As an iron sight shooter @ 52 the long barrel offers good pointabillity and steadiness(balance). The long sight radius even as I get older still help to shoot decent groups.

As 52 years of age my eyes may not be as good as they were, but I have been shooting ironsights since childhood and when shooting ironsight I procure a "sightpicture" in my mind which helps me when to pull the trigger.

My new(old) Cogswell & harrison .500ex has 28" barrels. Its just lovely to raise the rifle to the shoulder and just point at fictual target.