AZGunut Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Hi Everyone, I have been trying to decide between two extremes and wanted a little input. The 2 main shotguns want to use for 3 gun are a Benelli M2 Tactical with. 18.5" Barrel and Ghost Rings and a 28" Remington Versa Max. Funny thing is the weight and loading of the Benelli is much nicer to me than the Versa Max. Only issue I have had is its a bit harder to throw and remove the Versa Max from barrels fue to the overall length. Main question is how much will the shorter barrel hurt me in aerials and longer shots and overall? Any opinions will be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 your load tube only holds 8 or less rite? or the tube sticks out 3" past the end of the 18 barrel. The sights on the 18 barrel will jurt you more than any thing else. I personaly would rather stay home than shoot a gun with gost rings. I have a 21 gun and a 24 " gun , I like the 24" gun twice as much as the 21" having the sight farther away from my older eyes makes the sight check much better when I have to line up on a longer shot. An old guys gumpy out look would be . - any thing an 18" shotgun is better for than a 28" shotgun , in that case a pistol is better than the 18" shotgun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt in TN Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 And on the other side of that argument - I use an 18.5" 870 (6rd tube) with ghost rings exclusively for 3-gun, and love it. If you're consistantly finishing in the top 3 and want to move to #1, then an 18.5" probably isn't for you. If you like the handiness of a short shotgun for other areas of life and want to get out and shoot it - go for it! I would recommend screw in chokes, regardless of your barrel length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhill Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 In my opinion shoot whichever is most comfortable to you. I personally like the 22" Versamax Tactical. I currently have the 26" but will be switching soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DyNo! Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 If you have a good selection of chokes the length of your barrel doesn't really matter. Like Alamo said, the sights will hurt you more than anything else - but ghost rings can be shot in 3-gun. (I did it for a few years) I wouldn't recommend anything other than a vent rib but run what you've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I would rather have a vent rib barrel but I would come out and shoot with a double barrel if that's all I had. Shooting is fun, shooting in matches is more fun. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRider Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I shot an 18" M1S90 with ghost rings and changable chokes for a few years in 3 gun. I loved the way the gun felt, I even hit more flying clays with it than I did with my 24" gun the first year that I used the 24" gun. The biggest drawback to me was the velocity loss (or percieved velocity loss, I never chronoed the two) and by the time I put a competitive length mag tube on it, I had the length of a 24" arrel without the benefits of the longer barrel. I can knock steel down from farther away with the same choke and load out of my 24" gun. I have now gotten used to the vent rib and really like the sight radius also. If I were faced with the choice that you are faced with, I would compete with the gun that I liked shooting the best. Hurley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZGunut Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Thanks for all of the replies. In full disclosure I also have a FNH SLP MK1 in 22", but haven't got it to run 100% yet. I guess the main draw to the Benelli is its simplicity, plus I have only really shot one match with the Versa Max, but have had a couple of hiccups with it. The Benelli has a plus six Nordic tube on it so the overall length is probably about what a 23-24" barrel would be. I do have a Briley LM and IC extended choke for the benelli as well. I have a friend who shot his 18.5" M1S90 at th SMM3G match this last weekend and he had a bunch of issues with small plates with birdshot and the heavy plates with buckshot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthrngnr Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 AZ gunut, I started out with a 18.5 M2 tactical. I had some issues with some longer shots on steel, but I mostly ran the factory Mod choke. As others have said if that is what gets you out shooting 3 gun then run it ( until you can upgrade ). I'm running a 21" M2 now and I'm glad I made the switch , and the 3" longer barrel did make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roxymajor Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 No problems here. 18.5" rifle sights with chokes. . 9+1 tube. My option is ghost rings are very slow and you will be trading the barrel shortly. If you get one message me and I can help you set up. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJW Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I run an 18.5" M2 tactical and a Nordic extension allowing me to hold ten rounds. I have had no problems with this combination. I did have some work done, including swapping the front sight out for a fiber optic dot, which helps a lot. For bird targets I don't really look at the ghost ring; when I get to buck or slugs, I use the rear sight and the gun is dead-nuts accurate out to 75+ yards (tested on a zeroing range; I've hit match targets at 100 yards) with any choke from Skeet to Light Full that I have tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted April 18, 2013 Share Posted April 18, 2013 An 18.5" isn't to short but I'd opt for a vent rib on any length barrel over a ghost ring on my favorite length barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassnbud Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 I ran a Benelli M1 18.5" with Ghost Rings for about 5 years. It was alittle slower than a vent rib but it was death on slugs. I did have the lifter welder by C-rums but nothing else. I now run a Salient 21" M2 and love it. I also have a M2 being worked on by RAS. I do miss the 18.5" on car stages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 (edited) Run a 28 inch gun here with a tube past the end of the Gun and love it with a fixed mod choke. I have a flush tube and a 22 inch with chokes also. I come from a skeet background so I'm use to heavy shotguns and like the extra weight and length. Sights are a personal preference but I definately prefer a vent rib. Then a smooth barrel with a bead post on the end and rifle sights and ghost ring very far last. Heck I would even take a bead over a red dot Edited April 22, 2013 by EkuJustice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnjus Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 I went with a 24 so I could use it for hunting too. Im a decently big guy too and thought even a 21" would be a bit short for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasbdog Posted April 25, 2013 Share Posted April 25, 2013 I bought one to use in 3 gun and used it in one match. Had a hard time with the ghost sights and the RO suggested I sell it and get a 21 or 24" m2. I sold it the next week and have really enjoyed the 21" m2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60crewman Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Taran butler built me an 18.5 m1. With rifle sights. Best shotgun I have ever used for 3 gun period. I have had them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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