Right on mark with this one Phil,
I have one of those SKB 100's, great in the grouse woods but you really have to focus on pushing the muzzle past the bird before pulling the trigger when using this gun for pheasants. I have an 1187 in 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel, it seems to float past the bird or target all on its on, all I have to do is pull the trigger :)
Gun choice at this time is a Franchi Highlander s/s 20 gauge with 26 inch barrels. Moves very similar to the 1187 but seems easier to carry in the field, especially in the grouse woods !

With all due respect I have to take exception to some of what Phil writes. Quick reaction times are critical in the Uplands, especially with grouse and woodcock. I believe its important being able to get a shot off. For me this calls for light weight and over all gun BALANCE. Phil seems to lightly touch on Balance.

Light weight is a function of barrel length However; BALANCE is a product of the shooter physic. I’m certain shotgun BALANCE could be written in great volumes & detail. But I think the rule of thumb would be shoot as long of a barrel as you can as a shooter keeping that fluid follow through swing, but not causing undue fatigue carrying the gun afield.

Double guns can and should use longer barrel lengths. Pumps and Auto should use comparatively shorter barrels since the longer receivers affect BALANCE.

Also I believe 20-ga and smaller can and should use longer barrels than 12 and 16.

Hope this helps the blog.

26". 26".
That's what I shoot at ducks, geese, doves and pheasant.
12 or 20, it doesn't matter!
My preference only!

My preference has always been for 24-26" barrels for quail and other flushing birds and 28" for everything else. A 26" barrel SXS always seems to balance perfectly in the hands, but I like a little shorter barrel on pump guns for quail because of the longer receiver.
I agree completely with Phil about 28" barrels for crossing targets. Never saw any reason for anything shorter, or longer, for that matter.

O'did I hear an RF4C fly over my house?
(Ruby Ridge)

Besides, who needs a shotgun!

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm5RJYkdYss

Shooting Grouse in Alaska with the exception of Ptarmigan, why waste shotgun ammo. You can walk right up and pop'em in the head with a 22 pistol (Stupid birds)

Benelli Ultra Light weighs 6 pounds.
Franchi AL 48 weighs 5 1/2 pounds.
Browning Citori Lightning Feather 6 pounds 3 ounces.

I have always been able to shoot my 870 3" mag 12 gauge with 30" barrel much better than my Browning Light Twelve with 28" barrel. The Remington seems to be much heavier but to be honest I have never weighed my guns. I mostly use the Browning when pheasant hunting even though I shoot the 870 better. The latter has a full choke and often that smokes the birds a bit too much. The Browning has fixed modified. However, towards the end of the season when its cold and the birds are bunched up in the sage brush and spooky, I'll switch back to the 870. By then the shots are as often as not out there a ways. I always attributed the difference between how I shoot the two guns to their weight. Seems it might be barrel length?

My brother loaned me his el-cheapo Russian made K-Mart O/U six years ago when I first started re-hunting birds in Montana. It was a fairly heavy gun and I believe it had 28" barrels but I could not hit crap with that thing. Learning to fumble with two triggers probably had more to do with this gun's failure in my hands than weight or barrel length.

That's really good advice on barrel length, but what about the other end of a shotgun, the stock. perhaps you can use this on the tv show. what is good fit ? How does one find a factory made gun that is a close fit ? I've seen most people(including myself) throw a shotgun to their shoulder in the store does that really tell us anything ? How would a person find measure him or herself for proper fit. Does a person really need a perfect fit ?