doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Long barrel 20-bores

I've hunted grouse and woodcock in thick Michigan and Wisconsin cover using guns with 30-inch barrels and did not find them a hindrance which, not surprisingly, shows that nca225 doesn't know what he's talking about.

While barrels have been known to come into contact with trees when hunting grouse and woodcock--unless you spend all your time walking trails--it isn't often the last 2-3" that's the problem. That being said, extra barrel length = extra weight. Not a lot of weight saving going from 30" down to 28", but more significant if you go down to 25". All depends on what floats your boat.

For most part the English do not have problems with bushes and branches. They do driven game, woodpigeon on flight line or hunt behind dog in north Scotland where few if any trees grow. American likes to go deep into thick bush where favored weapon is old vintage short-barreled smoothbore 20ga Ithaca Deerslayer loaded with 7.5 or 8s. Great skeet gun too.

Please don't laugh..... my "grail gun" is Winchester 37 20ga with 32" barrels.

I have never found barrel length an issue as to working in cover I take my guns (30") guns all over and hunt thick African bush, pigeon hides, rough shooting, grouse in butts, driven pheasants etc. I don't think an inch or two ether way makes you any more likely to hit a tree with your gun etc. The only real exception would be a double rifle for African hunting in thick mopane scrub. Short barrels make the walking a lot easier.

I just thought this gun particularly nicely made, un messed with and the handling and balance characteristics 'feel' right. It will be interesting to see. Chambers are the standard 2 1/2"

I prefer 25 and 26 inch barrels for grouse,bobwhite and woodcock.I also have 27,28 ,30 and 32 inch smallbores. Bobby

Parker DHE 20 w/32" pipes.

Bob, That 32" Parker is just about as sleek as a gun can look. "Rapier like" is what comes to mind.

Like a fly rod!

What exactly is it that you're contributing to a discussion about the usefulness of long barreled guns in the grouse woods by turning it to a personal attack? Several other members posted about the propriety of sub 28" barrels while hunting grouse. Are you suggesting they don't know what they are talking about either? BTW, have you published any authority on the benefits of 30"+ barrels in the grouse woods. You seem to be holding yourself out as an authority on the matter cause what works for you must work for everyone else.

Or is it that since I figure you probably don't share my infamous politics or maybe you have been singed in the past by one of my legendary insults, but those are confined to a different forum, so why don't you keep it there champ.