Shotgun barrel length for turkey hunting?

[terminator]

I am looking at purchasing a new semi turkey gun.There seems to be a trend where there are a lot of turkey guns out there with short 22-24 inch barrels.I suppose for ease of carrying and quick swinging.I have always used 28 inch barrels so I can have more velocity and longer shots.Or at least, that is my theory.What length barrel are you using and if someone has the short barrel guns,what is the max range with a good pattern?I would be using an extended turkey choke.Thanks.

[Chip]

Roger ,
Since most everything now has some type of choke tube that can be changed I don't know that the barrel length will be all the critical at turkey distances. Since it's a head shot deal anyway I'd probably go with whatever length I liked and just make sure to pattern the load and barrel I am using.  Turkey is a full or extra ful choke deal.  I have never been brave enough to put my chrony in front of mt 12 ga so I don't know about the velocity for sure. My luck I'd goof up and blow the tar out of it.     

Chip

[terminator]

Chip:10-4 on shooting through the chrony.I have actually been looking at the Mossberg 935 that comes as a combo with a 22 and 28 inch barrel .Pretty good price and I could do some experimenting.When thinking of doing this the thought of blowing up the Chrony came to mind.I guess the shot shouldn't  spread that far, that close, but I do have reservations.

[zonie]

Roger :  I think it depends on where you hunt. We hunt mostly turkey in AZ & New Mexico which can be a little rough in the canyons and all  public land.  I normally don't walk too far, but my son and my turkey hunting buddy think nothing of chasing them for several hours up and over ridges and canyons.   This is where a short bbl with a sling comes in real handy.  I like anything in the 20 to 24 in, and to be honest I have a little 18 1/2 " Mossberg riot gun I may use this year just for fun.  Normally the birds we get are anywhere to 40 yds and one friend uses a real old 28 " bbl Savage pump 2 3/4" modified with steel shot and has taken birds in the 50 + range.  I scratch my head sometimes on his choice of shot, he's looking for pure velocity it works for him.   I use a little mossberg 20 ga 3" with red dot sight extra full choke and it will dump a bird no problem at 40 yds. Just put that red dot on it's head and they get hammered.  I do pattern and sight in with # 5's and 6's.   Past that I haven't tried  with this gun and not sure if I would.  I do have other more powerful shotguns, but I do like the shorter barrels.  I just picked up some turkey  and javalina carrier slings at the local gunshop and they look pretty cool at least the bird is not flopping around when you got to hike back to the truck plus they get darn heavy after awhile along with your shotgun and other turkey gear.   Ron

[DocHolladay]

Most "turkey" shotguns have the short barrels for the reasons you listed, ease of carry and swinging to get a shot on a turkey. If you look into a short barreled variety, look at either Turkey Creek chokes or Patternmaster chokes. Then check out Hevi-Shot, Magnum Blend. Its expensive, but it is DEVASTATING on turkeys. If you go with a 26-28" barrel, I would still check out Hevi-Shot, but run a full choke instead.

I hunt with a 26" barrel, full choke and Hevi-Shot #5's. I killed 4 turkeys last spring. 8yds, 38yds, 56yd and 70yds. The 70yd bird was pushing it, but I misjudged the distance. Found out after I went and picked the turkey up. I do feel confident to kill a turkey, for sure, at 65yds with this combo.

[johnp034]

Roger, I have a Mossberg 835 with a 24" barrel.  The barrel length doesn't matter, its the choke on the end, like everyone says.  I use a Kicks turkey choke, patterns great with the Hevi-Shot  magnum blend (#5,6 & 7's).  Excellent ammo, but very expensive, about $5 a round.  Plus in my lightweight 835, they are not much fun to shoot!

[terminator]

Thanks to all for the information.I have been cruising Gunbroker and Gunsamerica to get an idea on prices so I can see how good local gunshops are.I am not much on buying used semis without trying them first, so I will probably go the new route if I decide to get one.

[johnp034]

Roger, let me know what prices you find on the Mossberg 935, I may be able to help you out.

Thanx,

[terminator]

Thanks John.I am still deciding on black vs camo and barrel length.

[HuskyMusky]

many of the new guns are offering short barrels for turkeys, which I see little point to having, my turkey gun sports a 26" or maybe a 28" which is perfect IMO.

A turkey gun doubles greatly for geese, etc...and I'd much rather have a 26" or 28" barrel for geese than a 23" or whatever, and for turkeys I see really no reason to need a shorter barrel.

I really don't suspect velocities are any different from a 23 to a 26 to 28.

Personally I'd just buy a camo 12ga that's 26" and do that route.  It's one of the few guns I have that I'd use for multiple purposes. and does all well, not mediocre. or 1 good and 1 bad.

[zonie]

I have a little different take on bbl length.  I  look at the turkey gun as a specialty gun anyway.  My youngest daughter loves to  hunt,  and for her graduation present she wanted a shotgun so I bought her one.  It couldn't have been the worst gun to choose for a small 18 yr old (my bad).  I bought her a win 1300 with a 28" bbl.  The thing was way way too big for her and 3 "  loads were out of the question. She used it for about 3 years and finally I bought her a little Mossberg 20 ga youth turkey gun and to be honest I liked it so much I bought another for me.   I have always thought shotgun barrels were way to long in the first place, maybe in years gone by they had a place, but today unless you are some type of specialty shooting  I don't see it.  You take an O/U or S/S with it's overall shorter action and a 26 " bbl is about right for me,  but that same bbl length in an auto or pump that gun starts growing a lot.   An old friend of mine uses a very old S/S 10 ga,  I'm not sure what the bbl length is, but it's got to be 30 +  the gun is a tank, and everytime we hunt turkeys I rag on him a little man you let loose with both barrels and you will kill the whole flock, and of course he uses an old wing bone call.  That 10 ga will roll a bird in a heartbeat I have to give him that.   The problem is a lot of shotguns are a compromise,  probably why they offer so many barrel lengths or after market barrels.  I'm not  too worried about balance or extended sighting plane on a turkey gun,  it's got sights and used like a rifle.  Heaven forbid  look at all the sling swivels built in now.  The only unslinged shotgun's I have any more that I use is my model 12 and a Savage fox S/S.    In fact  I'm going to order another barrel  tomorrow  strictly for turkey hunting  20 ".   I already have the red dot mount ready to go.    Ron

[NMARKANITE]

Watch the video on barrel lengths as it is very interesting and says what i want to say much better and if you wanta argue his theory i am sure he would be open to all arguments as i agree with him 100%! watch episode #3 it is good!
http://americangundog.com/straightshooting_AGD1.html#MEDIUM

[terminator]

Thanks for the link Terry.The videos are very informative.We should all pay attention to the first one, on our gun fitting us.I do that in trying all the different brands in the stores.Seems like the most expensive always fit me better though. .It is nice a lot of guns are now coming with shims to get that just right fit.

[NMARKANITE]

Roger i stepped up back in 2003 and got one of the first runs of the Benelli SBEII's and stuck a Primos extended tube in it and it is amazing how it patterns at longer distances with Winchester Extended Range and Hevi Shot! It has a 28" barrel and Primos makes a Jelly Head for most Turkey applications and i need to get 2 for my Browning Citori Satin Lightning because i got one of the last models that will shoot all 3 length shells! I will pick up 2 turkey tubes from Primos Invector + tubes and i can promise you the Jelly Head extended tubes are the spank for hybrid shot! Turkey has no chance with this tube!

[terminator]

Terry:I love the Super Black EagleII, and they fit me the best also,kind of like driving a Cady as compared to a Chevy.I just have not convinced myself to turn loose that much dough for what would essentially be a turkey gun.I wish Weatherby would come out with a 3 1/2 inch.