Tall John Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Many coach guns come with a 20" bbl, yet most of the SKB's coach guns that I've seen on the wire are 22", mine included. Is there any particular reason why some like the extra 2" on the SKBs? I've found a 26" SKB100 "safe queen" that has supposedly never been fired and am trying to decide what bbl length I want. I've even considered just putting a big brass sight on the 26" since I already have a 22" for a backup or tight spaces and I will never likely be a top contender. Let me have it...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
July Smith Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Assuming we are talking about internally hammered guns, the extra barrel length does help cock the hammers better. Of course with how well most SASS smiths can slick up and lighten springs the difference between 2" is mainly personal choice. I have two SASS ready SKBs, one is 21" the other is 23", I personally prefer the longer barrels. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Balance and better hold open. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 If you lack a shotgun for cowboy clays side matches that 26-inch SKB would do well and still be a main match backup shotgun. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 30" barrels are a lot of fun. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leroy Luck Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 My main SKB was cut to 18” before I bought it and had it smithed. I absolutely love the shortest rifles/shotguns I can get. Most people like them longer for the above mentioned reasons. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 SKB's are fairly lightweight. A lot of people think they balance better with slightly longer barrels. Purely a matter of personal preference. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish ike, SASS #43615 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 When I bought my SKB and had it slicked up I asked why 22" barrels. He said, opens faster, stays open, and cocks the hammers confidently. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I would not go less than 20” as I once had a 20” shotgun that had the rib cone loose at the end. Gunsmith was able to cut 1.75” off, and made a good repair. Had it been shorter likely would have been unable to repair and kept legal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend P. Babcock Chase Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Howdy Tall, Don't cut the barrels. The longer the barrel, the closer you are to the knockdown. If you already have a coach gun, try shooting the SKB with the full length barrels. You may like it. Also, it will be a more versatile gun for moving targets. Rev. Chase 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 As to why I like longer barrels, I started out with a 20" 97 (and occasionally a 19-3/4" Parker) and I did okay with it. Anyway, I wanted to have a long barrel 97, "just to have" one. Found one with a 30" full choke. Had to try it. Enjoyed it so much, partly because I practically never missed with it like I do with the short barrel, that it became my main match shotgun. I also eventually found a 30" F/F Parker, and that's my main "occasional" gun, but I really enjoy shooting it too. Another nice thing about longer barrels is that they tend to recoil less than short barreled ones do. My most recent acquisition is a 97 Black Diamond Trap Gun, and it is a really sweet shooter. Seems to come up quicker than a regular field grade gun. Although it is a minority opinion, I think if more people actually tried the long barrels, they might like them. Maybe not, but I think far too many won't even give it a try. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 The best repair of a loose rib does not usually involve shortening the barrel. "Just" re-lay the rib - which is an art. good luck, GJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tall John Posted June 25 Author Share Posted June 25 Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted June 25 Share Posted June 25 Personal Preference. My preference is Eighteen and a Quarter inches. However, I have a really nice Pietta 1878 Replicant with Twenty Two inch barrels I really like and think it too nice to cut. What ever floats yer boat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlin Schofield Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 18-20" barrels are considered Riot length with a cylinder bore (widest pattern) and are not legal for hunting, 22" are legal for hunting and come choked cylinder to extra full or combinations of or with interchangeable chokes for trap/field that's why SKB's, Browning's etc. are all 22" or longer. For Cowboy or Wild Bunch anything from 18" -32" will work, cylinder bore is best for Cowboy/WB, the shorter the lighter and faster to swing, Since the barrel is choked in the last 3" when you cut it you will end up with a cylinder bore or more depending of the gun. You should always pattern your shotgun after cutting the barrel and adjust the point of aim by the height/diameter of the front bead. My 97's are 20" with a .125 bead as Winchester used on their Riot's, My doubles, Charles Daly's 26" cut to 22" with a .175 bead and TTN 1878 20" with a .200 bead. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 6 hours ago, Marlin Schofield said: 18-20" barrels are considered Riot length with a cylinder bore (widest pattern) and are not legal for hunting, Say what? I've never heard of such a restriction. Is that a California thing? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 Say What?? (Echo Echo). I have also never heard of such. Same same question, dat a California thing?? A NEW California thing?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 First, before chopping barrels, try the gun at matches. I am 6'3" and can use a 24" barrel without problem unless it has a low roof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L Posted June 30 Share Posted June 30 21 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said: Say what? I've never heard of such a restriction. Is that a California thing? 16 minutes ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said: Say What?? (Echo Echo). I have also never heard of such. Same same question, dat a California thing?? A NEW California thing?? That's what 'd me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlin Schofield Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Yes...it is a CA F&G law along with NO lead shot or lead bullets. I hunt with a Browning B80 22" barrel and when ever I've encountered F&G...it's let me see your shotgun so I can measure the barrel. As of today all Firearms, Precursor parts and Ammo have an 11% FET (Firearms Excise Tax) when sold to a CA resident whether from out of state sold into CA or sold in state. The FFL is responsible for the FET quarterly on gross sales of above with the only exception being sales to LE and retired LE. As of Jan. 1t 2024 all of us FFL's (cost me $1500.00 for 1 camera and a NVR unit with 6TB storage) install audio/visual 24/7/365 monitoring of our sales areas, firearm display/storage, ammo storage which has to be in locked display cases and all exits. As of 7/1/24 all CA FFL's are now subject to a mandatory 3 year inspection by CA DOJ, mines 7/17. The inspector told he when he made the appointment that they have been buried with FFL dealer closure inspections due to all of the above. Needless to say after 25yrs of having an FFL when I finish selling my collection on Gunbroker I too will be closing my dealership. Welcome to Newsolini's ( my Wife's nickname) Peoples Republic of CA. God help us if Newscum (Trumps Nickname) ever becomes President. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 If those scum can't take them away from you, they'll make it so you can't buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
"Big Boston" Posted July 2 Share Posted July 2 Just a bit of shotgun technical trivia. On a true cylinder bore, the barrel length has a fairly big influence on the pattern. How big a pattern you need depends on the type and distance your target is at. As a general rule of thumb, below 21" the pattern does open up, a fair bit. You can gain some pattern back with wad choice, but if shortening, shoot a test pattern first. Screw in chokes are a good tuning tool. I like a Skeet choke if it has tubes. Barrel length influences the POI. The shorter the barrel, the higher a shotgun tends to shoot. It's a good policy to test the shotgun first. It also has to do with how the shotgun fits you. I find most shotguns will shoot higher after the barrels are shortened, installing a big front bead helps lower the pattern. For a Cowboy shotgun, you can tune a bit with the LOP. Unless you have a brain that can remember how each one of your guns shoot, a spare that matches your main gun is a good idea. The more you practice the better you'll hit. I was at a match recently where the shotgun targets were about 16 yards away and about the size of a large paint can (1 gallon app). My Cyl choke '97 hit well, but not with great authority. My load was one ounce of shot at 1100 fps. I had some 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps loads just in case, but they were not needed. If you miss a cowboy shotgun target, the issue is likely a flinch on your part. It doesn't take much of a twitch to miss. Slapping the trigger and a fast hammer help. A bit of mercury in the stock doesn't hurt either. In addition, SxS shotguns with external hammers mess with you head. Your eye sees the hammer drop and your brain tells you the hurt is coming, focus on the target, and your brain will filter out the hammers. I remember the first time I shot a '97, the sight of the bolt travelling back scared me at first, now I don't even see it. BB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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