I now have two 32" barreled 12 gauges, and I use them a great deal. LC Smith Ideal Grade LONGRANGE- 32" std file cut rib, F&F, 3" chambers, HOT and EJ-- and my latest acquisition- a 12 3E HOT EJ-- extra fitted set of 32" Nitro steel barrels. 3" chambers, reinforcing yoke same as on the LONGRANGE- small beavertail, and factory ventilated rib, also F&F. I use the LONGRANGE for geese and later season mallards with Bismuth shot loads, plan to use the 3E for tower pheasant shoots at our local club. Have already baptized the 3E on tell silo-circling in the wind barn pigeons- my favorite of all shotgun targets.
I have two side-by-sides with 28" barrels, both of which seem short and "stubby" to me, at age 75- and nowadays a pass shooter mainly- AH Fox Utica mfg. 20 Sterlingworth, and my late Father's 12 gauge M21-- the rest of my 12 gauge side-by-sides have 30" barrels, and I like their feel and balance mucho, whether walking behind bird dogs for pheasant, or for barn pigeons and crows as well.
One possible reason for that preference for 30" and 32" barrels comes from my long standing usage of 12 gauge Model 12's- I shoot better with a weight forward feeling, slightly muzzle heavy shotgun. You will note that I neither own or shoot either an Over/Under or a semi-autoloader- at my age, I ain't about to leave the guns I know as well as the other good friend a man has all his life (to paraphrase Hemingway in "True At First Light"--
The late Jack O'Connor espoused 26" barrels on his M21's-- worked for him, but not my cup of tea.
