Any reason to use 3" or 3.5" 12g shells in HD?

[Skribs]

I own a benelli supernova, and with the limbsaver on it, I barely feel the recoil even with the 3" or 3.5" shells. I was thinking, "Hey, I got 27 pellets in the #4 buck 2.75" shell, or 54 pellets in the #4 buck 3.5" shell...that's a big difference." There's also lessened risk of overpenetration that I see, since the shot is reduced in speed significantly (looking specifically at Winchester Super X #4 buck, 2.75" shell is 1325 FPS, 3.5" shell is 1050 FPS, appears to be a smaller risk of those pellets continuing through).

Even so, I don't really see a point in needing more than 27 pellets, let alone even that many (if I can find some #1 buck I'll probably go with that instead, but 4, 00, and 000 are the ones I mainly see around here). I was just wondering what others thought of the magnum shells for HD.

 

[50caliber123]

Wouldn't the blast and flash be worse indoors than out with the magnum shells? You may be on to something with the lower velocity, but why not just use a reduced recoil load if that's your goal?

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

If you practice with it and don't mind the added recoil, more pellets is usually better, and the slightly reduced velocity would help somewhat to reduce overpenetration. I personally don't feel a huge difference in recoil between 2&3/4 and 3" shells, so I can have my defense shotgun loaded with 5 rounds of either depending on what I have on hand.

3&1/2 buckshot however I fired a few times in a friends Mossberg 930, and man did that have a thump to it! I'm no recoil wuss, but that stuff was just plain painful.

 

[Skribs]

Good points, both of you. Like I said, though, the recoil isn't too bad with the ComforTech stock and Limbsaver on it. The flash would be a pretty bad thing, especially at night, although would it be as bad on my night vision if I'm using a flashlight for target ID anyway?

Well, Pros: more pellets, less overpenetration. Cons: more recoil, more flash. That seems to be about right from what I can tell.

 

[rbernie]

I've shot 3" buckshot, and will not likely do it again on a bet. The blast and flash and commotion are simply not worth the extra lead, IMO.

I figure that there's likely a reason that most LE ammo has gone to reduced recoil 2 3/4" loadings.

 

[Old Shooter]

If by HD you mean a log cabin in Alaska with the possibility of hungry Grizzly bears crawling in the window, then bigger would be better. In most other situations if a 2 3/4" 12 gauge buckshot load won't save the day at typical HD ranges you should probably move out of the neighborhood or consider changing your lifestyle.

My vote is for the 2 3/4 with your favorite size of buckshot, mine is loaded with 00!

 

[jon86]

My HD shotgun is loaded with 2 3/4, but if I put 3 inch shells in the tube than I can only fit 4 instead of 5. This is the dealbreaker for me. I'd rather have 5 shells ready to rock n'roll than 4.

 

[Dave McCracken]

No.....

 

[oneounceload]

Any reason to use 3" or 3.5" 12g shells in HD?

Long answer short - No.

 

[Rshooter]

I ran through ten boxes of three inch slugs one afternoon for practice. I am glad I switched over to 2 3/4, I am more inclined to practice with the smaller shell and therefore more likely to get better.

 

[rcmodel]

NO - +4.

Your mag tube will hold more 2 3/4" shells then excessively long shells with unneeded power.

rc

 

[roo_ster]

I ran through ten boxes of three inch slugs one afternoon for practice. I am glad I switched over to 2 3/4, I am more inclined to practice with the smaller shell and therefore more likely to get better.

Dayum, that's a lot of slugs down range in one afternoon.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Let's see. HD defense would be at the most 10 yards or so, right?

So 8 or 9 'double ought' pellets should do the trick. So adding a few more.. well no real gain in stopping power unless, like the above posters said, you lived in a cabin in Alaska.

Now there ARE 'baby magums' that are 2 3/4 inch but more shot and powder. How about that as a compromise. That way you can carry the same amout of shells but more punch per shot.

Deaf

 

[Lt. B]

I used #1 buck 2 3/4 16 pellets to ventilate my brand new burn barrel lids at 15 yds. You could put on a vest and you aint gettin up anytime soon. I guarantee it. In my home the longest shot is no more than 10 ft. I just cant see magnum loads for HD. When I was a kid our drunk neighbor accidently shot his drinkin buddy thru a window with 00 buck. It tore his right arm off at the shoulder. He ran 10 yards before he dropped dead. West Va justice at the time gave him just 3 yrs for manslaughter. Shotgun is a devastating weapon at close range.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Shotgun is a devastating weapon at close range.

My wife has worked in Truama I, ER, CVICU, CV OR, and she says in the ER they had lots of people come in shot.

Those shot with .22/.25 many times walked in complaining. As the cartridges power and shot placement improved more were carried in, some though still talking.

But, those hit square with a shotgun were always carried in, and NEVER talking (or even awake.)

She said those shot with shotguns didn't look so bad when they cleaned up all the blood, but when they cracked open their chest, there was so much internal bleeding from so many organs hit, it was hard to stop all the bleeding.

Deaf

 

[mgkdrgn]

Once the BG has a hole in him the size of a basketball, I don't think he is going to care much if it came from a 3.5" or 2.75" shell ...

Now you, the shooter, being deaf, blind from the flash, and your shoulder dislocated from the recoil of the 3.5" mega blaster may care ...

 

[Promod1385]

I would rather have the extra round in my gun and the better recovery time from the 2 3/4" round, anything more is just a waste.

 

[Zach S]

I figure that there's likely a reason that most LE ammo has gone to reduced recoil 2 3/4" loadings.

Most LEOs aren't gun guys, and to a non-shooter, a 00B 12 gauge kicks like a mule. Some shooters agree with them.

I will admit that I use reduced-recoil buckshot (federal LE132 and its commercial cousin, H132), but do so because it patterns the best out of my 590. Like an eight to ten inch spread at 25 yards (ten more often than eight, with one or two freak loads being as small as five inches). I dont know if having the bbl threaded for chokes would get the cheaper buckshot patterns that tight.

 

[natman]

Yet another NO.

 

[tactikel]

3.5" buckshot shells have a punishing recoil. They are best shooting coyotes and other varmints in hunting conditions. Follow up shots are much faster with a 2.75 or 3" load. I can think of no reason to rely on 3.5" shells for HD unless it was the only choice (or you are immune to very heavy recoil). If you want to have a shotgun that will shoot anything you can find or barter, then you may consider one.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I would use the 2 3/4 LE OO.

 

[Girodin]

For me it depends on the gun. I own some shotguns where the added recoil would make it on a balance a less effective weapon for me. In my S12 I don't see it being much difference. The recoil is very tame in that gun with 3" slugs and 00 buck. I haven't done it on a shot timer yet with enough rounds to be statistically significant but I don't it is slowing me down much if any. I lose no mag capacity. So if a 3" 00 shell patterns well why not. The extra pellets couldn't hurt. Is a 2 3/4 shell effective enough? Likely. If all other things were equal (and they often might not be) the extra projectiles can't hurt.

 

[hardworker]

I use 3 in shells because that's what I use to hunt with and just leave a few in the gun. If I shoot skeet I use the birdshot thats left over and it's usually 2 3/4.

 

[sansone]

no magnum for HD