[Ange]

Like many other aspects of Duck hunting, it comes down to what fits you the best and more importantly, works best. I don’t see much difference berween 26” and 28” barrels but I prefer 26” barrels. I hunt Arkansas flooded timber and you need to be nimble.

What I cannot stand is the feel of an extended choke on any length shotgun barrel. I prefer the factory modified choke. While the pattern may not be as good as the high end aftermarket options, I find that a shotgun————-when fitted properly———-when fitted properly…….shoots EXACTLY where I point with the factory Modified flush choke on Benelli Crio and Browning Invector plus barrels whereas with extended chokes it can shoot high or shoot low or to the right or to the left or a combination thereof. I know there is only a small difference with the extended choke but flush chokes feel and swing better to me.

It is all about personal preference and what works best for you. For me, give me the 26” barrel and a factory modified choke.

 

[Ange]

I hunt public timber. Late in the season, I hunt in the thickets when the Ducks get hole shy. I am always standing in ankle deep to knee deep water sometimes waist deep. I am 5’-7”. A 26” works best for me but I have killed Ducks in the same conditions with a 28” barrel. Like I said, I just don’t like having a 3/4” to 2” extended choke hanging off the end of a barrel. It affects my swing. Yes 1/2 of it is 90% mental but my performance in the woods, at the skeet range and hunting Quail and Pheasant is better with a box stock barrel be it 26” or 28”. One thing is for sure, when I shoot a box stock shotgun that is properly fitted to me, the shotgun shoots where I point. Any aftermarket, extended choke I have ever used shoots high or shoots low or to the left or too the right. Some may say compensate for it. No can do. I must have a shotgun that shoots where I point it.

 

[Ange]

In the spirit of full disclosure, I went to our community gun range last Saturday and Sunday. (You know you’re a red neck if your HOA has its own gun range.). I did more shooting with the Kicks High Flyer Full for the Invector Plus barrel. The extra length does not impede my shooting and my patterns are better than with the flush factory Modified choke. I believe the Kicks HF full measures .722. If my facts are straight, .722 falls between a BIP Improved Cylinder and Light Modified thus with steel shot I am patterning Modified. I am an avid Gray’s Sporting Journal man. The general idea at Gray’s has always been Modfied is the best catch all pattern since it not only yields a decent pattern inside the 30” circle but an optimal shot string as well. While on the subject of Gray’s, I subscribe to their notion that instead of opting for 20 gauge or an exotic fodder, just go with 2-3/4” 12 Gauge if you want less gauge. Anyway, I am fully disclosing my new Duck gun direction.