Author Topic: barrel questions (Read 964 times)

fortress49 · « **on:** January 21, 2005, 07:08:40 AM »

How much advantage is gained/lost by having barrels of longer length with all other things being equal? What is the advantage of a 32" barrel over a 28" barrel?

How much advantage is gained/lost by having chambers of longer length with all other things being equal? What is the advantage of a 3 1/2" chamber over a 3" chamber?

With all other things being equal, how much practical hunting distance do you get out of a full choke as oppsoed to a mod chocke?

As you can tell from the questions I am not real sure of how to choose the proper shotgun barrels for my NEF handi rifle. I have an O/U shotgun that I use for hunting right now but I am making uneducated guesses as to what chokes to use when I go out hunting. I would like to add some shotgun barrels to my NEF any try that as well. I hunt dove, ducks, and geese. I would also like to hunt turkeys in the future.

I would like to purchase as few barrels as possible to cover the widest spread of hunting. (The barrels themselves are not that expensive until you add on the fitting and shipping costs!)

What barrels would you recommend and why?

For the really high flying geese would the 32" full choke barrel be as effective as the shorter 24" 10 ga barrel on a 10 Ga shotgun?

Thanks for any advice you have to a confused new shotgunner.

Matt

Specklebelly · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2005, 03:52:42 PM »

Fortress 49

I will try to answer as best I can with your questions. Remember these are just my thoughts and opinions. In other words, it doen't make them right. :-D

Advantages of 32" over 28"? This is based on personal preference only. In my experience when you get this long of barrels they have no difference in performance. Go with what feels best for you. I prefer 28 or 30 inch.

Advantages of 3.5 over 3 inch guns. The only advantage in my opinion is more shot, which leads to a higher concentration of shot at the target. From what I have read, the velocity is usually the same on the two shells. Disadvantages for these loads is the 3.5 incher's kick more. If you go with an auto, no problem. The NEF's will leave a reminder on your shoulder. :-D

Distance difference in Mod and Full? Don't know the answer to this one, but I would not shoot any waterfowl loads through a full. The hard shot patterns tight anyway and the full is to constrictive. It also can cause barrel damage on fulls if you shoot steel through them a lot.

What chokes and barrels for your NEF? If you are going to use it for waterfowl, go with the Deluxe Classic Barrel in 12 gauge. It has a vented rib barrel which really helps me in shooting (I love mine). If you don't want to spend the extra for the deluxe, I would get the longest 12 gauge available in Modified choke. This will also work for doves as you requested.

24" or 32" for high flying geese? No question here, go with the 32". For me, the short barrels are hard to follow through with on the long shots. I never feel comfortable with the short barrels while hunting waterfowl.

If you are going to shoot high flying geese, spend the cash and buy some Hevi Shot. You won't be sorry.

Good luck with your NEF. I take mine duck hunting from time to time and really enjoy the single shot challenge.

Hope this helps.

Specklebelly · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2005, 10:22:48 AM »

Matt (Fortress49)

FYI- I took my NEF to the lake this morning and had a great hunt. Single shots put a lot of pressure on the hunter but really improve your skills. I had a couple of ejecting problem, but the low teens temperature might have been a factor.

fortress49 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2005, 03:45:24 AM »

Thanks for the reply specklbelly! I appreciate it.

Matt

Catfish · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2005, 02:58:28 AM »

Matt,
Spec. is right, in the field neather you nor the birds will be able to tell what lenth of barrel your shooting that day. As for the 3 vs. 3 1/2 in argument, I vote for 3 in. ammo. If you do the math on it you will find that you gain less than 5 yrds. on your kill range with the 3 1/2 in shells. That`s just not enough for me to pay the higher price for the ammo and then put up with the recoil.
I will give you 1 hint. SHOOT THE HIGH DOLLAR STUFF. I hate steel shot, it just don`t kill. I have been shooting Rem. Heavy Shot, mostly ib size B, for geese this year. So far I`ve put down a goose with every shot but 1, with that shot I killed the goose I was shooting at and put down another. 1 shot had hit it in the wing and shattered the main bone. With the goose on the water I took out my high dollar shells and started shooting steel at him. 4 shells later I figured he was out of range and quit shooting. I got him when he cralled out on the far side of the pond.