21" or 24" Benelli for 3 gun?

[ShaneP]

So I'm in the market to purchase or acquire a new shotgun for 3 gun, and wanted to see what everybody's opinion is. I'm leaning towards the 24" since I've only ever shot that size and feel comfortable with it. I also feel that the additional 3" would help if there were some farther steel shots. Is there an advantage to one or the other? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Motojunkie]

I honestly don't think it matters a whole lot. I own two 3 gun shotguns that I've been using and practicing with that are 21" & 22", and they work just fine. I've handled and fired 24", and I personally don't think it would either help or hinder me. I'm interested in what the pros say about this as they're probably more "in tune" with their equipment than I am at this point.

 

[jtischauser]

It really doesn't matter. The biggest thing I notice when I pick up a 26 or 24" is that it's a few ounces heavier which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[RyanReed]

You won't notice much of a difference. I started with a 24", then sold it when I got a 21". I kinda wish I'd kept both.

 

[JTMaddox]

I run a 26" barrel on my M2, which is still about an inch shorter than my 10 rd tube. I figured if I was going to run the long tube anyway I might as well take advantage of the slightly longer sight radius. Plus I was able to find a better price on a 26 than on a 21" or 24" gun. There may be some disadvantages to this that I don't know enough to realize, but it seems to work pretty well and feels more "balanced" to me.

Anybody else running a 26" barrel?

 

[ShaneP]

Thanks for the input. I'd prefer the 24" over the 21" just for personal preferance alone unless someone could convince me that the 21" was superior in some way.

I'd never thought about the 26", but that is an option as well especially if I can get one slightly cheaper than the 24".

 

[Matt1911]

I run a 26"... It's been awesome for me. The extra barrel length really helps knock down steel at distance and the +7 tube with a briley extended choke in the barrel makes it almost flush at the end. I haven't had any problems with ports or walls using the longer barrel and the weight difference is minimal.

 

[ShaneP]

Did anyone purchase locally or did you purchase through the Internet? Best place to purchase?

If Matt is putting up his times with a 26" then maybe it's between 24" and 26" now.

 

[Matt1911]

I got mine @ h&h. I'm sure I overpaid, but lay-away was the only way I could afford it.

 

[JTMaddox]

I'm sure I overpaid, but lay-away was the only way I could afford it.

3-gun rent-a-center style... a plan i can identify with, seems like my credit card is seeing a lot of usage for ammunition purchases these days

 

[Matt1911]

I hear ya. I got a couple thousand rounds of brass deprimed and belled this weekend, now I gotta call J&K cause I'm gettin low on boolits.

 

[JTMaddox]

Matt - PM sent

 

[jtischauser]

Everytime I pickup my 24" M1 vs my 21" M2 the M2 feels faster cause it lighter.

 

[Matt1911]

How much difference is there in the weight of an M1 vs. M2 with same barrel length? Any at all?

 

[ShaneP]

Not sure about the M1 vs. M2 topic, but I did check on Benelli's site about the different barrel lengths. The "average weight" for each of the discussed barrel lengths is 21"- 6.9 lbs, 24" 7.0lbs, and 26" 7.1lbs. Which is a difference of 1.6 ounces per increment in length.

 

[jtischauser]

Not sure about the M1 vs. M2 topic, but I did check on Benelli's site about the different barrel lengths. The "average weight" for each of the discussed barrel lengths is 21"- 6.9 lbs, 24" 7.0lbs, and 26" 7.1lbs. Which is a difference of 1.6 ounces per increment in length.

Since its on the end of the gun it feels like more. But as stated previously it's not a big deal.

My 18.5" barrel M2 is really light and feels awesome!

 

[ShaneP]

Thanks for the info guys.