Why does everyone hate 3.5 loads

[jmr40]

I don't hate the 3.5" shells, but nothing has ever made mad enough to shoot it with one. I've had 1 Remington 870 chambered for 3.5" shells and have tried the Benelli Nova. There is no need at all for anything that big for turkey hunting. No turkey is worth elephant gun recoil.

When steel shot became mandatory I could understand 3" steel shot to get a few more of the larger steel pellets in a shell for ducks. In my experience the 3.5" shells have a place if you hunt larger ducks or geese, and shoot a lot. The 3.5" steel loads don't recoil nearly as bad as the lead turkey loads.

For me I just use 2.75" or 3" steel loads and they work fine for the type of waterfowl hunting I do. A shot at a goose is just by luck and I use whatever is in my gun. If it is too long of a shot, I just don't shoot. If I were going on a dedicated goose hunt I'd pay a premium for the better non-toxic shot and stay with 3" shells. If you hunt geese and shoot a LOT, the premium loads are pricey and I could understand the desire to shoot the cheaper 3.5" steel.

 

[41]

I have a 3.5 inch gun. I use 2.75 inch for doves, 3 inch for waterfowl and deer, and I use 3.5 inch shells for turkey hunting. It hurts some to shoot them, but the harder that it kicks, the harder that it hits the turkeys. I hunt in southern Alabama, and it can be hard to call in a gobbler very close, and a 3.5 gives a few more yards over the 3 inch.

There is no disadvantage that I know of that a 3.5 inch gun has when using 2.75 or 3 inch shells, but it gives you the capability to run 3.5 inch shells in certain situations.

Don't worry about what other people say, if the gun works for you, then happy hunting.

 

[.45Guy]

It's nice being able to throw more shot, but efficiency tends to drop with the longer shot column. That would be my guess.

 

[6x6pinz]

I notice the eastern waterfowlers like to use 2 3/4" (I assume non toxic) shot for duck and geese. You must be lucky enough to get the birds in close. I watch the vids and could only wish the birds in the southwest would get half that close. I don't know how many geese we have hit with 3" that did not fold or made the dogs have to work really hard to find after they flew some distance before dropping. We don't see that with the 3 1/2' near as much. I don't shoot much 3 1/2 but when I need it, sure is nice to know my SG's will handle it. The newer autos are now where near as brutal with the 3 1/2 as my pumps are with heavy 2 3/4. If you are lucky enough not to need 3 1/2 consider yourself lucky.
As far as the 10ga goes, from my experience it definitely outperforms the 12ga in 3 1/2 but then you are stuck using 10ga for teal ( a bit of an overkill)

 

[Onmilo]

3.5s are popular for goose shooting out here.
3" is fine for ducks.

Long shot strings with the 3.5 12 guage make the 10 guage guns just as viable now as they were 100 years ago.

 

[sinisterevil01]

nice

well i like the 3.5 shells im a big guy 6"2 and 260 pounds so recoil isnt that big a deal to me

 

[rbernie]

I don't dislike 3.5" shells - I just don't need them and so I don't use them. Since I don't use them, I don't see any reason to buy a gun with the extra size/weight in the receiver needed to shoot them.

The difference in weight between, say, an 870 with a 3" chamber and an 870 with a 3.5" chamber is quite noticable if you carry the shotgun for any length of time. If your style of hunting has you sitting a bunch (waterfowl, turkey), then a 3.5" capable gun is probably not a liability. On the other hand, if you tend towards upland hunting that has you moving around a lot, the weight difference will be a liability as the day wears on....

 

[SHR970]

Long shot strings with the 3.5 12 guage make the 10 guage guns just as viable now as they were 100 years ago.

A 12 ga. 3.5" shot string is how much different than a 10 ga. 3.5" shell shot string. Both are fired through barrels of the same diameter (the 12 gauges are overbored in most cases) and both come off the line at the same velocities.

 

[jmr40]

The difference in weight between, say, an 870 with a 3" chamber and an 870 with a 3.5" chamber is quite noticable

They both weigh 7.25lbs if both have 26" barrels

http://remington.com/products/firea...l-870-express-super-mag-turkey-waterfowl.aspx

http://remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-express.aspx

Benelli's 3.5" Super Blackhawk weighs 6.9 lbs with a 26" barrel compared to 7.1 lbs for the M-2 which only handles 3" shells.

I have no use for the 3.5" shells, but the weight of the gun is a non issue.

 

[RickMD]

Both are fired through barrels of the same diameter (the 12 gauges are overbored in most cases) and both come off the line at the same velocities.

Incorrect.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I own a gun that will shoot 3½" shells, as well as smaller chamber shotguns. I discovered that I kill as many geese and other birds with as many shots, with 3" and 2¾" shells, so no reason to spend more money. I didn't set out to buy a 3½" chambered 12 gauge..., it was at the store and at the right price so I bought it.

LD

 

[Sav .250]

"Why does everybody hate 3.5 loads?"........ Huh?

 

[SHR970]

Quote:
Both are fired through barrels of the same diameter (the 12 gauges are overbored in most cases) and both come off the line at the same velocities.

Incorrect.

Mossberg, Remington, and Benelli just to name a few.

Check factory ammo specs......12 gauge is loaded to higher pressure.

 

[MCgunner]

Geese down here, on the bad days, clear days, when they're up high and won't come down, steel T (or BB hevi shot if you're rich) is worth the recoil. Me, I opted for a 10 gauge for goose hunting when Federal Tungsten/Iron prices went out of sight. I used to shoot the Federal in 3" version, worked very well. As much goose hunting as I do, I figured the lower price of 10 gauge steel would pay for ittself in short order. Now, i have a 10 gauge MEC loader. 10 gauge patterns much better than 3.5" 12. I get over 90 percent patterns with my 10, standard 30" at 40 yards, fantastic. But, for the duck hunter that will only occasionally hunt geese, a 3.5" 12 might be a better choice. Me, I don't mind owning multiple shotguns for multiple uses.