38" barrel!

30 December 2005, 21:54

brass thief

38" barrel!

i"ve just seen a gun for sale pretty cheap.
it"s a well used mossberg(12 gauge)pump, with a 38" barrel.
i"ve never owned a shotgun longer than 30", and i"m wondering whether the extra barrel length really gives any more range with modern shells, compared to a 28 or 30" barrel.
should i keep my 28" magtech(it"s a knockabout rough shooting/vermin/wildfowling tool), or go for the longer barreled mossy?( even if it"s just cos it looks cool!)
any thoughts?
good shooting

31 December 2005, 06:25

GSP7

I remember my Grandfather had a Remington 870 with a real long barrel , could have been 38" or 40". It was his goose gun. He was a real good shot with a shotgun too and loved goose hunting. I havent seen a barrel like his since, He might have had it custom made.

05 January 2006, 09:01

Johan van der Merwe

From my limited knowledge I know that a barrel of that length would be used to dampen the report of the shot going off,thus less birds
flying off and you having more shots at them.To swing that baby is another thing.
Cabelas sells another tube of 30 inches I think that screws into your choke end of the barrel.That would be 68" in your case,good luck swinging that.My best guess would be that these bad boys would be used for punting like they do it in the UK.I might be wrong.
Regards
Johan

05 January 2006, 16:21

TrapperP

I don't think you are going to gain much as most modern loads will completely burn in something like 24" BUT the extra length is a plus when working out lead angles, etc due to the longer sighting plain. You don't "Aim" a shotgun like a rifle but none the less it helps on pass shooting and the like. I believe this is the sole reason for most trap guns having long tubes.
For what it is worth, my father was a great shot and loved to hunt geese. His two favorite guns for his sport were an Ithaca 10GA double (3 1/2" Mag) with 32" tubes and a Browning A5 12ga 3" mag with - you guessed it, 32" full choke tube.
Hope some of this helps.

05 January 2006, 16:34

crowrifle

That thing would probably pay for itself at turkey shoots in a couple of years.

05 January 2006, 22:31

Dodis

Johan,
Like these? Metro Gun Systems

05 January 2006, 23:50

Customstox

It will not shoot any faster than a 30 or very marginally, it won't shoot any quieter or any more accurately for a lead. If you think about the sighting plane, it appears to you as a flat rib with the bead. Long barrels in skeet and trap shooting are used to smooth out the swing. At one time in skeet, 26" was the norm. Compared to 32" barrels a 26 seems whippy and quick. It also makes it easier to stop the swing with a short barrel, hence shooters are going for longer barrels but in the realm of 32 and 34". I would not have one like that in the field.

Mossberg used to sell a bolt action Goose gun wih a very long barrel. It was pure marketing hype.

06 January 2006, 14:56

TrapperP

quote:
Originally posted by Customstox:
It will not shoot any faster than a 30 or very marginally, it won't shoot any quieter or any more accurately for a lead. If you think about the sighting plane, it appears to you as a flat rib with the bead. Long barrels in skeet and trap shooting are used to smooth out the swing. At one time in skeet, 26" was the norm. Compared to 32" barrels a 26 seems whippy and quick. It also makes it easier to stop the swing with a short barrel, hence shooters are going for longer barrels but in the realm of 32 and 34". I would not have one like that in the field.

Mossberg used to sell a bolt action Goose gun wih a very long barrel. It was pure marketing hype.

Believe you are mistaken here - the gun you refer to was the Marlin "Goose Gun" - bolt action with a 36" tube? Or maybe Mossybach did make one but I know Marlin did. Used to call geese for a guy that had one - I don't think he was ever able to get off more than one shot at a flock of birds.

Caption reads: "Marlin Goose - 12 gauge, 36" full, leather sling, recoil pad, new in a beaten box, has a minor stock scratch from display. Reach out and touch a honker!"