Shot gun barrel length?

Had that choice when I bought my Benelli sbe3, 26/28
I really really like short barrels but really know for waterfowl hunting the longer barrel is better.
I ended up going to the 26 because they didn’t offer a 24 🤣🤣🤣
But in reality I came from using a 23” barrel shotgun and have definitely noticed a difference in my wing shooting with the longer barrel, I can hit ‘em much more consistently.

Couple of thoughts.

Shorter barrel allows you to get the gun swinging faster. This is true. A longer barrel allows you to KEEP your swing going (smooths it out) because it weighs more. This is also true. I see many guys that are used to shooting rifle stop their swing as soon as they pull the trigger. Nope, that's a no-no.

A longer barrel will allow slower powders to burn more completely, giving you closer to the advertised velocity for the load (According to SAAMI, in 12 gauge velocities listed for 2¾", 3" and 3½" lead loads were tested in 30" Full-choke barrels, and non-lead was tested in 30" IC barrels.)

I've seen in print where they say all shotgun powder is burned in the first 5" of barrel length. I call BS on that. If that is the case, then a video taken in a dark room should show the same muzzle flash from a 6" barreled shotgun as there is from a 32" barreled shotgun.

If you are wondering if a longer barrel makes a difference in FPS, the answer is yes, but in the testing that I've done is that the internal diameter of a shotgun barrel also comes into play. A standard 12 ga barrel has an ID of .729" A "backbored" shotgun has an internal barrel dia of .735"-.745". I have a barrel that I made for my Model 12 that is an 025" backbored 10 gauge barrel, but with a 12 ga chamber. The barrel ID is .800". Stan Baker made barrels like this and I have one for my Remington 1100. Long story why I made mine. Anyway, that larger barrel ID gives me 100 fps faster speeds than a 12 ga barrel that has an ID of .740" with both barrels being the same length. (shooting factory Winchester AA shells from the same box).

It all depends on what you get used to. I have a lightweight 20 ga. (Franchi 48 AL) and when I shoot that compared to my O/U 12 ga, I have a MUCH faster swing and with my muscle memory I tend to overswing on the birds before I pull the trigger. So, the swing looks like a srart/stop/start again then pull the trigger.

So, with all that said, my advice is to get all of your shotguns to have close to the same barrel length. If only 1 shotgun, I'd buy a longer barreled one vs. a shorter barreled one. I think the short barrel thing for a faster swing is slightly overrated. I can run 25 straight on a skeet field with my 12 ga 30" barrel O/U. Not all the time, but I can do it.

Also, it depends on what you will mainly use it for. Turkey hunting I like the shorter barrel, for other game I would go with the longer barrel. What gun are you looking to buy? You can always get a second barrel. I have an 870 and I have a 24" for turkey and a 28" for other game, and a rifled barrel for slugs which I have never used.

Colder weather, slower burning powder, I'd opt for the longer barrel. Plus you don't need a lot of barrel speed for waterfowl unless you are pass shooting teal or woodies that are close.

For me 2 factors must take into consideration. I am an avid sporting clays / skeet competitor. I travel around the surrounding states shooting competitions. I average roughly 25,000 rds a yr of which 10,000 of those are registered skeet and sporting clays targets. If it was me and I was undecided, find a gun club that has a skeet range, trap range or sporting clay range.  Not quite sure of your location, but in Indy at the Indiana Gun Club, any used gun you can take out and try. So if they have a used 26 or 28 inch gun, take it over to the skeet field and shoot. My competitions guns are 30 inch but my hunting guns are 28 inch. 26 inch barreled guns are way to whippy for me. Also take into account time of year. My length of pull changes from summer to winter. during the summer months I am 14 3/4 and during the winter months 13 3/4. I have a type of gun that I can change the configuration easily. stock, barrel etc. Most of my autos are 28 inch, except for a Remington LT20 1100 that has a 26 inch barrel. Awesome bird hunting gone by the way. 

Kicker

Good info here thank you all.

That’s a great choice, love those!

Thanks guys! Really looking forward to using this gun might take it out next weekend.

Any have any thoughts on a Stoeger M3000, 28 inch barrel 12ga….someone is offering the gun but I haven’t seen it yet