I'm shopping for a shotgun, and one of the things I'm looking at is barrel length.

I don't want a 30" barrel, but I don't want to lose velocity with an 18.5", if that's a thing.

What barrel length are you shooting, and why? What would you change?

I have a 20inch barrel on my mossberg 500 and run a Carlson Coyote choke/#4 buck Federal Powershok combination.  Last Saturday when calling coons out of trees the shorter barrel came in handy in two of my stands.

A few summers ago I patterned both my 20 and 28 inch barrels with a variety of ammunition.  I'm not sure why it happens, but my 20 inch actually patterns better out to 70 yards than the 28 inch barrel - same choke with the same above mentioned combination.  Magic, I guess.

ETA: I wouldn't change anything on my shotgun setup.  It is cheap, works well in brush, and throws a good pattern.

Mr. Austin,

If you ever tire of your shotgun, please PM me and I will be happy to send you my address and more than fair shipping fee reimbursement for it. :)

Unfortunately, none of the 18.5" or even 20" barrels I can find are threaded for chokes.  Most HD barrels with C or IC restrictions.

If I could use a KSG for hunting (KY has a 2 in the tube for a total of 3 rule), I think I would already have one, with the Rem or Win choke conversion.

Right now I'm looking at a used 870 Police with 18.5" HS plus a 26" VR(or thread the 18.5), or a 24" 1301, or a new Stoeger 24" M3000 in camo.

Here's the 20" barrel for a Mossberg 500 that I use.  It accepts choke tubes: http://www.mossberg.com/store/90140.html like the one I mentioned above.

I put a meprolight front sight on it, and have been very happy.This the front sight I use: http://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&pw=55963&ctc=iyv13nxh7g00zk8a00y51&mi=10077&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brownells.com%2Fshotgun-parts%2Fsights%2Fsight-sets%2Fmossberg-shotgun-tru-dot-night-sight-sku387000053-40133-75864.aspx?sku=387000053

I have a 22" barrel on my 930, its one of the turkey models.

You can get chokes put in any gun for about 100 bucks minus the chokes, if you want chokes with it they will charge you accordingly.