Don't notice any difference in a semi and minimal in a pump unless it is a dam 835 IMHO
Cheers
3 vs 3.5 shells - does it make any difference?
- Thread starter jrslv
- Start date
Don't notice any difference in a semi and minimal in a pump unless it is a dam 835 IMHO
Cheers
Myself and a friend started shooting geese together three years ago, with two other people. The first year, we killed a lot of geese, but when I counted up the hulls after a few hunts, we were averaging four to five shots per bird. And that was with two members shooting 3-1/2" loads. Over the last two years, we have worked on our setup and shot selection, and we are killing more geese. After our last two hunts this fall, I counted up hulls, and we averaged just under two shots per goose, so our shooting effectiveness has at least doubled, even using loads with less shot in them. And we don't use the high dollar loads, we normally use the lower priced Kent and Winchester 3" loads. If you choose your shots wisely, you don't need the high dollar loads, or the 3-1/2" loads, if you shoot when you shouldn't, you may kill your limit a bit sooner, but you will also cripple far more birds.
This part I understand - when using decoys the target is stationary. But - at the risk of making you guys rolling up your eyes - what about other flying targets like Grouse and Partridge?
I read that some people even use the cheapest target loads in those scenarios. Still, would a 3.5" load (with lots of shot!), used with a cylinder (for maximum spread) be beneficial as well?
Um, the decoys are stationary but the geese and ducks are flying?!
I use a 20 gauge more often than not for geese and ducks, I can see no reason to use 3.5" unless one wants too start sky busting.
Cat
I ask you all
If you just get may be 5 or 6 cracks at geese a year if lucky
Use maybe a box or two of shells for geese and a close shot would be 35/40 yards most well beyond that
Would you use 3 1/2 or 3"
Me I use the 10ga for geese and I am a fair shooter still in the low/mid 90's normally out of 100
I want every pellet I am allowed out there if I get that rare opportunity to take one
It all depends on where you hunt IMO. I have hunted out west and wonder why you guys don't use a stick or just grab them by the legs
We are comparing apples to oranges as far as hunting conditions
I remember hunting sea ducks in Quebec one time and the first thing the guide said best bring a 10ga or 3 1/2 12ga for the shots you will be presented with
Just wondering how many hunt sea ducks here with their 3"
To say I don't need one Fine but maybe someone else could use the extra pellets where they hunt and don't tell me to learn to shoot unless you can run the 100
Our conditions it makes a difference
Cheers
If you just get may be 5 or 6 cracks at geese a year if lucky
Use maybe a box or two of shells for geese and a close shot would be 35/40 yards most well beyond that
Would you use 3 1/2 or 3"
Me I use the 10ga for geese
and I am a fair shooter still in the low/mid 90's normally out of 100I want every pellet I am allowed out there if I get that rare opportunity to take one
It all depends on where you hunt IMO. I have hunted out west and wonder why you guys don't use a stick or just grab them by the legs
We are comparing apples to oranges as far as hunting conditions
I remember hunting sea ducks in Quebec one time and the first thing the guide said best bring a 10ga or 3 1/2 12ga for the shots you will be presented with
Just wondering how many hunt sea ducks here with their 3"
To say I don't need one Fine but maybe someone else could use the extra pellets where they hunt and don't tell me to learn to shoot unless you can run the 100
Our conditions it makes a difference
Cheers
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I'll leave iron cat to address the stationary target question.
Regarding grouse and partridge.......lets just say other game birds. There are vast differences in how easily different game birds die. Factors include general robustness, density of feathers, overall size. What this means in practice is that typically 1 or 2 pellets hits a ruffed grouse and that bird is falling from the sky. A pellet hits a pheasant and it's likely continuing on its way. At the other end of the spectrum I have unloaded 1 1/4 oz of lead into the body of a turkey at 35-40 yards and watched it fly away. (early in my turkey hunting days). A teal will die more easily than a mallard. Geese are tougher than ducks because they are bigger. Pheasant harder to kill than sharp tailed grouse. Hungarians and quail fall rather easily. You need to know your quarry.
3 1/2" shells out of a cylinder bore sounds like a recipe for lots of birds wounded at 35 yards. Learn to shoot. Learn the appropriate loads and distances for the quarry. Learn to pick your shots. Don't just walk out there and start blasting. I don't have a single 3" or 3 1/2" chambered shotgun. And i have lots of shotguns. I'm never "handicapped" by chamber size.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
As Cat mentioned, there is nothing stationary when decoying birds other than the decoys themselves. Birds are still flying, but usually at closer distances and slower.
As for upland birds...I don't know anyone who uses anything larger than 2.75”. Most people use smaller shot sizes in 2.75” shells. I like to use 1oz #6 and have used target loads. 3” and 3.5” shells were not intended for upland hunting unless you hunting turkeys
I ask you all
If you just get may be 5 or 6 cracks at geese a year if lucky
Use maybe a box or two of shells and a close shot would be 35/40 yards most well beyond that
Would you use 3 1/2 or 3"
Me I use the 10ga for geese
I want every pellet I am allowed out there if I get that rare opportunity to take one
It all depends on where you hunt IMO. I have hunted out west and wonder why you guys don't use a stick or just grab them by the legs
Cheers
LOL, Where I live in Ontario I am 150 yards from the town line. If I was outside the town line I could hunt on my property. Every day I have nice big Canadas that fly directly over my back yard, moving between Lake Ontario and some fields. EVERY DAY! They pass over my deck at about 20 - 25 yards up. While I have trees surrounding the property that obstruct the view, I can hear them coming and the back yard provides a perfect sight window. I should be able to sit on my deck and take two or three geese every day of the season, but for the local bylaw. Damn! It pisses me off every day. Hahaha.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
I ask you all
If you just get may be 5 or 6 cracks at geese a year if lucky
Use maybe a box or two of shells for geese and a close shot would be 35/40 yards most well beyond that
Would you use 3 1/2 or 3"
Me I use the 10ga for geese
I want every pellet I am allowed out there if I get that rare opportunity to take one
It all depends on where you hunt IMO. I have hunted out west and wonder why you guys don't use a stick or just grab them by the legs
We are comparing apples to oranges as far as hunting conditions
I remember hunting sea ducks in Quebec one time and the first thing the guide said best bring a 10ga or 3 1/2 12ga for the shots you will be presented with
Just wondering how many hunt sea ducks here with their 3"
Cheers
And I agree with this!
Thanks . I would shoot TSS for geese if I could afford it LOL and yes out of a 10ga
Next I will hear 75 yard shots don't happen
I say stand out there and a good reload of 10ga heavy shot through a IM choke will make you think different Cheers
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
What a bummer! I’d be shooting birds every day before going to work and when I’m back from work. Harvest enough birds and make enough burgers/sausages for a neighbourhood BBQ to keep the neighbours happy and quiet.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Too expensive for my tastes. I’ll stick the cheaper steel loads and spend the money buying more guns and target ammo to blast away on the clays fields
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Thanks . I would shoot TSS for geese if I could afford it LOL and yes out of a 10ga
Next I will hear 75 yard shots don't happen
Cheers
Speaking of 10ga, I was super pumped about using my new Gold this year, but I only got it out twice for our early goose season. If I recall correctly I only put 9 shells through it, but I did bring home 5 geese. There was 1 goose that clearly took 3 shots and somehow still managed to fly off. I doubt that bugger could survive taking all those hits, but it didn’t drop for the minute or so that I was watching it fly across the lake. Tough bastards
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
Let the pattern board tell you. I have not found 3.5 inch shells to pattern better. Waste of money if you ask me. Pattern a bunch of shells and see. Some loads just agree with some barrels and chokes.
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
They pattern very well out of a .775 bore. But you’ll need to buy one of the two 12g guns that are fitted with barrels with a 10g bore and that would be the Mossberg 935 or 835
But they sure don't pattern worse. I shot a lot of paper when working the reloads for them
Have to try various chokes other than your gun came with
Cheers
AS they say. A standard 3-inch steel load contains 1 1/4 ounces of shot, while a standard 3 1/2-inch load has 1 9/16 ounces. That difference equates to roughly 22 more BBs, 39 more No. 2s or 60 more No. 4s. In lighter 3 1/2-inch loads of 1 1/2 ounces, the difference is about 18 more BBs, 31 more No. 2s and 48 more No. 4s. That can certainly make the difference between a hit and a miss or a cripple versus a clean kill.
I ask you all
If you just get may be 5 or 6 cracks at geese a year if lucky
Use maybe a box or two of shells for geese and a close shot would be 35/40 yards most well beyond that
Would you use 3 1/2 or 3"
Me I use the 10ga for geese
I want every pellet I am allowed out there if I get that rare opportunity to take one
It all depends on where you hunt IMO. I have hunted out west and wonder why you guys don't use a stick or just grab them by the legs
We are comparing apples to oranges as far as hunting conditions
I remember hunting sea ducks in Quebec one time and the first thing the guide said best bring a 10ga or 3 1/2 12ga for the shots you will be presented with
Just wondering how many hunt sea ducks here with their 3"
To say I don't need one Fine but maybe someone else could use the extra pellets where they hunt and don't tell me to learn to shoot unless you can run the 100
Our conditions it makes a difference
Cheers
I invest 6-8 hours of scouting every week, plus setup, and take down time, for our weekly goose hunt, and if I had to shoot 40 yards plus just to shoot a box of ammunition per year, I simply wouldn't bother hunting geese. Yes you will kill some geese at 50-70 yards, but you likely cripple as many as you recover shooting that far, to me, shooting that far, with such limited shot opportunity isn't worth the effort to me.
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