Shotgun barrel length

QL Can you tell me how much difference there is between a 26-inch 12-gauge barrel and a 30-inch one in terms of performance?

Does the longer barrel shoot further, and does it throw a tighter pattern than the same load in a 26-inch barrel?

Henry Osbourne

A: A 30-inch barrel won’t shoot any farther than a 26-inch one. The degree of choke and not the barrel length determines the density of the pattern.

Today’s shotshells have reached the peak of perfection. Low-pressure powders and wad design have brought the shotgun into the 21st century and there is not left much to improve.

Barrel length is largely a matter of preference, so choose the length that you like best.

It is more important to choose the right choke and shot size for the intended game.