2.75 and 3 inch shells in a 3.5 shotgun?

You can shoot 3 and 2.75 inch in 3.5 shotguns,although light 2.75 loads may not reliably function.
3.5 inch guns usually cost more than comparable 3 inch models and may be heavier.
The main purpose for 3.5 inch shells is waterfowl and turkey hunting. I have killed many of each and never fired a 3.5 shell (except in 10 gauge).

I have a Beretta A400 Xplor Unico - the green receiver 3.5" gas gun. I run 3/4 oz 2-3/4" ammo (basically a 28 gauge equal) all day long in it. At 7#, even with the Kick Off System, it will NEVER see a uber heavy load in 3", let alone 3.5" - those just smack you to death.

Then the green Beretta is for you.

http://www.beretta.com/en/a400-xplor-unico/

If you're shooting 3.5" ammo, you WILL want the Kick Off option - best place I have seen is Joel Etchen in PA, followed closely by Cole's

What's wrong with 4 more inches for turkey? Our forefathers used 30 F&F "back in the day".

You might try the Benellis, but they are more expensive and have more recoil.......

SD/HD is a legit topic; the one I think you're implying is not....

George P said:

Then the green Beretta is for you.

http://www.beretta.com/en/a400-xplor-unico/

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http://www.beretta.com/en/a400-xplor-unico/

That is a very nice looking shotgun, especially if all guns have the very nice wood as featured in the link. I have a weakness for nice wood, and I know that is not what a well functioning shotgun is all about.

I had a Remington 870 12 gauge SB skeet gun long ago with wood like that with a short drop to the heel that allowed a full view of the barrel vent rib. I loved it.

Pardon a 65 year old man's reminiscing.

Jim

The gist of your inquiry is moot since you plan on buying a pump. A decent quality 3.5” chambered pump will cycle all three lengths of shells with aplomb.

3.5” receivers are longer than 2.75/3” receivers.

Recoil in a 3.5” pump is brutal if shooting 3.5” shells.

The reason all modern shotguns aren’t 3.5” is because they aren’t needed with the advances that have been made in shotshell technology. For me 3.5” shells only have a place in a 10 gauge gas semi-auto. And at that only fill a very narrow niche.

The Comfortech stock becomes more effective as recoil increases. As such you won’t notice much if any recoil reduction in a target load but definitely will with slugs, buckshot, turkey and waterfowl loads. The Comfortech stock recoil is definitely not “amazing”. The felt recoil difference between a pump and a gas semi is much more significant than the difference between a Comfortech and non Comfortech stock.

3.5” receivers are longer than 2.75/3” receivers.

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Depends on the gun. Not all are.

In a pump action there is no difference in reliability. Even the best, most expensive semi-auto guns chambered for 3.5" shells don't reliably shoot many 2.75" shells. Most of the semi-autos chambered for 3" shells will shoot most 2 3/4" shells. You may have some issues with very light loads.

Recoil is not an issue for me.

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Recoil is an issue for everyone. Whether you want to admit that or not. Someday you'll figure that out.

3.5" turkey loads recoil is eye opening. It far exceeds 375 H&H magnum recoil and is right with 458 WM. No way I'm dealing with that much recoil to kill a 12 lb bird. If I needed it to stop a 12,000 lb elephant that was trying to stomp me fine.

Recoil from 3.5" steel shot loads are stout, but more tolerable. In the same range as 338 WM loads. For someone who shots a case of ammo year at geese this is the only practical use for 3.5" shells. For occasional goose hunting there are other non-toxic options in 2.75" and 3" loads that are really more effective than 3.5" steel. But they are much more expensive.

Having 2 barrels is a good idea. But probably not really practical with the Benelli. I think you'll find that an extra barrel for one, (if you can locate it) is within just a few dollars of just buying a 2nd gun. With Mossberg and Remington extra barrels are available and at prices where you can justify doing this.

3.5” receivers are longer than 2.75/3” receivers.
Depends on the gun. Not all are.

I believe you but can’t think of an example jmr40. Do have an example?

I can give an example. I bought a Mossberg 935 that says 3 inch and 3 1/2 only on the barrel. I've only used it for shooting sporting clays where the club rules were that we have lighter and slower loads (2 3/4 only). At about 100 rounds it turns into a single action. The heaviest allowed it turns into a single shot at 150 rounds.

Taking the barrel off and wiping it down (gas tube included) resets those numbers

Bill50 said:

I can give an example. I bought a Mossberg 935 that says 3 inch and 3 1/2 only on the barrel. I've only used it for shooting sporting clays where the club rules were that we have lighter and slower loads (2 3/4 only). At about 100 rounds it turns into a single action. The heaviest allowed it turns into a single shot at 150 rounds.

Taking the barrel off and wiping it down (gas tube included) resets those numbers

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Were you answering my question?

My Mossberg 535 sometimes does not cycle the last 2.75 from the magazine. Mostly, it shoots 3 inch shells.

i have 2 novas, one is my son's, the other is mine in Max 5. We hunt dove in Sept, big geese and snows into March and shot the 3.5s. Never a failure. Same gun as the super without the chevron things in the butt stock. Great shotguns.

My neighbor has the same gun and shoots 2&3/4 shells out of it. He brags about how awesome it is and I should buy one.

I shoot 2&3/4 out of another gun that says it won't cycle with 2&3/4 in the instruction manual. It needs a quick wipe after about 100 rounds and is good to go again.

I wouldn't worry about it.