I grew up with a 30" Ithaca 37 pump as a hand me down, oh yeah, it was full choke as well. I either missed or destroyed game! As I got older and able to afford my own guns I started with 28", then moved to a 26"-both of these are Berettas. When I bot my SBEII, three of my friends bot 26" and I bot 24". Everybody wishes they have 24". The overall length of the action makes a 24" barreled gun the same overall length as a most 3" chambered guns with a 26". I am toying with the idea of an M2 in 20 gauge and it will have 24". My SBEII is my all around gun, from sporting clays, turkeys, pheasants, etc. I would do it all over again the same way.