2 3/4" vs 3" shotgun shells?

[quadeo]

I tried a search on CGN and didn't find anything so forgive me if this has been discussed here before. My question is, what is the advantages/disadvantages of the 2 3/4" vs 3" shotgun shells in a shotgun that accepts both? Is the 3" purely a longer shell or is there more powder and shot in it? I would assume the 3" are more expensive than the 2 3/4. Is there more of a chance for a jam with a 3" shell?

Thanks.

 

[9.3mauser]

It would be helpful to know what you're planning to hunt.

The logic behind the 3 inch shell is that it handles a heavier charge of shot, which translated into denser patterns. A 1 1/8 oz. load would tend to thin out too much to be effective at longer ranges compared a 1 5/8 oz. load for instance. If you're hunting upland game, this isn't an issue since the ranges are typically close.

For waterfowl hunting with steel shot, the heavier shot charge is also desirable, because you need to use a larger shot size to be as effective as the old lead loads, and more pellets in the shell to keep the patterns acceptably dense.

Whether it jams or not is a measure of the gun being used, rather than the shell.

 

[LUTNIT]

For buckshot, slugs, and heavy loads, 3" shells are only slightly more expensive than 2-3/4". Light loads in 3" are rare because it defeats the purpose of the extra volume.

3" shells generally have a larger volume of shot in them as opposed to a higher velocity. With slugs you will find higher velocities with 3" shells but generally no heavier payloads.

If you fire a crap ton of 2-3/4" shells in a 3-1/2" chamber and then try to chamber a 3-1/2" shell without cleaning it can sometimes stick. This is because a ring of carbon and fouling will build up 2-3/4" into the chamber. The extra 1/4" for 2-3/4" vs. 3" shells doesn't seem to effect anything as it will be within the crimped portion of the hull.

I've never had a jam in any of my 870's from running many hundreds of 2-3/4" shells even though they are 3" and 3-1/2" chambers (when pumping it strongly). When pumping very gently to make sure I don't lose the hull (since I reload) I have had 2-3/4" hulls spin around and fall back onto the elevator backwards. I have no idea if this is because of the larger ejection port or whether it would also happen in a 2-3/4" shotgun as well (I don't have any under 3").

As a trick if you handload to get 3-1/2" performance out of a 3" chamber you can take 3-1/2" hulls, cut them down to 3", load them with 3-1/2" load data which will bring the payload right to the rim, then cap them with overshot cards and glue.

 

[lazyfarmer]

I hunt primarily deer and turkeys with a shotgun. I don't mind using 3" shells on turkeys because you are usually only firing one shot plus it gives you a little more range. Shooting 3" slugs from a 12 gauge in deer season was just too much abuse on the shoulder for a very marginal gain in range. Never had a problem with either size jamming although my one gun just did not like to eject remmington shells.