3" vs 3 1/2"

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redranger1

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Ive been wanting to get an auto for big bird hunting but am torn between the 3" and 3 1/2". What are your guys' opinion on the differances? Worth it or not? Any good places to get good info in trying to decide which one to get? Thanks.
 
Stick with the 3 inch, I don't think there is much functional difference, and your shoulder will thank you later.
 
I was thinkin' about a 3.5", but my 500 shoots 3" hevishot really well on geese. Inside 40 yards, it works okay with steel. Out at 50, though, steel is pretty worthless and hevi shot folds 'em up. Now, Remington has "hevi steel" which is much more affordable and should work pretty well. I might bet an auto in the future and the SPR453 is 3 1/2" compatible. Might wind up with that one. Otherwise, a 3" gun will suit me. Or, I might go with a Mossberg 930 magnum, 3" or 3 1/2" compatible. I have a 2 3/4" autoloader already. I'm pretty happy with what I've got, now, though.
 
3 1/2 "

The 3.5 inch is good for turkey were you a generally shooting at a stationary target but for wing shooting the 3 1/2 is strings its shot column out too far to be any mor effective than a 3".
Chris
 
You'd have to pattern them to make sure, but I don't know that the 3 1/2 will be that much better than the 3.

You most probably won't shoot enough geese in a year for the money to make a big dollar difference, so go for Hevi-Shot. The difference in performance is unbelievable.

It just cracks me up when guys whine about the cost. How many geese you gonna take in a season? 10-15 at the most? I'd suggest you spring for the extra $1-2 per round and make your time count.

Now, if you really want the boomer, get an SP-10. I killed a 24# turkey this spring with mine at 54 yards. #5 Hevi-Shot. DRT.
 
I've yet to need a 3.5" shell, but I'm only 60.

Re Hevishot, IMO it's more effective than lead in the same size.
 
redranger1,
What are you calling "big birds"? Turkeys, geese, cranes?

There's no such thing as "too much gun". Having said that, a 3" 12 gauge with Hevi-Shot will perform as well as a 3.5" 12 gauge with Kent Fast Steel.

I agree with redneck2, about people whinning over the cost of ammo. It's the least of the costs for hunting, but critically important for performance.

I have a Russian Baikal MP-153 with a 24" barrel, 3.5" chamber and a Terror choke tube in .675" restriction that gives me a 91% pattern of #BBBs inside a 30" circle at 40 yards. I can consistantly knock geese down at 55+ yards and they're stone dead. However, my Mossberg 500 Grand Slam Series with a 20" barrel will do the same thing, but using Hevi-Shot #2s and the same choke restriction.

As for Turkeys, more gun will get you more yardage. However, as with everything else with shotguns, there are a huge amount of variables. Hevi-Shot evens things up, so ammo can make a difference. Choke tubes can make as much of a difference as ammo. There's no substitute for patterning a shotgun to know exactly how it's performing. :)

Everyone tried to tell me that my "taste" for short barreled shotguns would not apply for waterfowling or any long range patterns. They were wrong because extended choke tubes with the proper restriction matched with the correct shot size and type makes it possible. I prefer short barrels for a quicker swing.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
To misquote Jay Menefee of Polywad, "People will spend thousands on a shotgun and then use Cr@p ammo"....

If the 3" Hevishot load of 2s will not drop a bird, even a big one, I probably shouldn't take the shot with anything else, including 3.5" Hevi-loads.
 
i'd have to agree... i dont duck/goose hunt, but i do some turkey hunting. most of the ranges tho are up to 30 yards tho in those thick woods. my dad missed one bird twice since it was too close with the super full choke! lol

I also have done some shotgunning for ground hogs and fox. i've used 3 inch #BB steel on ground hogs at 20 yards with a full steel choke and got nothing..... Steel is fast but doesnt penetrate well. Hogs took those shots and needed quick followups and such. I've killed hogs with one pop at near 25-30 yards with a modified choke #6 lead dove load. I dont use steel any more. If i did go duck hunting or such, it be something else than steel.

I'd advise using good shot such as hevishot or other heavy/dense alloys in a 3 inch. i dont think the extra 1/2 inch does anything for you except recoil more. the shot charge is greater but with proper choke and good sites, you'll hit what your aiming at. there is plenty of shot in 3inch loads.
 
12 ga. 3 1/2" DESIGNED SHOTGUNS are held to a higher operating pressure than even 10 ga. 3 1/2" shotguns.
I realize the mfg more than likely has just beefed up the 3" models to work with the same pressure maximum limit.
I'm guessing close to 30 turkeys between me and my brothers.
I never even thought about shell length back in the 70's ( geez I'm getting old) when I used my wingmaster in 20ga and the same shells were used on turkey/ducks/geese/dove/quail/rabbits. Peters #6 shot killed every thing I hunted, I always ambushed geese and had luck calling a turkey inside 40yards. that fixed full choke never gave me any problems, but th 870 couldn't withstand a divorce lawyer.:fire:
 
To misquote Jay Menefee of Polywad, "People will spend thousands on a shotgun and then use Cr@p ammo"....

If the 3" Hevishot load of 2s will not drop a bird, even a big one, I probably shouldn't take the shot with anything else, including 3.5" Hevi-loads.
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I used to work part-time in a gun shop. Couldn't believe the guys that would pay thousands for a hunt out west then buy the cheapest crap ammo they could get.

First time I tried early season goose (Sept 1 in Indiana) all we had was steel. I used "T". Had a goose come in head on at 30 yards. Easy shot. Goose starts to fly off. I shoot again. Still flying. Third shot breaks a wing. My hunting partner goes out in the field to chase it down since his three shots got nothing. When we dressed it out, the shot was laying inside the breast feathers but hadn't even penetrated the skin. At 40 yards Hevi-Shot will cut thru a duck from one side to the other.

After 6 shots for 1 bird, tell me that steel is cheaper. I've heard the new high velocity stuff is considerably better, but my hunting time is limited and I'm taking every advantage I can get.

Oh, if you are considering a 10 gauge, the SP-10 is heavy to carry but has extremely mild recoil.
 
A few years ago I settled on the Win SX2 for my dedicated waterfowl shotgun. One reason was that it is 3.5 capable. after putting 2 boxes of 3.5" steel shot thru it, I decided it was all hype. I went to 3" HeviShot for geese, 2.75" for ducks and I carry a couple cheap steel swatters for the rare cripple.
Compared to the cost of a good dog, guns, boat+motor, decoys, waders, gas, etc. etc... the cost of the shells is hardly an issue.
 
I keep a handful of 3.5" BB shot in my pocket in case there happens to be a nice honker flying over while sitting in the duck blind. Other than that I use 3". Well 2 3/4 for dove and clays.
 
I've found that I have better performance on geese with the smaller shot sizes. T shot might reach out, but you only have a few pellets instead of the much denser pattern of 2's or BB at high speed. The longest successful shot I ever took on a goose was utilized with handloaded steel shot in a 2.75" case moving at 1400 fps. I was loading an ounce of 2's at the time with Ballistic Product's Ranger Plus wads. I cut 2 slits down to the base of the steel shot wad and managed to knock down a Canadian goose at 55 paces. I now use the Kent Fast Steel in 2's and don't appear to have any problems with it on ducks and geese to approx 45-50 yards. I still like my own handloaded stuff, but time is a premium these days. 2's and BB's are my favorite for geese, and 2's and 3's for Ducks. They appear to have the pattern density and velocity to penetrate and bring down the birds we hunt.

I shoot a Browning Gold Hunter in 3". Unless you get the 3.5" in a break action or pump gun, you will be restricted to using that 3.5" semi auto with heavier loaded shells for practice. My 3" gold Hunter can cycle anything from the lightest 7/8 ounce target load to the heaviest 3" lead, steel, bismuth, or tungsten load.
 
You most probably won't shoot enough geese in a year for the money to make a big dollar difference, so go for Hevi-Shot. The difference in performance is unbelievable.

It just cracks me up when guys whine about the cost. How many geese you gonna take in a season? 10-15 at the most? I'd suggest you spring for the extra $1-2 per round and make your time count.
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You hit the nail on the head with those comments. I had a goose lease for several years and buying Federal Tungsten/Iron at 14 bucks for 10 was not that big a deal for goose hunting considering the performance of the stuff. It was amazing. I've still got about 5 boxes, dropped the lease, but may do some more goose hunting soon. Got deeks, got call, just don't have a place, but I have an inheritance I need to check in to. It's a long story, but there's a HUGE goose roost next to it. Can't get to it by land, though, boat only, LOL Yeah, it's marshland my grandpa bought for taxes owed back in the 50s. That side of the family doesn't hunt and they don't even know where it is, but my cousin and I are going to find it and survey it. I WILL hunt that chunk of land, dangit, before I'm dead.

Anyway, I shoot a lot of ducks, mostly duck hunt, and in a season where I do a bunch of duck hunting, I can burn up 10-20 rounds in a morning. That can add up over a season and 3" fast steel is deadly on decoyed ducks, don't need hevi shot or 3 1/2" or 10 gauges, 12 gauge 3" is perfect. Actually, I shoot 2 3/4 fast steel out of my Winchester 1400 with success and plan to try my 20 gauge just for grins at least during teal season. With ducks, definitely the 3.5" guns are a waste. They're heavier, longer, less well balanced, more muzzle heavy than a 3" gun, so you do pay a little price for going with the 3.5". At least that is so between the Mossberg 500 and the 835 ultimag of the same barrel length. When going to the 3.5" gun, you can get a shorter barrel, though, than my 28" to help with the balance problem.

But, I've come to the conclusion I simply don't need a 3.5". If I go after geese, I'll take hevi shot and be happy. Ducks, 3" is more'n enough, especially the new fast steel loads. I picked up some Winchester high speed the other day, 3" 1550 fps in #3 steel. That should be KILLER even on late season big decoy shy ducks and should bring down a goose pretty well inside 40 yards. I happen on a goose now and then even without deeks out, can sometimes get 'em in 40 yards with just a call if they're flying low enough. If you're out there with standard velocity 4s or 6s, you're SOL on a goose, LOL. Fortunately, geese aren't legal, nor are they even migrated down yet during teal season. I like to chunk 4s or even 6s at teal, fast little devils that buzz in close.

I might not know much about clays, upland birds like quail, turkey, but I know what I like for waterfowl, been doing it for 40 years. Lots of good public waterfowl hunting down here, sorta makes up for not having any public deer hunting worth a toot.
 
More game has been harvested with 2 3/4 inch loads than anything.

I bought into the 3 1/2" club and soon learned it is NOT a 10ga, kicks more than most can stand on a long hunt and went back to lesser shells.

The LOAD is what is important. I used the non-tox bismuth shells and whack ducks and geese stone dead.

Get the 3 1/2" gun if it cries out to your soul but I guarantee you will come back to lesser shells in time.
 
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