SxS Barrel Length

Plannerman

Plannerman

Active member
Anyone willing to share pros and cons of a 26" vs. 28" barreled 20 gauge side by side?? Dialed in at about a 14 1/4" LOP, now trying to decide barrel length. Thinking 28" for field/prairie hunting pheasant, sharptail and guns.

Appreciate suggestions and experiences.
 
Where you can get it, my favorite length is 29 inches. Have that on a .410 sxs, which helps give a little more heft to such as light gun, but also on my 16 gauge sxs wild pheasant gun, which helps with smooth swings at distance on prairie birds.
 
I think most people will be quicker to shy away from shorter barrels than longer. For use in open country a lot of people are trending to longer barrels, especially in 20ga and 28ga. Remember, a sxs doesn't have a "receiver", so a 30in barrel on a sxs will measure about the same overall length as a pump or auto.

And, as the weight of the gun goes down, longer barrels help create "resistance" at the start of the swing, and creates a smooth momentum to the follow through.
 
My sxs has 26" barrels, and I wish they were longer. I shoot it fine, but sometimes I wonder if a longer sight plane would help me a little. Rogue's comments about the lack of a receiver are 100% true. My 26" sxs fits easily in a case that barely fits a 24" semi-auto that I also have. A 28" semi-auto seems like a flag pole to me. If I were ordering/buying a gun, I'd be trying to find a 30" gun to test.
 
matto said:
My sxs has 26" barrels, and I wish they were longer. I shoot it fine, but sometimes I wonder if a longer sight plane would help me a little. Rogue's comments about the lack of a receiver are 100% true. My 26" sxs fits easily in a case that barely fits a 24" semi-auto that I also have. A 28" semi-auto seems like a flag pole to me. If I were ordering/buying a gun, I'd be trying to find a 30" gun to test.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information, 28" or longer it is
 
Plannerman said:
Anyone willing to share pros and cons of a 26" vs. 28" barreled 20 gauge side by side?? Dialed in at about a 14 1/4" LOP, now trying to decide barrel length. Thinking 28" for field/prairie hunting pheasant, sharptail and guns.

Appreciate suggestions and experiences.
Click to expand...
I shoot a 1970 Ithaca 20 gauge sxs.26 inch. Great pheasant gun! My dad willed it to me.Very light,great bushwhacker gun.Yeah get the 26.
 
A lot depends on what you are hunting or if you intend to use it for clay birds. Hunting Ruff Grouse in heavy cover or quail the 26" would be my choice. Pheasants and clay birds the 28" might be the best choice. But basically it boils down to personal preference and what feels best
 
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