what are the benefits of a really long shotgun barrel?

[Mr. Friendly]

today I saw an ad for an old Cooey 12ga that had a 36" barrel. sweet looking shotgun for it's age...but what a beast to carry around I'd think! what benefit is there to having a 36" barrel? the first thing that pops into my head is perhaps it keeps a tighter spread of shot in addition to what the choke provides (if there is a choke...none was mentioned for this Cooey), but is there anything else? :?:

[sneg]

Clearly you will have somehow longer range and tigther pattern.It may be good for deer hunting ,predator hunting in shotgun area.

[blindman]

It extends your range at least 10" over normal shotguns. Seriously, it did make a difference back in the days of slower burning powders, but it probably is a liability now since once the powder is burned, friction would now slow the load down prior to exiting the muzzle. The pattern is determined by the choke, not the length of the barrel.

[Gateholio]

Is it a singl shot?

[BigBanger]

I find the longer the barrel the less kick .

[Chuck]

I'd buy that yesterday given half a chance!

My father had one many years ago and used it for ducks, geese. Said it was exceptional for range. It was a single shot. I never fired it and it was gone before I could use it. Friends!

[Alex]

I find the longer the barrel the less kick .

Simple physics. Longer Bbl means a heavier gun therefore there is less felt recoil.

The 36'' were called goose guns. Marlin produced a popular bolt action model.

Alex

[Schutzen]

Benefits = 0

[Jimbo]

The claimed benefit was a "longer sight plane". Presumably it would minimize shooting errors due to poor gun mounting. If you could actually swing something that long fast enough to hit a bird.

[shotgunjohn]

The longer barrel can stretch across the tidal channel you just stepped in and prevent you from going in over your waders. This same principal also applies to farm ditches.

[Alex]

The longer barrel can stretch across the tidal channel you just stepped in and prevent you from going in over your waders. This same principal also applies to farm ditches.

Don't forget that it also makes for a better "reaching stick" for the one that landed across the ditch...8-)

[MichelD]

You can also use it to swat low fliers and save ammo.