The "short" was mostly in reference to what seems to be "in style" these days. I can remember when everyone shot 26" barrels at skeet. Sporting Clays, I think, has had a lot to do with the current longer barrel trend.
For me personally, I can get shorter barrels to work well on smaller bores. But for whatever reason, I haven't found a 12 with anything shorter than 28" barrels that works well for me. And I'm only 5'9". I like light guns (sub-6#) for grouse and woodcock, and shorter barrels do = reduced weight. That being said, I seem to bang into about as many trees with 25-26" barrels as I do with 28" barrels. Don't think I've ever used anything longer than that in the woods. In open country, I think longer barrels may work better for some people because they do add just a little weight and maybe swing a bit better for that reason.
