Jus finished adjusting my poa to poi with dove shot and threw a couple 3.5 down the pipe and it punished my shoulder. Is it really worth the recoil compared to the 3 in. Been a long time since I had to pattern a new gun. Never notice it when slamming a Gobbler
Whichever load gives to the best pattern :icon_thumright: I've got the Winchester Longbeard XR loads in 3.5 & in 3" just waiting for a nice day.
Past makes a shoulder pad that dampens the recoil of a 3 1/2" shell, or any shell for that matter. For patterning there is nothing like it, your shoulder won't hurt when you are done. I have used one (the same one) since 1992. Well worth the money.
The only reason I shoot 3-½s is because they don't come in 4's :funnyturkey: I don't do to much patterning any more unless I buy a new shell. Then I will borrow my buddies lead sled. I'm glad we never feel that recoil when shootin at game. My Sims pad and comb cushin has tamed my ol mossy down a bit. A lot of folks are doing well with the 3z here. If they pattern well.. have at it. Check out the pattern board. :anim_25:
Quote from: Hitman 23 on April 08, 2014, 09:32:35 PM
Never notice it when slamming a Gobbler
Neither have I, so shoot the 3.5's. ;D
Many of birds have been killed over the years with smaller shells. BUT. I go 3.5" also.
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I can shoot 3.5's delivering a bigger payload so I do...if I wasn't getting the pattern I wanted I wouldn't hesitate to shoot 3". Good luck this year. :fud:
No.
A while back when the white hull hevi shot was around I got a new Benelli and decided to pattern it. After a few 3.5 inchers which are not too bad in the sbe2 I threw in a hevi 3 inch, when I fired it I thought it was a dud, to my surprise the pattern at 40 was not far off the 3.5 stuff.
Any load I have tried through that benelli will kill at 40 so I will stick with three inch If I ever buy new shells, down to only 2 of the white hulls but someone gave me some reduced recoil mag blend so I will move to that eventually. I still have some 3.5 Rem. hevi and some Win. extended range!
That's a question only you can answer.
For me I always buy 3.5 when buying turkey loads. In my 870 wingmaster the recoil was pretty harsh but I don't shoot off the bench and I don't shoot a ton of turkey loads on paper. My new beretta a400 isn't bad on recoil at all but again I shoot standing up when patterning.
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on April 08, 2014, 11:02:45 PM
The only reason I shoot 3-½s is because they don't come in 4's :funnyturkey:
:z-winnersmiley:
you beat me too it thats how I feel about it but I will say that my gun shoots each size well but I just tend to lean toward shells with more shot.
Hahaha! I was thinking the same thing. I couldn't find a 4 either!
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My 870 SM likes the 3" better, so that ended the 3.5 dilemma for me... :icon_thumright:
I had about 70 more hits with the 3.5's over the 3's
If my gun can eat a 3.5 & with good results, than that is what I prefer to feed it......
If you do the math you will see that if using #6 hevi shot, there are 57 more pellets in a 2.25 oz load versus a 2 oz load. This is why a lot of 3" guns shoot as well as a lot of 3.5 inch guns. To each his own.
My gun patterns 3s better
I have 3.5" guns,but with the ammo today a 3" is overkill.
I see no point in 3.5". If you're shooting at 45 or less, what difference does it make. The shell itself has more to do with its outcome than length. With HTL and TSS, shooting 3.5 is just punishing yourself. Too each his own. Its amazing how I killed several birds (one 28# 10.5" beard) with a 2.75" shell of number 5s. Only reason I switched to 3" was due to the lack of quality turkey shells in 2.75".
I'm of the philosophy that bigger is better. I shoot 3.5" and it puts up 30=40 more pellets in the 10" than a 3". Both will do the trick at 40.
I'm of the philosophy that bigger is better. I shoot 3.5" and it puts up 30=40 more pellets in the 10" than a 3". Both will do the trick at 40.
This is true to a point. There is the law of diminishing returns. You can kill deer with a 243/270/30-30/30.06, but a 375 or 416 Rigby is bigger. Why aren't they used? Or better yet, why not shoot a 10ga for these birds? Definitely a bigger payload.
I'm very thankful we can have these discussions (only in America).
Good Luck
Quote from: surehuntsalot on April 10, 2014, 09:13:02 PM
I have 3.5" guns, but with the ammo today a 3" is overkill.
:agreed:
About 15-20 years ago, I patterned exactly four rounds of 3.5" in my NEF single shot. Never again even though the gun is chambered for them. 3.5" shells don't make them deader.
A 3.5 shell is essentially a 10 gauge shot charge crammed into a lengthened 12 ga case , it has a longer shot charge , and a higher pressure making for a sometimes tricky combination to get to work well , but when it works well .. It works well then you have a affordable easy to carry n the woods virtual 10 gauge that is going to kick the snot out of you , but who cares .....it will kill gobblers with authority
My buddies make fun of me cause of my 12 pound 10 gauge gun , but I'm quick to point out that they all shoot lightweight rebadged 10 gauges , in the form of a 3.5 12 --
A 10 gauge shell is a shorter shot charge than a 3.5 /12 shooting at a lower psi that a 12 , that's why they shoot good
A 3 inch 12 gauge shell is a shorter shot charge shooting at a lower psi
A 3.5 inch 12 gauge shell is a longer shot charge shooting at a higher psi , so naturally it's going to be somewhat more tricky to figure out , but I recommend turkey hunters take a little effort to look into it if they have the time
Good luck , safe hunting -- Shannon
I think the 3 1/2 hit a little harder to
A 2.25 ounce 12 gauge load shoots give or take around 1200 fps , a 10 gauge 2.25 is doing 1240 , a slight difference in velocity
The popularity and versatility of the 3.5 12 is the reason for the decline in the 10 gauges , the 12 is simply a more practical alternative these days
I know that waterfowl isn't the same as turkey but I'll shoot ducks and geese all day long with 2 3/4" just because I'm cheap.....or poor. I can't remember.
Same thing applies to the death of the 16GA... when the 20ga came out in 3in... bye bye 16ga.
Quote from: FL-Boss on April 12, 2014, 08:09:25 PM
Same thing applies to the death of the 16GA... when the 20ga came out in 3in... bye bye 16ga.
My second gun was a Remington model 31 in 16ga. I can never find shells unless it's #7 1/2 lead.
Quote from: Heller on April 10, 2014, 07:21:48 PM
My gun patterns 3s better
If it does you have a choke problem.
Quote from: L.F. Cox on April 13, 2014, 06:47:34 AM
Quote from: Heller on April 10, 2014, 07:21:48 PM
My gun patterns 3s better
If it does you have a choke problem.
I would say from experience that to be a very accurate statement. Probably nothing wrong with the choke or choke you have tried either. But from my experience it don't take much effort at all to make a heavier 3.5" load shoot better with more hits in a 10" and 20" circle at 40yds or a turkey or whatever else you are shooting at.