i am looking at getting a new shotgun, and am curious if the 3 1/2 is worth it? i am leaning towards a gas operated model as i understand recoil is greatly moderated. the two that interest me the most at present are the versamax and sx4. will both cycle well with light target loads?
3 1/2 vs 3
- Thread starter m1978
- Start date
I have hunted with a versa max for six years now. Great gun, eats any thing you feed it, soft on shoulder, no failure of any kind. I have never shot a sx4 , but I have sx3 ultimate sporting, great gun also. I am sure the sx4 would be every bit as good.
I don't like 3.5"mag shells. But I hunt waterfowl from a coffin blind, set in a large group of big foot decoys. So most of out shots are 30 yards or less. They may be better for pass shooting, or turkey hunting. I find them expensive, heavy recoil, and at he end of the day can't say I kill any more birds with them. Just my 0.2 worth other opinion may vary.
I don't like 3.5"mag shells. But I hunt waterfowl from a coffin blind, set in a large group of big foot decoys. So most of out shots are 30 yards or less. They may be better for pass shooting, or turkey hunting. I find them expensive, heavy recoil, and at he end of the day can't say I kill any more birds with them. Just my 0.2 worth other opinion may vary.
I never use 3-1/2" loads, even though I do a lot of goose hunting, they just aren't required. They just add recoil and cost more. As far as light target loads go, my 3" chambered SX-3 reliably cycles 1 ounce target loads. My 3-1/2" chambered SX-3 cycles most target loads reliably, but is not 100% with certain target loads.
Worth it for one reason resale
They sell much easier than a 3" used and hold their value better
If a lot of target loads are going to be fired I would stay with the 3"
Saying it is not needed all depends on what part of this country one hunts in
Out west I could use a stick in many of the blinds I sat in since the birds are so close not like that when shooting sea ducks for example
Cheers
They sell much easier than a 3" used and hold their value better
If a lot of target loads are going to be fired I would stay with the 3"
Saying it is not needed all depends on what part of this country one hunts in
Out west I could use a stick in many of the blinds I sat in since the birds are so close not like that when shooting sea ducks for example
Cheers
3.5" isn't required BUT I would buy the 3.5" for several reasons others suggested already...
- resale should you go that route...
- you can shoot 3" out of the 3.5"...
- if you do shoot 3.5" then you can put more pellets in the air for a better pattern density...
Years ago I used to shoot 3" for waterfowl & used #4 for ducks BUT we occasionally had geese come in & I was always scrambling to get some #2's in the gun before the geese got into the set.
When I picked up a 3.5" chambered gun, I simply switched to shooting #2 for everything waterfowl. My go to 3.5" shell is 1&3/8oz of #2's going 1550fps
- resale should you go that route...
- you can shoot 3" out of the 3.5"...
- if you do shoot 3.5" then you can put more pellets in the air for a better pattern density...
Years ago I used to shoot 3" for waterfowl & used #4 for ducks BUT we occasionally had geese come in & I was always scrambling to get some #2's in the gun before the geese got into the set.
When I picked up a 3.5" chambered gun, I simply switched to shooting #2 for everything waterfowl. My go to 3.5" shell is 1&3/8oz of #2's going 1550fps
I simply use 3" loads of #2 for all waterfowl, and never worry about having to change loads. And after patterning both 3" and 3-1/2" loads , I found that the patterns were superior with 3". And as I posted, my 3" gun is more reliable with light target loads, which the OP specifically mentioned.
Noted. Although patterns are funny thing... Your choice of choke & shell has a huge effect on what your shotgun will pattern like.
In my case, I chose the 3.5" #2 shell because it patterns well & puts more pellets into that pattern. A thinner pattern (less pellets) results in fewer hits on target.
More hits on target is better, but the sad fact is that many people that have trouble getting enough hits on target, don't place the pattern on the target. Instead of working on their shooting, to better place their pattern, they simply resort to throwing more shot at the target. I have invited people out to shoot skeet, to improve their shooting, but that is just takes too much time and effort for some people.
To me it really depends on whether you hunt waterfowl, that’s the only use in my mind that justifies a 3.5” shell and even that is limited to big water and field shoots for high flying geese/ducks.
If I were hunting waterfowl nowadays I’d probably opt for 3” non-toxic shells like tungsten, bismuth or hevi-shot. Super expensive but they perform better than 3.5” steel.
Patrick
If I were hunting waterfowl nowadays I’d probably opt for 3” non-toxic shells like tungsten, bismuth or hevi-shot. Super expensive but they perform better than 3.5” steel.
Patrick
i just like having the option to use 3 1/2" shells if i want. i have a browning gold, browning maxus and a mossberg 935. the 935 will do 2 3/4" target loads but not reliably but both browning eat anything i feed them. i usually use 3" shells for ducks and geese but every once in awhile depending on the situation i toss in 3 1/2" in my bag.
Some people that see these charts do get the idea, that if they use the listed ammunition, they should be shooting at the longest ranges listed. I was invited to a shoot where two individuals showed up with high dollar 3-1/2" loads, and then shot before the leader called the shooters to open fire. These two figured that since they had supposedly longer range ammunition, they should start shooting sooner. Oddly enough, those two killed less geese than anyone else.
I would say depends on your definition of light target loads, if its the standard 1 1/8oz other than the Mossberg 935 I haven't seen a cleaned 3 1/2" semi fail to to toss them. 1oz or 7/8oz may be a different tale. I would say that your best bet for mild recoil and light load cycling may be a VersaMax if 3 1/2" is important.
I guess the best way to sum it up for me is. If a 3.5' gun shoots where I look, I would not hesitate to buy it. just wouldn't shoot 3.5" shells. But then again if my versa max was a 3" gun , I would still buy it. I have only bought two boxes of 3.5" shells shot one box gave the other box away.
