Im looking at getting a decent O/U and ive been noticing that a lot of the true sporting barrels are ported and only chambered for 2 3/4". Why is this? Can i still shoot magnums in these barrels or are they strictly for light trap loads? How about the ports, how much do they affect velocity? Im also open to any suggestions on shotguns. Right now im looking mainly at the franchi 30" sporting clays model. Thanks in advance.

I have a Browning Citori, Sporting Clays model, 12 gauge, with 28 inch factory ported barrels. I shoot only skeet with it, so I'm not interested in longer (3 inch) loads, although I think it's bored for them. I like this gun very much.

I'm ambivalent about ported barrels. Yes, it does reduce kick and muzzle jump a bit. But the ports are so hard to clean that they are a nusiance from that point of view.

If you shoot only light loads -- I load with 1 oz. of shot and to a velocity of about 1125 f.p.s.; that's all you need for skeet -- I doubt that barrel porting is really needed.

Scott - You have asked several good questions. Let me try to answer them and maybe I can fumble around and get you at least one good answer!

1) 2.75" chambers - They are generally used because that is all that is required for clay games. In fact, magnums are NOT allowed for most if not all registered events. Additionally, guns tend to pattern tighter when firing 2.75" shells in a 2.75" chamber as opposed to the longer 3" or 3.5" chamber. I belive that Browning reports as much as a 10% difference in patterns. So it makes sense that guns for clay games are generally made with the minimum chamber size. However, with that said I would not feel bad using my field gun on the range if my goal was to sharpen my skills for hunting. This is a trivial matter for 95% of the shooters so let the elite 5% worry about this issue.

2) Magnums in 2.75" chambers - You can shoot "short magnums" in these chambers, but if you are really looking to use this for a field gun I suggest that you find a gun that has a 3" or 3.5" chamber (whatever suits your intended purpose).

3) Ports - I view these as mostly a marketing tool. I don't find that they really affect felt recoil and muzzle jump that much. Not to mention that they are a pain to clean! They don't really affect the velocity of a shell at all since shotguns generally burn all of their powder in the first 14-16" of the barrel anyway. If ports somehow give you more confidence to get on the second shot quicker then go ahead and get them, but I'm not a believer in them (yes I've tried guns with and without).

4) Gun suggestions - I'm assuming that you selected the Franchi because of their relative low price. I suggest to you that a better value is either the Beretta 687 Whitewing or 686 Onyx or as LE270 mentions the Browning Citori. Both of them have been tested and proven to be quality firearms capable of withstanding the rigors of regular use. I find that Brownings and Beretta's feel very different so pick the one that feels good to you and don't second guess your choice. If you have to save a little bit longer to purchase one of these instead of the Franchi then I suggest that you do it. I'm not trying to run the Franchi down as I have little experience with them, but you will have a gun with better resale value if you ever decide to "trade up" like many of us do.

Good luck with your decision and most of all practice a lot with the gun of your choice. As the old saying goes..."Beware of the man with just one gun."

I hae a Beretta 682 Sporting that I shoot for pretty much everything. It came with 3" chambers. I shot it for one year before I had the barrels ported. It made no difference that I could detect. The velocity was the same and it kicked the same amount. I wouldn't turn down a ported gun, but I wouldn't pay extra for it.

The fit of the gun probably has more to do with how recoil with any particular load feels. Also some people are more recoil sensitive than others. I tend to be somewhat recoil sensitive due to an injury and I found that recoil was noticeably (although not tremendously) reduced in a Mossberg pump when I switched to a ported barrel.

I haven't run the tests myself. I was quoting a person claiming to be quoting from the Browning archives. I suspect, after looking into it a bit further, that the difference is really statistically insignificant since there is generally a +/- 10% pattern difference between shot-to-shot.

By the way, DT-10's are produced in both 70mm & 76mm chambers (2.75" & 3") so your reasoning is a bit flawed. It seems that the models intended for the USA are more likely to be 3" than the models labeled "International". Again, I'm not sure there is really a difference or just a marketing thing.