[txdrmst]

Hunted with a 26" Browning Citori for many years. Pheasant, Grouse, Woodcock, and lots of rabbits went to the dinner table. For quick pointing and swinging in tight cover I loved it. Also just a bit lighter is always nice when carrying it all day.

 

[nick1]

For hunting, I like 20ga with 26. I actually also like my LT-20 Youth that I put wood on with a 21. Light, walk around all day with it. Here in the desert we walk alot!

 

[justbrakeit]

I shoot a Beretta a400 Unico for waterfowl. When I was shopping I wanted a 28 but they didn't have one so I reluctantly bought the 26 inch. I will never go back. 26 is perfect. Quick, swings well and is great in a blind. Like it for pheasant too.

 

[chuck.556]

Depends on the area you hunt. If you hunt wide open places it wouldn't be a factor at all. If you hunt thick brushy areas it will seem like you hang the barrel on everything trying to move around. One of the most annoying things for me is a longer barrel sticks above my head and hangs on things when carried on my shoulder with a sling.

 

[Carl_in_NH]

Got an old Citori trap gun, circa 1986. Came with two barrel sets - long set with a higher rib and Invector chokes, and a 26" set with fixed Modified over IC. Kills ruffed grouse nicely in the northern woods. Lots of thick cover to bang the barrels around in, making shorter better for the application. Might think it would be too heavy to carry, but it's almost a pound lighter than my 11-87 with the synthetic stock, which I brought along for those days where the sky kept opening up.

 

[Elwood79]

I hunt pheasant and chucker with a Belgian browning superposed lightning 12ga with 26” barrels. Easy to carry and points quickly on pointed birds. Very nice for upland hunting.

 

[richardschennberg]

Howdy all!

What are your thoughts on 26” barrels for hunting? It seems these are unwanted due to a 28” or 30” barreled gun in the resale market.


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26" won't affect how it shoots very much. But it will be easier to handle than a gun with a longer barrel if you are walking through difficult terrain, hilly, or lots of underbrush.

 

[Jbadams4211]

I prefer 26” barrels but I am dove and duck hunting with a pump. I had a 28” 835 and it never felt right.

 

[Mallard Cutter]

Hunted ducks for years with a Citori with 26” barrels. Last few years I moved to a 28” barrel and really couldn’t tell a difference. My 20 gauge quail gun is a Citori with 26” barrels. Not too heavy and a joy to shoot.

 

[TXTexasTX]

They always work fine for me

 

[Gunstock]

I have many over and under field guns but the one I shoot the best is an older 26" 20g Caesar Guerini with an alloy receiver. I must be the 25th owner and it looks like it has shot 50,000 shells.
However it fits like a glove and I rarely miss flushing grouse and woodcock with this one. At 5 1/2 lbs its easy to carry in the woods all day and I don't get snagged when working through thick cover.

 

[The Canuck]

I've shot 26" barreled guns for hunting for years. Nothing wrong with a 26". I had one on a Gold 10. With the 26 on that big receiver the OAL was the same as my 12 ga auto's with 30" barrels. It was a goose killing machine and much, much nicer to swing and get up from a layout blind with than the 30" spare it came with.

 

[Edcnh]

Got an old Citori trap gun, circa 1986. Came with two barrel sets - long set with a higher rib and Invector chokes, and a 26" set with fixed Modified over IC. Kills ruffed grouse nicely in the northern woods. Lots of thick cover to bang the barrels around in, making shorter better for the application. Might think it would be too heavy to carry, but it's almost a pound lighter than my 11-87 with the synthetic stock, which I brought along for those days where the sky kept opening up.

I have a CZ 26” O/U in 20 gauge which is a great grouse gun in the New England woods. I also have a Citori Hunter in 12 gauge with 28” barrels but prefer the 26”. Also the 20 gauge is quite a bit lighter which makes a difference when carrying it all day.

 

[colonel klink]

I like a 26 inch barreled O/U for skeet. I don't move as fast as I used to, slower to the target if I can even see the darn thing.
A 26 just moves faster to me. If I find a decent one I just may give it a new home, ya never know.

 

[bwbsp10]

26” on semi auto’s are the same length as OU with 30”barrels. Why would you want to swing and drag all of that extra gun/weight around? Quick and fast in the field Is the only way to go.

 

[MDeY]

Bought my son a used Weatherby (SKB) with 26" for use in new growth poplar in Michigan chasing grouse.
Works great there and cedar swamps.

 

[SecondChance]

I've shot 26" barreled guns for hunting for years. Nothing wrong with a 26". I had one on a Gold 10. With the 26 on that big receiver the OAL was the same as my 12 ga auto's with 30" barrels. It was a goose killing machine and much, much nicer to swing and get up from a layout blind with than the 30" spare it came with.

Exactly!!! That's why l just had my Big Mag 10 cut down to 26" and tubed. Swings great from layout blinds to pits and boats. Will try it from a pop up blind on turkeys n coyotes as well.
I have 3 20ga O/Us and all have 26" barrels. Love em all. Make great dove guns.

 

[capt4fish]

I’ve got an old Ithaca with 26in barrel. My fav gun to hunt with.

 

[CharlieAMA]

My granddad shot a Model 21 with 28" barrels for years to hunt ducks with. 12guage with full and full. I shot it for years after he quit hunting until I out grew it. Great gun!

 

[MecMan1100!]

I use a 26" barrel for upland hunting, in 12 and 20 gauge. Like em both alot.