First hunt with 20 DHE with 30 inch barrels

Daniel G Rainey · 11-19-2019, 06:10 PM

Had shot skeet with the gun at the gun club but had not killed a bird with it.Doing a walk up hunt for Pheasants and huns shooting left over birds from a 1000 bird tower shoot a few days earlier at Prairie Wildlife. Have been thinking about the hunt since last Thursday. I think maybe there is something to this longer site plan. I am aware that with longer barrels it is harder stop your swing. I was 7 for 9 on Pheasants and 4 for 5 on huns. 11 birds for 15 shells, I am not that good. Most to my recent bird shooting has been with 16's with 28 inch barrels and I am not a bad shoot. The 20 DHE fits me but so do both of my 16's.Learned a while ago that if the gun does not fit there is no need to waste my money. At 74 I am not as quick as I once was I did notice that the birds fell 3 to 5 ft. further than normal. Maybe I was slower because of age or longer barrels or both. It was a great afternoon and most likely was nothing but pure luck. Will do a quail hunt and try the DHE 20. Wondering that in my sunset years if I have found the great bird gun. More hunts will tell the tell.

mobirdhunter · 11-19-2019, 08:00 PM

I think your shooting would qualify as excellent based on your report. Whatever the reason, I'd stick with the gun you used.

Any photos???

Double Lab · 11-19-2019, 08:45 PM

If those chokes on your 30" 20ga are original, they are probably M/F or F/F and with that you have discovered the beauty of tight chokes. Nice shooting Daniel.

Richard Flanders · 11-19-2019, 09:02 PM

In my quest to get better at shooting left-handed, I've found that I shoot my 30" guns far better than my 26" guns, regardless of gauge. I can shoot 75-80% on clays with my 30" tight-choked damascus DH12, which I have only ever hunted with once and haven't really shot that much compared to others in the pile. I do think that gun fit has a bit to do with it, and if I have a slow or sloppy mount the tight chokes will still break them way out there.

Randy Roberts · 11-19-2019, 09:15 PM

Nice shooting Daniel. The only thing lacking in this equation in order for you to properly determine the best barrel length would be to try a 32" DHE 20 on an 0 frame possibly. Gives you a good excuse to go shopping, just sayin

Daniel G Rainey · 11-20-2019, 07:17 AM

I am left handed, the chokes on the 20 DHE are 04 and 12. I have a 16 DHE with 32 inch barrels full and full that has worked well on tower shoots but I would hate to try to kill flushing birds with it.Need to learn to pictures.

Gary Laudermilch · 11-20-2019, 11:58 AM

Contrary to what some would say I find that choke combination to be near ideal. That .004 choke will hit hard further out than you might think. Of course the ammo is a large part of the equation as well. As for long barrels, to each his own.

mobirdhunter · 11-20-2019, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Laudermilch

Contrary to what some would say I find that choke combination to be near ideal. That .004 choke will hit hard further out than you might think. Of course the ammo is a large part of the equation as well. As for long barrels, to each his own.

Amen!