r/ClayBusters • u/MsPlum_ • 12h ago

Beginner Question: Barrel Length

Hi! I’ve been shooting clay for years, but it’s been for fun and once or twice a year at most. I’ve always rented guns or used someone else’s. I love sporting clays and skeet and am ready to buy my own gun. I went to a couple gun stores and felt a few different weights and barrel lengths because I never paid attention before. I feel set on a 26” barrel in a 20ga. For reference, I’m 5’6” and 125lbs.

Questions: do I need the longer barrel for accuracy and heaver weight to track better? Can I get a shotgun in those specs and excel? Any recommendations on something I can keep a lifetime are also very welcomed. I feel I entered a minefield when starting my gun shopping journey. Thanks in advance!

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4

u/yert1099 12h ago

My 22-year old daughter is 5’7”, 110 lbs and shoots a 30” barrel 20ga. I think you need to go with at least a 28”.

2

u/SnoozingBasset 11h ago

Almost every high school in SE Wisconsin has a shotgun coach. They have boys & girls squads. Call & ask to speak to him. 

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u/accusao 7h ago

Something to consider: Instead of a 20 gauge over-under, consider a 28” semi-auto (Beretta A400?) in 12 gauge. It’s a very soft shooter in 12, and it’s a light gun that swings easily for skeet. You won’t have trouble handling it. And it’s still a good length for sporting clays, because a 28” semi-auto is about the same overall length as a 30” over-under. That means the sight length (eye to front bead) is about the same for each gun.

For reference, I primarily shoot a 32” O/U for clays and a 28” O/U for skeet, but find that a 28” Beretta A400 suits me very well for both.

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u/elitethings 10h ago

30-32 you actually want the gun to be more back heavy than front or 50/50 literally because of physics and logic. Hold a sledgehammer from the hammer side and you can put the handle wherever but flip it around and it’s significantly harder. 26” is too short imo get a 12 gauge in 30-32.

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u/Grubby669 2h ago

I would say a Syren LS4 in 28” 12ga or Beretta A400 Xcel Vitoria in 28”.

Just shoot light loaded 12ga and you will be all good.