[Oldnamvet]

And I didn't even realize it. Some younger guys at the club were visiting the skeet field and informed me I really should get rid of the old wingmaster since it would not digest 3" shells (not to mention being a pump and not a semi or o/u). Huh?? :confused: I was then informed that I would probably shoot a lot more straights with 3" shells and of course, for hunting, they were necessary. And here for all those years my grandfather, father, and myself had brought down just about everything that could fly using 2 3/4" shells. I never remember a time when we missed and figured if only we had a 3" shell, it would have been harvested. I have a couple guns that will take a 3" shell but have never seen a need to buy any. And I do take advantage of that attitude when bargaining for a used shotgun. I mention it only takes 2 3/4" shells and knock a chunk of $$ off the offer. Most times, they agree to that.:evil: Same thing with vent ribs, choke tubes, etc. Things I grew up without. Nice but not really necessary for me.

[oneounceload]

wow....I don't know of ANY shotgun club that allows 3" shells on their courses....just amazing what some folks don't know........:banghead:

[ArmedBear]

2 3/4" is dying.

2 1/2" is the only way to go.:)

I like the ones I got, anyway.

[Fred Fuller]

Well... you prolly ought to just skip right over the weasley little 3" magnum and go right on up to the 3 1/2" magnum, then.

Or go to a 10 gauge for that matter.

You need all the help you can get with those kevlar pigeons they got these days, ya know.

8^)

lpl/nc

[sm]

I smell easy money.

Need a backer...

Gimme a old well worn 870 pump, 28 ga, plain fixed barrel with no bead.
Remove the safety from trigger guard.
Be sure the hulls look a bit worn and use some wax and /or electrical tape to make sure the hard pellets of #8 or #8.5 do not fall out.

We will need someone to hold the cigar box.
I prefer an odd number on a skeet field, especially field 3 or field 5.

<looks up at Mentors>
I gotta see a man about a dawg...


Anyone else wanna have some fun!
*evil grin*


It ain't hustlin'- just folks paying for lessons is all. -Mentors

[Okiecruffler]

I'm just glad we didn't have those armour plated clays and kevlar ducks back when I was shooting them with those inadaquate 2 3/4" shells. Not to mention those pathetic 20ga shells. Yeap, things are rougher these days.;)

[Regolith]

I've got a box of 3" shells, but I only bought them to see what they fire like. They've been languishing ever since. I pretty much only use 2 3/4". Recoil is way too stiff on the 3". The 3" T shot shells might make for decent backup HD shells in a pinch, though.

[alemonkey]

I've never seen the need for 3" even though my 870 accepts them. I grew up with 2 3/4 and for my purposes (pheasant, mostly) they're more than adequate.

[RNB65]

You know the old adage -- Never trust anyone UNDER 30. :)

[Dave McCracken]

sm, my first thought on seeing the OP post was similar. While I like helping folks, those guys are definitely prey.

S'funny. Back when I started shooting geese in the late 50s, I used 2 3/4" 1.5 oz of lead 2s for the task at hand.

Now, I use 3" shells, but they're laden with 1 3/8 oz of Hevi Shot 2s. Effect is similar, though I need less choke than in days of yore...

Other than the goose loads, some turkey loads and a couple 5 packs of slugs I was given, there's no 3" hulls here, and certainly no 3.5" ones.

Somehow, I do not feel deprived.....

[evbutler462]

I grew up in the Green Swamp of NC during the depression and WWII years. The only thing that kept food on the table was the old Columbia and J Stevens shotguns. They dropped many a bear and deer as well as smaller critters. I never heard of a 3" load until I got interested in shotgunning. I have been shooting for many, many years and until this day I have never bought a 3" load. They are not necessary for me.

Same as the 30-30 rifle. Back during my younger years it was the only caliber I'd ever seen in the swamps. Now, according to the youngster that make more money than they have sense, a 30-30 will bounce off a bear and is useless for anything bigger than a squirrel.

I will stay with the 2 3/4" as it has served me well for many years. The skill of the hunter has more to do with hunting than bigger loads.

Fads are what keeps big business rolling in big bucks. I will stay with the tried and true and let the youngsters play with the new fads. I am an old man and I don't believe that the 2 3/4" will die out before I do.

Happy shooting!!

[islandphish]

I like 3 1/2 for goose. I shoot 2 3/4 for everything from ducks to dove. 3" is good for some duck hunting, turkey too. But I kill turkeys with my phesant loads.

I see nothing wrong with buying a shotgun that will handle 3 1/2 and using it. When I can ever afford my Super Black Eagle II I'll be shooting everything shotgunnable with it and will use any of the three sizes that best fits the situation, or that I happen to have on hand.

Seems like some things aren't worth gettin worked up about...

But still...3" for trap? lawd lawd...

[Okiecruffler]

I just thought of something, mostly relating to waterfowl. Back when I was dropping mallards from the sky I was doing it with lead shot. I've never hunted with non-toxic shot (and never will), but from what I hear, maybe you need those 3 inch loads with them.

[W.E.G.]

Definitely go with the 10 gauge.

And only get one with a break-action, exposed hammer.

Only sissies need anything more.

Vaporized quail anyone?

I found a feather!

[sm]

Definitely go with the 10 gauge.

*snicker*

Preface: Me and Mine are known to have some serious fun on a skeet field.

Mossberg 835 , with reloaded 3.5" hulls with #12 shot.
This 3.5" 12 gauge is supposed to "replicate" a 10 ga, remember?

Game: Crazy Quail.
I "learnt" to pull this game from the best.

Me: You can't miss with all them pellets!

Shooting buddy :
#$@@#$,
(*&((, &^%$#

Me: You must have messed up the crimp or something...

Next Shooter - a lady.

*&&^^%%$$$$$$!!!!
&&^^%%$$$$$$$!

I'm going to kick your *&*^&*&**!

Me: I believe the bet was your candy bar...

Next scene, is lady handing off shotgun, me dropping the pull cord, and I have the candy bar, and the lady is chasing me going : *&#@!, I want my **&^ candy bar, stop you *&&^%!...
Tip: When being chased by a gal : Use Enough Tennis Shoes, and lock doors once in the truck!

Did I mention I "learnt" to pull Crazy Quail from the best?

All in good fun.

NSSA rules dictate the loadings for regulation skeet targets.

They do not regulate what me and mine have been known to use a skeet field for, the shotguns ( or other firearms) or the loadings.
Try loading up some #12 shot, in a 3.5" hull and shooting a pattern board.

This is a real hoot!
You can keep a kid busy connecting dots...*lol*
Totally bumfuzzle on-lookers....

Define "normal" - life is too short to be whatever "normal" is anyway.

[chas08]

This 3.5" 12 gauge is supposed to "replicate" a 10 ga, remember?

I'd much rather shoot a 10ga. But it is fun to slip a 3 1/2" in on someone and watch it "screw them into the ground like a trailer house anchor":D

[Oldnamvet]

Try loading up some #12 shot,

I'd love to. Be a change from popcorn to sneak one of those in on some of the guys. :D Where can one get a pound of #12 (dust) shot? Will it have enough steam to break skeet birds? Or just "dust them off a little"?

[Frank Ettin]

I don't know about skeet, but for competitive trap, legal shells may be no more than 3 dram and have no more than 1 1/8 oz. of shot no larger than 7 1/2. It doesn't seem to me that 3 inch shell make much sense under those circumstances.

And I find that 3 dram shells with 1oz. of 7s (2 3/4 inch) brings down all the pheasant I can use.

[romeo212000]

Yet more proof that the art of wingshooting is dying. Hell if you cant hit what you are aiming at just throw more lead right? Wrong. Often times the dimensions in which a load leaves a 3" or 3 1/2" shell lack a great deal of efficiency regarding pattern and energy. In fact I am thinking of selling my 870 and duck hunting with my Winchester 1400. It only shoots 2 3/4" shells but I was thinking of going to those anyways following a great deal of research regarding the dynamics of different gauges and loads.

[Defensory]

2 3/4" shells aren't going anywhere. They'll remain the predominant shell for a long time to come.

[Moonclip]

I've maybe fired 10-20 3" shells in my lifetime. I rarely even see much of them or a variety of loadings in 3 or 3 1/2" in my area. 10ga gunas and ammo are almost nonexistant also. I live in a major metropolitan area served by many gunshops also.

[plumberroy]

:evil:I have a hand full of Black powder 20 gauge shells ready to hand to some one on our next informal claybird shoot:evil:

[45Guy]

I don't think I've even handled a 3" shell. 2 3/4" was what I was taught to shoot, reload, and it's all my clay gun & HD gun is loaded with. It served my grandfather ( a high-ranking state trap shooter) and many others quite welln over the years.

[RP88]

if 2-3/4" was becoming unpopular, then both of my local wal-marts wouldnt be selling out of the value packs so quickly.

[machinisttx]

:scrutiny:

I'm 26, and I really can't remember ever firing more than maybe ten 3" shells, and maybe a couple more 3.5". I just don't see any need for them. If I were a waterfowl hunter, I might use them.

Handloaded 2.75" shells with hard shot have taken doves out to 65-70 yards for me, and I don't imagine the longer shells would do anything mine won't do.

[edw8ri]

I bought an SBEII because it would chamber 3 1/2 inch shells. I have put nearly a thousand rounds through it. And every single one was 2 3/4. What was I thinking?