26'' or 28'' barrel?

So now that Im all excited for buying my benelli nova in about a month (poll I posted last night helped seal the deal), I dont know what size barrel to get. Both are the same price. Ill be shooting targets, but will also be duck and turkey hunting hopefully as well. Whats everyones take on this?

 

I like my 28" Lets me "reach out and touch something".

For such a long weaopn, it still swings great. I'd like to get a short barrel for when it's at home, but it's just as expensive as buying a whole new one.

 

26 is good for the duck hunting. It gets caught up less on the blind or weeds. 28 is good for targets . I hunt with both. I would definitely think twice about getting a nova. They are way to sloppy in the forearm. JMO. I'm not a big beneli fan. My buddy has a SBE and that need to be repaired before he could use it. It would not cycle. Guns are like trucks everyone has issues that others don't. Get what feels comfortable to you.

 

my nova is a 28. its a nice reliable gun. great for waterfoul (its been partially submerged in water), pheasant, and really anything. it hasnt jammed or broken on me yet and ive had it over 3 years.

 

Iv shouldered a few and they just feel way better to me than the remington 870 or mossberg 500. From what iv heard, I really cant go wrong with any of them and the nova just felt better

 

I think i missed your previous poll, I've had a Benelli Nova for about 4 years and to be honest with you i'm not a big fan, unless they have started making them different. Don't get me wrong, I've killed a bunch of turkey, a couple deer (i have a rifled slug barrel for it) and a few geese but I would take a rem 870 over it any day of the week. I actually just bought one a month ago to replace the nova. My biggest complaint of the Nova was the noisy/sloppy fore end. Kinda heavy too.
Sorry just had to throw my 2cents in there.


Anyways, 26" barrel for me...

 

thanks for the input, I just get more and more torn every time I do research. I have a feeling when I do get the $$ together im pretty much going to throw a dart between the three. And two of my buddies have the 870 and like it, but I thought Id try something different

 

I have a 28" on my 870 while I'm hunting and a 16" on it while I'm at home.

 

I struggled with that choice and finally decided to buy both barrels. It was the only way I could settle my mind.

 

I like the 28 for the targets and duck hunting. But the 26 for the Turkey (only bc its easier to get thru the woods). I love the swing w the long barrel tho.

 

I have a Benelli nova 20 gauge youth model and that little sucker kicks harder than any other 20 I've shot and I've been shooting for 30yrs. I did add a limb saver slip on pad which helped a great deal. My first pump was a 20 gauge 870 lightweight and it was an amazing gun. No comparison between the two but they are constructed completely different. (wood vs. synthetic) Highly recommend a good 12 gauge semi auto for duck detail....My Beretta A390 has spoiled me. 26" barrel for me in the duck blind.

 

Either barrel will do a fine job.
While I primarily hunt pheasant with some occasional dove or grouse, I prefer the faster swing of a 26 inch barrel. Additionally, if your going to do a lot of walking the 26 inch drops a few ounces of weight, which even though it doesn't seem like much it definitely makes a difference after a couple hours of hunting. For duck and turkey your not typically walking as much and either model would work.

 

Either will be fine... I prefer 28, you can also get 26 and if you want it a little longer, you can get an improved mod choke

 

Best gun on the market IMO think never jams and shoots awesome! Get a 28'' for sure makes it feel like a shotgun I love mine!

 

Bad reason to choose a gun.

Good reason to choose a gun.

The easiest way to test for fit:
Go to a gun shop that has all 3 guns, grab one, hold it by your side, close your eyes, shoulder it, then open your eyes. Try this with each gun. The one that ends up with you looking straight and flat down the barrel fits you the best. Buy that one, period. You don't aim a shotgun, you point one. You want the one that naturally points the best. If more than one are equal, then choose based on looks, price, trigger feel, whatever.

26" is your "all-around" barrel. The shorter barrel shoulders and swings faster for snap shots.

28" swings smoother and steadier but is not as quick. A 3 1/2" chamber with a 28" barrel is a LONG gun. If your planning on using it in cramped blinds or swinging it around a hallway for home defense, you probably don't want this barrel.

A longer barrel gives you more velocity, but only to a point. Once all of the powder has burned, the lead is slowing down. Most tests I've seen don't show 28" barrels sending lead any faster than 26" barrels because the powder is all burned by the time it gets to the muzzle of either.

 

thats a really good idea. Iv had trouble finding a shop with all three. Iv shoudlered the 870 and the 500 together buut the benelli seperatly. Ill have to try to do that though

 

I have the nova with a 28", its awesome!

 

Dude, ducks and turkeys, 28" if not 30". Target clay, dove, quail 26". Patten each # shot form each manufacturer. The new shot flies different than lead shot and not everyone is using the same steel make of shot. I'm loading my own because it don't want steel shot going out my old bird guns.

 

I hope to go after duck mainly. I havtn been hunting since I was 8 and that was for pheasant but im itching to get me some quackers, so 28 seems the way for me

 

You can even get a little more advanced on the eyes closed test. If you open your eyes and you can see the whole top rib (slightly looking down on it), you're going to shoot high. People like this when shooting at things going up like trap and pheasant. If you're looking dead down the barrel where you can not see the top of the rib but you can still see the whole bead, it will shoot where you point. If the bottom of the bead is slightly blocked by the back end of the rib, the gun will shoot a little low. A lot of duck hunters like this because they are shooting at something that is coming down.