Quote from: Fourcooks on May 22, 2014, 09:23:21 AM
Just shot a 3.5 inch shell from my Mossberg 535 and it packed quite a punch. I'm going to get a limbsaver but don't know if I should get the slip on model or the fitted model. Any suggestions? Thanks.
A 3.5" shell contains a larger shot payload than a 3" shell but it goes no further and kills no "deader" than a 3" shell.
In many cases it's trying to cram a shot charge down a barrel that was designed for and intended for loads of 1 oz. of 1.25 oz. of shot. The overbored Mossbergs are the exception but they were in reality designed for waterfowl hunters when steel (non toxic) shot was mandated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
All turkey loads can cause us to develop a flinch. All turkey loads deliver punishing recoil to us and even if we feel immune to it, it causes trauma to our bodies. We all know or have heard the comparisons of 3" turkey loads in standard 12 gauge shotguns, to guns used for the most dangerous game in Africa. Recoil is not our friend.
I pay a price every day for all the turkey loads I've shot over the last 20 years, off my right shoulder.
I would encourage you to use a really good recoil pad on your gun, the Limbsaver is an excellent one and not to fire too many shells at any one time. In competition I often fire one shell every 10 minutes or so for a couple of 10 hour days in a row. It used to be many more than that and still can be if there are not many competitors at the event.
A good recoil pad and good gun fit can help but too many shells will take their toll.
Thanks,
Clark
P.S. When I was doing work for Remington, Winchester, Federal and EM in the early 2000s, I often fired up to 100 shells per day. I am paying for that now.