airport1 Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I just bought a SBE II synthetic w/the rifled slug barrel. Want to get a field barrel and am uncertain about length. I hunt mostly turkeys and want to get back in to waterfowl. Like a 24" barrel for the turkeys, but will that with chokes still leave me at a bad disadvantage for geese? Is a 26" barrel with chokes a good alternative for waterfowl to a 28" barrel, or is it really a compromise that would work poorly for both turkey and geese? My old duck/goose gun was a Ithaca model 37 12 guage (28" barrel) but I only own one now with a full choke barrel which I don't think will work well w/steel shot. Want the Benelli field barrel, but at $500 + each, don't want to buy more than 1. Any help/thoughts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CH/QuakerBoyProstaff Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 People overcomplicate this. two inches here or there is not going to handicap you so badly that you need to have seperate barrels for turkeys or geese.It is always a hot topic though, as everyone has their own opinion/research to back it up.It's like the 12ga vs 20ga debate.The first battle you are going to have to fight,is finding some barrels at all,as they are hard to come by sometimes.Once you have done this,then it is time to choose,if you are able.Some of the choketubes you will screw into the end will add an inch or more to the length.If you had a 24 in bbl,and added a Kick's turkey or waterfowl choke you would then have a 26 in bbl.Same choke with a 26bbl turns into 28in,etc. No matter which you choose,feathers will fly,as long as you do your part with load selection,woodsmanship/calling,and shooting ability. Rock on Ithaca btw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose2 Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Witch length of barrel do I think is the best all around? Both the 26 and 28". Get the hint. In my experience owning both. There is not a hill of beens difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novaking Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 barrel length doesn't have a whole lot to do with anything. Its all what you want to shoot. novaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOGWILD Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 i would think which ever feels better and shoulders better would be the one i would buy and good luck with paying for it!! I have read numerous articles that say the 28" barrel is the one best fitted for overall different types of shooting? I prefer a 30" but that was before they made choked barrels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CH/QuakerBoyProstaff Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 All I know is me personally,if I could I'd be rocking a 20" bbl with a 2"extended tube in it for turkeys alone.I daydream about this set-up with a Steadygrip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tucker301 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 26" is your best choice for a gun for turkey / waterfowl combo. All waterfowl and 28" would be great. All turkey and 24" would be great. 26" is the middle of the two. Learn more about barrel length here. http://americangundog.com/straightshooting_AGD1.html View episode 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sourdough44 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 To each his(or her) own, but I would do the 26" for an everything barrel length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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