Longer Barrel = more accurate, correct?

[GeorgeJR]

Ive already posted to this thread but feel i have more to add! The thread started out questioning better patterning in relation to barrel length and it turned into more of a personal preference thing! I will squash any argument if a longer barrel throws a better pattern with a single fact...(NWTF Still Shoots allow a barrel to be no longer than 30" If a longer barrel didnt help then this sanction wouldnt be there

That could also be used to keep someone from fabricating a barrel = to the yardage for the shot.  Poke the target and shoot!  8-)  I'm sure in part they want to have the limit be what the normal selection of barrels are for guns and avoid "I'm bigger then you" contest on pushing the length limit.  Would love to see someone show up with a say 25 yrd barrel, thread together and have one heck of a cantilever counter weight to avoid shooting the ground. 

[oldcreekhunter]

getting testy in here today! never understood why it mattered if you got 600 hits in a 6 inch circle if that circle is 8 inches left of where you aimed. i count the pelets in the turkeys head...just my 2 cents

[Old Gobbler]

I have a nova in a 26 inch barrel , and love the way it points - I would like to mention it is a Italian style profiled barrel and this tends to be lighter than most 26" american counterparts - I suggest if you are at a store try a 23 or 24 inch Mossberg or Remington and shoulder it , and then compare it to a 26 inch Nova and you be the the judge on the pointing abilities - numbers are just a gauge for reference see what your shoulder tells you 

A longer barrel will provide , a longer sighting plane , than a shorter one -

Conventional wisdom will indicate that a slightly higher velocity with a longer barrel , depends on the load -some say a increase of 8-12 fps per inch ?

Still shoot people like the longer barrels , I don't think its because they inherently shoot worse, proably the other way around - but members have tweaked with their setups to get some outstanding results with shorter barrels