How Barrel Length effect Shotgun Patterning
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- John Shaw from Shaw Shooting demonstrates how barrel length effects your pattern spread on a Benelli Shotgun. Watch Part 2 - 4 for complete instruction.
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John Shaw Shooting
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Part 1: How Barrel Length Effects Shotgun Patterning
• How Barrel Length effe...
Part 2: How Ammo Effects Shotgun Patterning For Waterfowl Hunting
• How Ammo Effects Shotg...
Part 3: How Different Size Shot Effects Shotgun Patterning For Waterfowl Hunting
• How Different Size Sho...
Part 4: How Modified or Full Choke Effects Shotgun Patterning For Waterfowl Hunting
• How Modified or Full C...
This makes me happy. I purchased my first ever shotgun yesterday and was so distracted that I didn’t check the barrel length and ended up with a 24” instead of the 28” I wanted. As long as pattern is the same with the right choke that’s all I want
This is still helping people in 2024. Thanks!
That is exactly what I wanted to know. But what about at longer distance?
I definitely wanna know the answer to this question
Well as long as you are comparing apples to apples when it come to smooth, rifled, or choke bore the there is really only 2 differences that would effect your pattern.
The first is that shorter barrels will start to expand sooner so will have a larger pattern at range. While this is true in reality it is probably not that noticable unless you are comparing extremely different lengths.
The second is muzzle velocity. Which also would be different for different barrel lengths. And again if you are only talking a few inches difference then it's probably not a big deal. Extreme length differences.
It would probably not be hard to predict how both of these effect shot spread using a chronograph and measuring the shot distance. These break down to inches of spread per second and ft per second of velocity.
My guess is inches of spread probably changes little if the only difference is barrel lengths
And mainly depends on how long it takes the shot to travel a given distance
I guess what I was getting at was people really want to know a rounds inches of l spread per ft.
Which is a combination a rounds inches of spread per second and a rounds velocity in Feet per second.
And what do you think has a bigger impact on spread. That shot will be will be opening a up for 1ms longer for 12 inch shorter barrel @1000 fps
Or the roughly 3ms gain of flight time from a shot losing 100fps of muzzle velocity @10yrds
Obviously the second and it will be more pronounced the more pronounced velocity difference between guns is and the longer the range is.
Thank you sir! That's exactly what i needed to know.
Look at pattern distribution; THAT is what you needed to know. The longer barrel deliver far superior results. Contrary to a comment some unknowing individual wrote, barrel length also effects velocity. The longer one has significant;y higher velocity.
Very informative thank you!
Very informative and helpful, thank you.
Great info. I’ve always preferred shorter barrels.
Big fudd lore energy here.
Size of pattern doesn’t change, but FPS definitely does change. Check Paul Harrell’s video on the subject if you want to see proof.
There the same because those rounds have flight control wad.
Just because the patterns are roughly the same diameter doesn't necessarily mean there's no difference between them. The pattern from the 28 inch barrel was visibly different in pattern density. You can see that it has more pellets concentrated in the center of the pattern, where the 14 inch is more evenly distributed radially from the aiming point.
While either would work from 20 yards, as we all saw, when you back it up that will likely change. The higher density in the center will keep more pellets on target for a longer distance, where as the shorter barrel will spread way out evenly across the width of the entire pattern. While the actual size of the patterns may be the same, the 28 will likely keep more of those pellets on target.
Waiting on your video rebuttal, instead of just your opinion. 😃
I agree with you. I have an old goose gun with a 36 inch barrel and I have a modern semi automatic with a 28 in barrel with choke tubes. The 36 in barrel will hold a tighter pattern at 40 yards then the modern gun with choke tubes every time using the same exact shells. I however use the modern shotgun more simply because it's easier to load and faster to shoot, but the old goose gun can and does kill ducks, geese and even the occasional dove when they try to fly up high.
This video seems to have been an exercise in fantasy. What you said here is 100% correct.
What about velocity??
th-cam.com/video/0N4tgmZ1aLQ/w-d-xo.html
Not enough to worry abput
There is a few videos on TH-cam and write ups about muzzle velocity on shotguns showing a few hundred fps less on 24 inch barrels vs 28 inch.
Pattern may not be affected but god the swing on a barrel shorter than 26 inch i find awkward.
For those of us that are picky about even spread, there is a difference between the two patterns. The longer barrel had a tighter more even spread.
Your right ✅️ long barrel is the better pattern
Over 50 years shotgun shooting experience here and, based on my own experience as well as others I have observed, I agree 100%.
One can shoot any firearm at night and see if fire comes out of barrel which indicates if all powder has burned.
If no flame, then full burn and max possible velocity.
I would like to see test with different chokes in different length barrel. Does a 22" barrel with mod have similar pattern as 28" with IC at same distance?
Did you have the same choke in each gun? What choke were you using. Important info to include in the video.
James Durbin they did. Same choke in each gun. Only difference was the barrel length.
Yes
Some people in the comments who think that it will somehow result in a wider pattern at longer range than a longer barrel clearly don't understand geometry. If they are the same at 17 yards then why would they be different at 30 yards? The pellets in both barrels are spreading in a cone or triangle shape starting at the muzzle. Therefore, their spread must remain consistent in relation to distance. Unless the pellets are curving in all directions away from the barrel, which simply doesn't happen. Im sure the shorter barrel is a slightly larger pattern, but that is only because the shorter barrel is a few inches further away from the target than the longer one in relation to the shooter, which is a negligible difference. If you put the muzzle (not the gun) of both of these at the same distance from the target, the patterns will literally be the same size.
I'm completely new to _shotguns,_ but in rifle the transonic range is important for stability/accuracy once you start dropping to about 1340 fps.
If I recall correctly, with airguns your best bet is to keep the pellets subsonic for accuracy.
I really don't know what practical shotgun ranges are, the shot size for each application, etc.
It could be a benefit or liability depending on where that extra velocity leaves you at a given distance.
Either the extra velocity keeps you well clear of the transonic range for your purposes, or sets your shot in the middle of it.
Same test to be done at 40 meter distance for fair results.
That's true ..but it the sight raidus that makes the difference on long shots and things like turkey hunting.
I use a 20 inch barrel on my turkey gun with a red dot so no hight raidus to worry about now if I was just using the bead or turkey front and rear set up I would suffer from short sight raidus in a tight choke turkey shooting situation.
But your right about modern day powder it burns up in about 10 inches you may gain just a little increase FPS but not much..
So what about with a cylinder bore? I get that the pattern will open up, but will the barrel length make a difference in spread with a cylinder bore/choke?
No, doesn’t matter! Cylinder will make that pattern mod will make mod etc etc
Does this apply at farther ranges?
Not only does a longer barrel change pattern (in my experience, always for the better), it has considerable effect on velocity. Muzzle blast is lower as well. Ask yourself this: When was the last time you saw a trap shooter with a 20 or 26 inch barrel?
hi im going duck hunting using my canoe. do you think a 13" barrel is too short? should i get a 19"? both guns come with 3 chokes. i just want something light and compact.
crosshair get what you shoot best!
I've tried to explain this to guys coming into my shop buying shotguns. Here in Va, the majority of deer hunting has to be done with buckshot and running dogs is the tradition. We get a lot of folks who just HAVE to get a 30" barrel auto like a Browning or Benelli and they refuse to believe that a 20 or 24 inch barrel shotgun could possible do as well. They come in later asking about buying shorter barrels because apparently moving in thick brush with a gun almost 5 ft long is a hassle. Longest barrel i have on any of my shotguns is 26" on an Ethos and my workhorse guns tend towards 24 inches. With a good choke you will be patterning just as tight as if you had a 28 or longer if not better because the speed at which you can swing the gun.
Rob would you recommend a beginner get a 26 or 28" barrel?
depends on purpose. wing shooting? go ahead and get the 28" they are more common in high tier shotguns and you arent losing anything by going longer. balance for a lot of shotguns seems better with longer barrels and the sight radius is better for shooting moving things. Running dogs? go shorter, 26 or when you can find them 24". every deer ive ever killed while running dogs has been within 20 yards. the shorter barrel makes it easier to carry through brush and lighter to walk around with all day. all my shotguns are 26 because its somewhere in the middle. only wing shooting i reliably do every year is dove though. if you're a waterfowler your needs may differ.
rob clay 21" is perfect! Montefeltro ofcourse☺
I came to that same conclusion hunting up north for small game. I got so tired of not being able to aim quickly in heavy bush. My only problem is, is that there doesn't seem to be many choices for choked barrels in the 20-24 inch range. They're always tactical guns with a fixed cylinder choke. That may be fine at 20 yds, but I want something more versatile.
24” is the way to go!
Thanks for busting that myth
When are you coming back to the outdoor channel
It will affect velocity
did your 14" barrel have a choke, or is it open bore? I'm thinking of cutting down my 28" barrel to a 18 - 20" for easier handling in a home defense weapon, but I don't want to totally destroy it's usefullness for rabbits and squirells either.
I can’t imagine it wouldn’t dispatch small game if you placed your shot.
I really think that every want to know what is the difference in 70-100 Yards with rifeled slug. An actual hunting situation for medium to large game.
Try at 40 yards. You will notice the difference
Thank you
If that is true, why don't all shotguns come with say just a 18 inch barrel? And why the need for the 28 inch barrel at all? I really want to know?
The longer barrel gives the gun better balance. Also more weight out at the end of the gun helps the gun swing smoother.
Realistically, it comes down to personal preference when it comes to balance, sight radius, style of hunting, etc.
It does not effect pattern but it does effect velocity.
Patterns will be the same. The thing that will change is feet per second so on a 28" barrel on a chronograph standard load might 1260 fps on a 26" barrel fps will drop say 65 ft persecond small the barrel slower speed equals bigger leads
Length of barrel definitely affects velocity. That bit about new ammo not affecting it, is just not true
What is up with the complete lack of trigger discipline here? I realize it's a long gun and that no one should be downrange, but his finger goes right to the trigger as soon as it's loaded and before it's either shouldered OR on target.
Lol that’s the dumbest thing I have ever heard and you can see the obvious difference in the patterns and it will much more different the longer the distance. 28” barrels will give you faster muzzle velocity than a 18.5, 20 or 24 inch barrel. Yes the powder does burn up in 14-18 inches but the pressure is still there for a longer. You also get more speed out of a pump gun vs a semi auto because there is no gas bleed off or inertia taken away from the forces. now I own both a 18.5 in Remington 870 and a 28 in Winchester super X4 I love them both but but my super X4 can reach out further with the same loads because the barrel is 10” longer even though it’s a gas gun There are always differences when you change specs.
Perfect just the comment I was looking for. I'm hoping to go from a 28" to a 20"
If you look at the chrono, it's negligible. 10-15 fps. With some ammo you get that much variance shell to shell.
Then why is it my 1973 coast to coast master mag pump gun with a 32" fixed full choke will take a 3" #4 buck load with 41 pellets and put 35 to 38 pellets in a 12" pie tin at 100 yards and all these high dollar Benelli and Browning's with screw in chokes can't do that past 40 yards, and when I use bubba roundtree outdoors reload data it will reach beyond 120 yards we have video from this year killing a 8 pt buck at 132 ranged yards I put 31 pellets in his side and 7 in the neck and head old shotguns with fixed chokes and long barrels will beat these 24 to 28" barrels all day
I feel like maybe this video is misleading because at longer distances the long barrel will group tighter. Isn't that right? Why or why not?
mojodank no, it makes no difference on the range. They have the same spread because there is no extra constriction on the barrels. Only chokes change it
That Shooting Guy. True!!!!!!
You're accusing it of being misleading, then making a statement that you aren't sure is correct, then questioning it... 😂
Stretch the distance and I assure you that you’ll see a noticeable difference in pattern and velocity….you’re too close for a fair comparison.
y should try it at 40 yards. then yll see the diff,
I've been living a lie,,,, liked
I’m watching this because I cant decide between 24” and 26” I can’t believe myself. But as long as I get the same pattern It don’t matter.
Hope u got 28
24 is the way to go
20 yards? Should be 30 to 40 yards!
Interesting. I already know length didn't affect velocity, as the powders used nowadays is pretty close to pistol powders in their burn rate. I suspect even after smokeless powder came around, they probably used slower burning rifle powders for quite some time, and that's why this idea of longer barrels persists, but more likely it's simply because with a shorter sight radius on the shorter barrels, duck hunters simply miss more often.
I've been wondering about patterns though, and the only videos I've seen have been with different chokes, which is useless for this topic. Thanks for this one.
It does effect velocity but not very much past an 18" barrel.
Longer shotguns barrels do increase velocity, not much, maybe 10% over 15-20 inches of additional barrel length, but that increase in velocity means your shot column will reach the target quicker. If you are shooting a moving target, that means your lead will be decreased. The increased barrel length in waterfowl guns has nothing to do with sight radius or swinging capability. When you are shooting Geese overhead at 70 plus yards, the decreased lead and speed of the pellets arriving at the target make the difference between bird in the water and bird in the air. There are a ton of videos chrono loads in various barrel lengths, see for your self. That 36-40" barrel goose gun makes a lot more sense now.
Where on earth did you get such an idea???? based on my own 50+ years shooting shotguns, I can attest to the fact that what you just said is utter nonsense. I feel dumber for having read that.
@@mothman-jz8ug It’s amazing how someone can spend 50 yrs doing something and learn nothing. What exactly do you think I said wrong? Old shotguns had silly long barrels, but with modern powders there isn’t much difference in speed when you lose a few inches. Of course a 32” vs a 16” will make a difference but a 32 vs say 28, no did at all
What a joke of a "test"! 😂😂😂 Don't you see that you have 2x more pellets in that pattern from the 28" barrel? Do the same test at 40 yards. And try to go hunt ducks and geese with your 14" barrel 😂😂😂
Yeah stretch it out and see what happens longer down range energy???
You do that. And post the video.
its a proven fact that a longer barrel gives you increased fps im talking a big difference . there is a guy on here that does a test with several difrent shotgun barrel length shooting trough a chrony to prove it and the reason there picking that 30 inch barrel is so they can reach farther out there. and on the guys test he shows with a short barrel you lose up to 400 fps and he shots bird shot 00 buck and slugs remember higher fps means more fpe down range and faster kills on game.
Randy Blackburn 400 fps that's a major exaggeration
Alexis Padilla dpeneds how short the barrel is. If using the same shells but they have a slow burning powder and one is a 32" barrel and the other is say 18" or less then maybe 200fps, but for say a 12" barrel then he is probably right tbh.
Randy Blackburn not true barrel length has nothing to do with charge or ignition . I can shoot just as far with a 21" barrel as someone with a 32 "
Randy Blackburn barrel length has nothing to do with how far you can shoot.Just gets you closer to target with longer barrel thats all.☺
Can you send the link to the video?
Jesus Loves You
Guess I will be taking my tactical shotgun to the club shoot after all
They are not the same obviously, the longer barrel produced a tighter pattern. The density of pellets in the shot zone is greater.
Yea try that shit at 40 yards and show your results. Bet your ass the 28 is better. Some people get it some never will.
So get out your patterning targets and show us.
U didn't have a choke tube on the 28" barrel
Let's say for the sake of argument that the pattern is the same and the difference in velocity is minimal as they state. One thing that they didn't address and that I didn't see mentioned in the comments is that the longer barrel makes precise shots inherently easier, especially at passing shots at longer distances. There's a reason why professional clay shooters and Olympic champions all use long barrels.
They failed to mention the shorter barrel makes turkey hunting shots at 60 yds more precise
@@reddawng43x91 Not sure what you mean. A longer barrel makes any precise shot with a shotgun easier than with a short barrel.
@@Sporkmaker5150 then why are rifled slug hunting barrels 20-25” long
@@reddawng43x91 For the handiness of carrying a gun with the shorter barrel.
With a red dot, barrel length doesn't matter. 😃
Rubbish. What about when you go out to 30m or 40 m???
lmao
Lmao you're not too bright. If you are shooting at 50 yards, then a 28 inch barrel would certainly have a tighter pattern
So the shot pattern somehow magically changes course after twenty yards?
@@phillhuddleston9445 apparently there is magic ammo out there that we common folk don't know about. Like the brassfetchers video where they claimed to get a 10" or so spread from #8 shot at only ten feet. An inch of spread per foot is pretty impressive. Take out an entire flock at 20 yards.
Hey ass clown! Y don’t turkey guns have a 28” barrel???? Exactly! Stfu troll
@@reddawng43x91 I’ve never thought of it this way before but possibly the move towards shorter barrels for turkey hunting lead to using tighter and tighter chokes and also magnum ammo because of velocity and patterning lost with the shorter barrel. ??
Not trying to shit on you, just thinking out loud.
@@timg7627 bro your over thinking a shotgun shell! It’s not a rifle round ! Barrel length affects pattern at x amount of distance ! You do not gain speed for every inch of barrel like a rifle! We talking 26-27-28-30” not 16-18” barrels !