.
…but, do you really need 30-32" barrels?
My suggestion on that is to see if you can't try someone else's gun with the longer barrels and see how you like it.
I know, when I was a kid, I had a Stevens 511 SxS, also 20 ga. and it shot great for me with 26" barrels.
That gun had a lot more heft out front than my current single does, though. The effect of multiple barrels.
Anyway, hope that helps. Good luck and let us know what you end up with and why.
Dean