Barrel Length for Skeet

[200Apples]

Years ago I bought a 1980 Wingmaster that was wearing a Remington factory vent rib 26" SKEET barrel. That 870 now wears an 18.5" cyl bore barrel in an HD role.

[hermosabeach]

5' 4"

My brother wants to start shooting skeet. I think I got him hooked, but he wants to buy only one more shotgun (imagine that). He own a Remington 870 but he liked my Beretta 694 sporting with 32 in barrels and my 687 Sporting with 30 in barrels. He seems to prefer the 30 inch barrels but he also likes the 32 inch barrels. I told him to get a 32 inch barrel 686 or 694. He is leaning to get a 686 sporting 30 inch barrels. Do you guys think that he should get the 32 so that if he decides to take up sporting clays he will have a better gun.

How tall is your brother?

If 5'4" Hollywood actor tall, then 32" would be interesting....

If 6'10". then maybe 32" would be less interesting.

What is the length of his arm? What LOP does he need?



Will the shotgun be reserved only for skeet or might he shoot Clays and Trap or 5 stand?



Does he have a strong back? Shooting the last two shots in skeet, can he twist and shoot with 32" barrels?

[BajaJames83]

I used 26" or 28" in semi for skeet.
For skeet I prefer the shorter as it swings faster

[ceh383]

I used 26" or 28" in semi for skeet.
For skeet I prefer the shorter as it swings faster

It really depends on the balance of the gun.
I shot an event last weekend, I used a 30" 12ga and a 32" 28ga. I did not feel hindered by the barrel length, I felt hindered by the rust accumulated due to lack of practice. I don't know how, but I won my class in 28ga.

[Thefeeder]

It really depends on the balance of the gun.
I shot an event last weekend, I used a 30" 12ga and a 32" 28ga. I did not feel hindered by the barrel length, I felt hindered by the rust accumulated due to lack of practice. I don't know how, but I won my class in 28ga.

Just 1 better then the rest is always good enough. Congrads on the win.

[ceh383]

Just 1 better then the rest is always good enough. Congrads on the win.

Thanks Lou!
Are you going to start up the NorCal Clinics again any time soon?
If so, I may want to head up that way to catch one...

[JagerDog]

It really depends on the balance of the gun.
I shot an event last weekend, I used a 30" 12ga and a 32" 28ga. I did not feel hindered by the barrel length, I felt hindered by the rust accumulated due to lack of practice. I don't know how, but I won my class in 28ga.

There's some modern steels and barrel profiles which are a bit lighter than their elder statesmen.

[ceh383]

There's some modern steels and barrel profiles which are a bit lighter than their elder statesmen.

I think it is more the profile than the steel. Some modern steels and tempering are stronger than earlier steels allowing the thinner profiles. That said, steel, no matter the age, is about .28 lbs per cu in. Different alloys will vary slightly but not much.

[JagerDog]

I think it is more the profile than the steel. Some modern steels and tempering are stronger than earlier steels allowing the thinner profiles. That said, steel, no matter the age, is about .28 lbs per cu in. Different alloys will vary slightly but not much.

Ya. I didn't mean the steel was less dense, but rather the strength allowed for thinner profiles.

So....you can gain length (which is popular) without upsetting balance.

[edgerly779]

I like the swing weight of my browning o/u with 26" barrel.

[JagerDog]

I like the swing weight of my browning o/u with 26" barrel.

When I started shooting skeet regularly in the 80's, a Citori with 26" barrel was likely the most popular choice.

[pacrat]

I like the swing weight of my browning o/u with 26" barrel.

When I started shooting skeet regularly in the 80's, a Citori with 26" barrel was likely the most popular choice.

Preferences have certainly changed over the decades.

In the 70s and 80s it was rare to see a barrel longer than 26" on a skeet range. Except for the guys who popped in to limber up, just prior to "opening day". With 28-30s.

I had an 870 Skeet Md, I got new in about 1976, with nicer wood, and a 26" vent rib, skeet choked barrel. That I bought as a turnaround investment just because it was on clearance at cheap price of $159.00 at what was then "International Trap n Skeet".

I personally find shorter barrels faster and handier to use for skeet, dove, quail.

One of my all time favorite field guns was a 20" barreled, IC/M coach gun.

[Thefeeder]

Thanks Lou!
Are you going to start up the NorCal Clinics again any time soon?
If so, I may want to head up that way to catch one...

It will be March 2022 before any will come to be. I'll be looking for available Skeet fields in Feb 22'and see what I can put together for the 22' season. I shall give it a try

I do miss it and enjoyed every minute.

[ceh383]

It will be March 2022 before any will come to be. I'll be looking for available Skeet fields in Feb 22'and see what I can put together for the 22' season. I shall give it a try

I do miss it and enjoyed every minute.

When you get a schedule PM me, I may want to make the trip.

[newbutold]

I like 28" for skeet.