Shorter barrels generally make it harder to swing through a bird. I had to adjust going from a 28" to 26". It makes a difference. Not sure on 24", is it more of a youth model?

 

I believe the micro is a smaller framed gun. LOP would probably be an issue. Balance might be off.

Citori's are great guns. My buddy shoots one competitively without issues. For reference, he wore out a BPS by putting "About 60k rounds through it"

I have BPD (bird procurement devices, as my daughter was not allowed to use the term "gun" in a story at school once" with 21 (20 youth), 24 (20), 26 (16), 26, and 30" barrels, granted all pumps or semis, and shoot them all about the same. As long as they fit well and I do my part.

 

Yes, the micro is considered a ladies / youth model. 24 barrel and a shorter length of pull.

The biggest thing to consider is that the gun fits you. If the gun fits you, it will shoot where you're looking.

 

okay I suspected it might be smaller thank you for confirmation. at 5 7 and 180 lb I think I should be looking at standard size gun. Thanks!

 

I have two 24" 12g Remingtons, i think they are called special fields. One has an english stock which i prefer

I would never hunt grouse with a longer barrel, which would get caught up more often in the thick stuff

Having to swing faster is not an issue, it is a necessity. A member of my duck club was known, and chuckled about behind his back, for being an incredibly poor shot. He would go thru a box of shells and only get 1-2 ducks, or none. Then one year he limited on both days of the opener, went 4/5. We were blown away, asked him what he was doing differently. He held up his 24" barrel. So, when i get in a slump duck hunting, i take out my 24" grouse gun and it gets me back on track

Besides, there is a wide pattern using 7 1/2s

 

I use a 21" barrel for grouse. I always liked those special fields with the straight stock.

 

The undisputed greatest grouse gun to ever grace this earth comes only in 24" barrel.

 

Some of us would really like to know what gun this is!

 

I have heard this kinda topic many times. Game guns should be short and lite. That’s why there is a lot of english 20’s with 24,25,26” barrels. Swing is completely up to the shooter. Ex: you shoot a 30”beretta dt10 or 11 which is a 9-10lb gun then immediately move to a 26” silver pigeon 6lb gun it will feel twitchy. Practice with what gun you buy and there will be know issue. My stock is cut down to 12”lop and I can mount faster cause of it. I’m 6’2” 225lbs and I can shoot a consistent 20 on the skeet field with my daughters youth 870.My buddy is going from a 870 with 28”barrel to a youth 870 21” barrel. He shot my daughters and loved it. 28” barrels and longer are for club shooters. They have no idea what it’s like walking around the woods with that boat ore. Don’t get sucked into the hype of smooth swing crap. If you shot a 18” barrel for a couple weeks you would get used to it. And to try to help u out I will let you use my daughters youth or even my cut down gun. Pm me and if you aren’t far from me I’ll come shoot with u.

 

23" and 21" 870 Special Field 20s

 

This general topic comes up every year. Here's the thread from last year.
https://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/threads/o-u-barrel-length-26-or-28.623976/
Lots of good information on here. In one of the posts there is a link to a Field and Stream article worth reading. . . the results of which seems to surprise a lot of people.

 

All my son uses for everything in MI is a 24" 20ga Beretta 390. He hits what he's aiming at. Whats not to like?

 

I have a browning O/U straight stocked that I use for grouse. I believe the barrels are 25 inches. It shoots well in the field. My daughter took it to the skeet range one day and has since been known as the punisher.


Sent from my iPhone using Michigan Sportsman mobile app

 

I would 100% disagree with several posts on this thread. No way would I ever buy a 24" gun for any reason.

 

Bought an older Franchi 20 gauge semi auto two years ago with 24" barrel, gun is stupid lightweight. Haven't hunted with it yet but have no problem shooting skeet with it. It also came with a 28" barrel I have yet to use, bought the gun for grouse hunting.

 

Shorter, quicker handling and less chance of interrupting your swing.

 

This thread shows diversity of opinion, for sure

I would never use longer than 24" barrel
I would never use o/u

A couple times when i only had duck guns with me i had a chance to grouse hunt. A 28" barrel is like walking with a javelin, getting caught in the brush, hitting a trunk and stopping the swing. As mentioned, i prefer 24" for ducks too

Reason for no o/u is what happened one day when my remington auto was not ejecting. Dad said i could use his backup o/u. We flushed a bird which i clearly saw landed in some downed tree stumps in a crease heading up a hill, with no other cover = wide open shot. As i was getting to the landing spot, i had my thumb on the safety while i scanned the few remaining stumps. Not looking at where I was stepping, i tripped on a log and started falling head first. My thumb ran the safety off and either a branch or my finger touched the safety. Only accidental misfire i had had. I saw this happen twice to dad as he tripped. Fortunately the dog was elsewhere.

Never again for o/us!

 

I don't feel like arguing today. The OP will have to figure this out for himself.

 

I think that a lot of people don't understand that you can't compare barrel lengths between O/Us and Automatics. For example- most autos with a 26" barrel will be slightly longer than most O/Us with a 28" barrel.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Michigan Sportsman mobile app

 

I think that a lot of people don't understand that you can't compare barrel lengths between O/Us and Automatics. For example- most autos with a 26" barrel will be slightly longer than most O/Us with a 28" barrel.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Michigan Sportsman mobile app

Exactly what I was going to mention.My Benelli montrefeltro has a 26 inch barrel and my early model superposed browning 20 gauge o/u has a 26 inch barrel.The benelli is 4 inches longer so a 24 inch benelli is still 2 I inches longer then my o/u.The fit,balance,and choke is relevant to how well you shoot the gun.Drop of comb,trigger pull length,and cast on or cast off for eye dominance(crossover) are to be considered.

 

Thanks for the replies. I can plainly see the answer is TO EACH THEIR OWN

 

28" for me and sometimes a 30".

 

I've hunted grouse with a 24" barrel just fine, but not often. It was a Winchester 1300 with a 24" cylinder bore barrel.

Keep in mind no one does, and no one should, come to me for shotgun advice. Most of my bird hunting is more like taking my shotgun for a walk.

 

In my youth I shot grouse and woodcock with a TC contender 410 -10 inch barrel over dogs . now I use 28`s and 20`s OU`s and pumps and auto`s I think what ever gun you shoot well is the one you want . my next Skeet gun will have 28inch barrels (12ga) the one I have now is 26 inch Ruger red label English stock about 20,000 rounds I average 23-24 skeet . can`t wait to get a real gun made just for Skeet!

 

I just bought a fox 16 ga sxs, any thoughts should i cut it down to 20 inches or so?

 

I would and then ream it out to 20ga...hahaha

 

Took my Remington special field in for cleaning, thought I would verify my statement on this post that i was using 24" barrel

I was wrong

Gun shop measured 20.5"

So i think it's a 21"

Apologies

 

I’d like a pic aswell