Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

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m2244
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Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by m2244 » Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:04 am

Hello,

I am preparing to buy a Beretta 686 O/U in 2o ga. I am wondering what opinions are on barrel length for grouse hunting, 26 or 28 inch. I assume there is not a huge difference but I've been wrong before. I did read one person's opinion that a grouse gun can be too light causing it to lose some smoothness in the swing.

Thanks for the help.

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by Mountaineer » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:58 am

Had both...either works, either can be a plus or a minus.
Over a season neither will show an advantage for 2"....over a day or in a covert, perhaps.
Basically, much ado about nothing.
Barrel length, imo, is only one factor feeding into shootability...balance, which can be different even in identical lengths of barrel, is the important point and that often relates to the shooter and their particulars and, most importantly, desires.
Barrel length, gun weight, trigger number, rib, loads, chokes, etc. don't mean much in the practical sense unless any of them is at some extreme of measure.
You want to fret about a factor that will be important, especially with some lighter scatterguns....fret over the quality of the trigger....or keeping your head down, focus and all the other components of the shot itself.

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m2244
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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by m2244 » Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:42 pm

Mountaineer wrote: Barrel length, gun weight, trigger number, rib, loads, chokes, etc. don't mean much in the practical sense unless any of them is at some extreme of measure.
You want to fret about a factor that will be important, especially with some lighter scatterguns....fret over the quality of the trigger....or keeping your head down, focus and all the other components of the shot itself.
That's good advice.

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by bigeyedfish » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:46 pm

A decent trigger has to be the most underrated factor in shotgunning.

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by m2244 » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:10 am

bigeyedfish wrote:A decent trigger has to be the most underrated factor in shotgunning.
So does the 686 have a decent trigger or are you talking after-market?

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by Ruffshooter » Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:48 am

I like 26" barrels on my 20 grouse guns. Faster IMO. Or at least feels it. I like the balance better too. THere is not much time or swinging room in most Ruffed Grouse hunting.
The best part of training is seeing the light come on in your little prot'eg'e.

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by JIM K » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:42 am

most of your grouse hunting is POINT the gun in heavy woods.
pheasants is swing.
i have 28 inch beretta semi for pheasants and 26 inch franchi al48 for grouse in 20 ga.

if you have chance go try both lengths at gun shop .any type of SWINGING with gun i want LONG BARREL.
pointing IN HEAVY BRUSH I WANT 26 INCH BARREL.
if using gun for all birds, get 28 INCH length.

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Re: Beretta 686 barrel length opinions for grouse

Post by bigeyedfish » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:44 am

m2244 wrote:
bigeyedfish wrote:A decent trigger has to be the most underrated factor in shotgunning.
So does the 686 have a decent trigger or are you talking after-market?
I've only shot one 686, so I can't comment in general about them, but it was better than most of the guns I shoot (mostly semis and pumps). I was just agreeing with the comment above.

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