3" or 3 1/2" rounds

[Jeff K]

I've been out shopping for a 12G shotgun. I'm primarily going to be using it for goose and duck hunting. A couple guys I talked to have told me that I should go with a shotty that will take the 3 1/2" round. I'm trying not to spend a whole lot and I'm finding that the guns that accept the 3 1/2" round are a lot more expensive than the std 2 3/4"-3".

Is there a benfit to spending the extra money and going with the 3 1/2" or will a 3" do the job for ducks and geese?

 

[kudu]

If your trying to save $ you do not want to be buying 3.5" shells. With the advent of Hevi-shot, which isn't cheap either, you should be able to do anything 3.5" steel shells will do with the 2 3/4 or 3" shells.

IMO and those of several others here the 3.5" shells were a gimmick to sell more and different shotguns to the folks that had to have the latest and greatest in hunting shotguns. A good load of Bismuth or the Hevi-shot will do great for geese and ducks.

 

[Jeff K]

Thanks.

I might just go back Monday and get the Winchester I looked at tonight.
Thanks again.

 

[Double Maduro]

You could get a Benelli Nova Pump that is chambered for 2.75, 3 and 3.5 inch shells. That way you would be able to shoot all available 12 guage ammo.

I have one and it cost right at $270.00. I like it as much as my 870 and with the synthetic furniture I don't have to worry about the wood getting wet.

Just a thought.

DM

 

[Vermonter]

870

 

[HSMITH]

If you shoot steel shot get the 3.5" gun. Unless you can afford Hevi-Shot the 3.5" gun is the way to go. Do a search on my username and 3.5", I've offered my opinion on this several times as well as some other folks.

 

[ID_shooting]

I just bought an 870 w/ 3.5 chamber. Glad I did, nothing comparable. I get more FPS and range than a 3 or 2.75. I guess the versatility is what sold me. You can still shoot light loads for dove and quail, medium loads for phesant, and then the big shoulder-cracking loads for duck and goose.

For the Hevi-Shot agument, yes, a 3 inch load of Hevi-Shot performs like a 3.5 inch steel load; but man, a 3.5 inch load of Hevi-Shot keeps up with a 10 ga.

 

[Dave McCracken]

(Wheezing in Old Geezer Mode)....

The first 40 geese or so I took were with a 16 gauge, using the old Western 1 1/8 oz load with 2 or 3 shot. Maybe the next 60 fell to its 12 gauge peer in 2s for geese and 4s for ducks. Alll were 2 3/4" loads.

The 3" Hevi Shot load with 2s is easily better. Unless you're determined to send cubic yards of steel shot skyward, there's no real need for a 3.5" shell or shotgun.

 

[wanderinwalker]

My opinion is that good shooting, close shooting and good ammunition will make up for raw power and shot charge any day of the week. I'd personally rather have the (slightly) lighter and trimmer 3" reciever and spend the $$ for a few boxes of Hevi-Shot on waterfowl. Although I may a minority, I plan on using 12-ga 2.75" #4 Hevi-Shot for most of my waterfowling next season. If I need more range, I plan to have a box or two of 3" #2s on hand. If that won't kill it, I probably shouldn't be shooting at it! (I'm also on the lookout for some 2.75" 12-ga turkey loads for this spring.)

 

[sm]

Don't ask me, I'm worse than Dave.
I think the only Duck I ever felled with a shell longer than 2 3/4" ...I used a 3" .410.
Then again I'm the one that felled a Goose with a 28 ga , Citori , fixed skeet chokes.

If'n I was gonna be a hard core do nothing but shoot geese, I'd get a dedicated 10 ga.

Depends on whether you are "bad addicted" like HSMITH or not .

Then again I betcha HSMITH could fell 'em with a stick.

 

[HSMITH]

Dave, my reasoning for not using hevi as you suggest is the sheer monetary outlay it would take. I hunt waterfowl 40 days or more per year, and almost all of it on public ground where shots aren't always easy or close. Even with a 50% hit rate which would be darn fine shooting, you are still looking at a TON of money spent on hevi. Steel shot in high velocity 3.5" flavor gives me 2 and a half times more shells for the same outlay, AND I can kill them GYD at 50 yards with it. Steel makes a LOT more sense for guys that hunt more than occasionally. I just can't afford $20 per DAY afield for hevi shot.

My SuperX2 3.5" reciever is no thicker, maybe 2 ounces heavier, and of the exact same profile as the 3" guns. Same for Browning, Beretta, Remington and all the others I have handled. You get a lot more versatility with no penalty, what isn't to like?

 

[TrapperReady]

I've got to agree with HSMITH. I was bitten pretty hard by the waterfowling bug this year. I've probably been out 17 or 18 times. I've been using my 391 almost exclusively, and have been quite happy with Hevishot #6 or #4 loads. However, they are about $18.00 for 10 shells. I can find steel 3.5" shells for about $10-12 for $25.

So far, I've gone through between 4 and 5 boxes of Hevishot. That's a cash outlay of $90 in ammo. Had I been shooting steel, it would have been more like $20-$25. It wouldn't take too many years to make up the cost of an 870 Super Mag.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Buy the 3.5" gun, I believe the 870 Express is about $299. Nothing says you have to use 3.5" shells all the time (they HURT). My son has the 870 and uses the 3.5's occasionally for geese, and they do work.

That said, I took my largest goose with a 2 3/4 no. 4 shot (I was hunting ducks), with my 3" chambered Citori.

 

[Fumbler]

If you do decide to get a 3.5" gun and don't want to spend a lot of money, there are Charles Daly shotguns that are cheap.

I bought a Daly Maxi-mag Field pump in Realtree Hardwoods camo for $250, that's $200 cheaper than you'll find the next equivalent gun (camo Moss 835).

It worked well, nice and smooth, easy to take apart to clean, never had a hickup in about 200 rounds I put through it.
I got rid of it because Charles Daly never put their rifled barrels on the market.

If you run to your local Walmart you may find one on clearance for $150.
I actually saw a tag for a Moss 835 in camo for only $150 at Wlamart today, I wish I had seen it earlier.

 

[Dave McCracken]

H, good point. As a casual goose hunter, the Hevi's heavy bite on the wallet isn't that bad. T'were I to dedicate myself to battling evil snow geese with the 30 per day limit, I might return to Winchester's BBB 3" load. Not nearly as expensive and works OK within 35 yards.

And H, my money says you could limit out with breath mints in the hulls. The beginner will do better with the most effective load. Here and now, that's the Hevi Shot.

I may pick up some 4s to use on ducks and try one or two on geese to see how they do. Use would NOT be pass shooting but over decoys and within 35 yards.

 

[Jeff K]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I went tonight and ordered a Charles Daly Field Hunter Maxi-Mag Pump from Walmart. Decided to go with the 3.5". It was the best deal I could find under $200, and since I'm just the casual user (at this point anyway ) I figured it was the way to go.


Thanks again for all the advice.