Can we use 3'' in a 3 -1/2'' chamber?

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ericling

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I never had a shot gun before. Now I am interested in Benelli Nova 12 gauge, 3-1/2'' chamber, 28'' barrel pump. The one with 3'' chamber is more expensive.

I am wondering if we can use 3'' or less shot in a 3 1/2 chamber? or it depends?
 
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I have another question. Since 3-1/2'' chamber can take 3" & 2 3/4", why are there some people don't like 3-1/2'' chamber, saying 3-1/2'' shells are too expensive and not needed most of the time.
 
ericling said:
Since 3-1/2'' chamber can take 3" & 2 3/4", why are there some people don't like 3-1/2'' chamber, saying 3-1/2'' shells are too expensive and not needed most of the time.
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Well, sometimes it increases the price of the gun, so why pay for something you're never going to use. Also, others say on an 870, for example, the action isn't as smooth as it is with the 3" chamber.
 
ericling said:
I have another question. Since 3-1/2'' chamber can take 3" & 2 3/4", why are there some people don't like 3-1/2'' chamber, saying 3-1/2'' shells are too expensive and not needed most of the time.
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Word on the 'net says that patterning can sometimes be negatively affected if you're shooting short shells out of a long chamber.

I have no first-hand experience with this however, so I'm unable to confirm or deny.
 
GeoTrekr said:
Word on the 'net says that patterning can sometimes be negatively affected if you're shooting short shells out of a long chamber.I have no first-hand experience with this however, so I'm unable to confirm or deny.
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In the majority of cases its usually best to discount about 85% of "word on the net" and work with the balance. :) Personally, I haven't found any negative impacts to patterns while using shotguns with longer chambers.....even when 2 1/2inch shells were used in such firearms.
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
In the majority of cases its usually best to discount about 85% of "word on the net" and work with the balance. :) Personally, I haven't found any negative impacts to patterns while using shotguns with longer chambers.....even when 2 1/2inch shells were used in such firearms.
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I agree, I have actually gotten better patterns in some cases when firing 2 3/4 shells out of a 3 1/2inch chamber. Seems these days trashing the 3 1/2inch chamber is the in thing to do.
 
ericling said:
I have another question. Since 3-1/2'' chamber can take 3" & 2 3/4", why are there some people don't like 3-1/2'' chamber, saying 3-1/2'' shells are too expensive and not needed most of the time.
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You've just partially answered your own question. The other downside is that a 3-1/2" gun by necessity has a longer receiver, which will make it heavier and it won't handle as well as a regular 2-3/4" or 3" gun.
 
My mossberg 835 has a 3 1/2" chamber If I reload 3" and 3 1/2" shells with identical loads (and add overshot wad to fill the 3 1/2" chamber, the 3 1/2" shell definately patterns better on paper. In the field, I don't notice the difference. However, certain shells jam as they are a touch too long to clear the extraction slot. The mossberg chamber has a very gentle forcing cone and an overbore 10ga barrel making it the "best base scenario". From what I have read of the benellis, they also shoot very well. I doubt you will notice a difference in performance except on the longest shots and on paper.

Personally, I have a ton of 3 1/2" hulls that I've cut down to 3 1/4" I can load a touch more shot in them and they all eject 100% reliably. I used a carbide crimp starter to form the back half of the crimp in the previously uncrimped section.

TL;DR: I think you would be happy with either the 3 1/2 or 3" gun.
 
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