whats the velocity loss of a 26 inch to a 20 inch (with bird loads)?Im thinkin of using a tacical shotgun with chokes for quail would that be crazy? dont really wanna buy another shotgun. thanks

practically nothing.

Remington tests several years ago showed that 21 inches of shotshell barrel was suficient to burn all the powder and no further velocity gains was had.

The only penalty would be that you would probably cause a heart attack with some traditionalists you might encounter.... LOL!

There is an argument that says to use the right tool for the job, but velocity is not part of it. FWIW, Dutch.

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Originally posted by trashcanman:
whats the velocity loss of a 26 inch to a 20 inch (with bird loads)?Im thinkin of using a tacical shotgun with chokes for quail would that be crazy? dont really wanna buy another shotgun. thanks

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You can shot quail with anything that is legal. You may want to try a round or two of sporting clays 1st though.

For wing shooting, the barrel length / weight is used to control the swing. A 20" barrel may not be the best for fast breaking coveys.

Pete

You won't have a problem with velocity but you may have one with balance. Follow-through is a function of weight distribution and too light will hurt you. I know whereof I speak. We used the High Standard police pumps and semi-auto bull-pups in the mid 70s on quail (the one with the 18" barrel and swiveling 1/2 moon butt-piece that costs way too much today) for quail and your swing is all over the place. 26 to 28 inches is great for most people.

You may find that it depends on the action-type as to the length of barrel that is "right." Double guns, either SxS or O/U, do not have any significant length of gun mechanism between the trigger position and the beginning of the barrel, whereas pumps and autoloaders do have some action length before the beginning of the barrel. So a shorter length barrel on a pump or autoloader will produce a longer gun overall, with a corresponding difference in the weight balance of the gun, than a longer barrel length on a double.

Thus, I like a shorter barrel of about 26 inches on a pump or autoloader, and longer ones, 28 inches or even longer, on a double.

Lloyd, that's right , the difference between a pump or auto and an O/U is 4" . That's why I have a 24" auto and a 28" O/U !!