Stanton, could your being a better shot with 32" barrels be something like the Dumbo feather syndrome ?
I have to admit that I had to look that one up, Daryl. I was unfamiliar with Dumbo's syndrome.
I believe it has everything to do with swing dynamics. Longer barrels move part of the mass of the gun outwards which, in effect, increases the effort to start the gun moving, but more importantly help keep the barrel moving at the shot. Stopping the gun is just easier with shorter barreled guns, for me. I fell in love with long barrels when I was but a very young adult. My Dad gave me a new 1100, 12 ga., for my 16th b'day. It had a 26" IC barrel. I learned to shoot it well. But, I wanted a choice of chokes for the variety of bird hunting I did/do. Remember, this was before screw-in chokes were available. So, I saved my money and bought a 28" Modified barrel, and a 30" Full barrel. Over the years I found myself gravitating to the 30", with the tight choke, more and more. I learned the importance of a smooth swing, and follow through at the shot. I think that the longer barrel made that easier for me, and it just "stuck".
When I began shooting sporting clays seriously, and joined the NSCA in order to compete in the big events and be eligible for class "punches", I used the 1100 and the 30" barrel until I literally shot it to pieces. The magazine tube came out of the receiver, was resoldered, and came out again. I retired it and bought a Valmet 412 O/U with 32" tubes. I really began to get better. Then, the old Perazzi was offered to me, with 31 1/2" tubes and I used it until I made it to Master class. Then, in about a year I began to lose interest in tournaments and the huge expense they had become. I'll keep that old MX8 until I am too feeble to shoot it anymore.
I grew up shooting doves and ducks, primarily. Follow through is obviously more important on them than on flushing birds. Had I grown up only shooting quail and woodcock I might have likely stuck with shorter barrels all my life, which would have been a handicap for me in sporting clays competition. Anyway, at my age I am not about to try to "mend my ways" in order to use shorter barreled shotguns. I love the way long barreled guns feel, perform for me, and look. I've got 'em, and I like 'em.
Thanks for asking. Keep warm!
