3 in or 3.5 in chamber
- Thread starter Chefboubou
- Start date
North Star
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
Save your money and buy the 3" chamber. I used to have a Benelli pump in 3.5". Bought a box of Winchester drylock 3.5" magnum loads.
Recoil was vicious. Fired 5 times and put that box away. Almost knocked me on my butt the first time. Barrel went 90 degrees up to the sky.
Still have that box of shells 10 years later. Nobody at the shotgun club wants it.
Recoil was vicious. Fired 5 times and put that box away. Almost knocked me on my butt the first time. Barrel went 90 degrees up to the sky.
Still have that box of shells 10 years later. Nobody at the shotgun club wants it.
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That was before steel shot for migratory birds. If bismuth weren't so expensive, 3" would be fine.
3" is still fine for steel. If you aren't successful with 3", then the problem isn't the ammunition.
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
I down plenty with my 3", but occasionally my partner shoots one out of the stratosphere with his 3.5"
No doubt for pass shooting the 3.5" is superior.
No doubt for pass shooting the 3.5" is superior.
Good point.
What makes you think that a 3" load would not have killed those birds? As to "occasionally" being successful on long shots, I don't attempt shots that I can only make "occasionally". If you are only killing those birds "occasionally", then you are likely wounding a lot of birds that you aren't recovering.
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
100% stubblejumper. I hate to think of the number of birds flying off with a few pellets in em.
I prefer "feet down, guns up" as to me the idea of waterfowling, among other enjoyments, is killing ducks not seeing how far a guy can sometimes knock em down.
I prefer "feet down, guns up" as to me the idea of waterfowling, among other enjoyments, is killing ducks not seeing how far a guy can sometimes knock em down.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
I remember a conversation several years ago by hunters who were discussing this same topic. One old boy was fairly quiet until he finally spoke. He said there's basically 2 reasons to try for these long distance shots all the time. Bragging rights or being game hungry. He further said no one wants to take the time anymore to learn how to call in birds. They want to buy the latest and greatest and sit back and poke holes in the sky at long distant birds hoping that eventually the law of average will prevail and a bird might fall. If a limit isn't obtained, heaven forbid.
Now I suppose there is a lot of argument that could be made about his comments but reading this thread brought it back to my mind. I guess the bottom line is the cost between a 3" gun or 3 1/2" gun should not be the driving factor on which to buy. Over the long run, that cost is meaningless. The deciding factor should be whether you think you need to shoot 3 1/2" to be successful. Nobody can tell you that.
Now I suppose there is a lot of argument that could be made about his comments but reading this thread brought it back to my mind. I guess the bottom line is the cost between a 3" gun or 3 1/2" gun should not be the driving factor on which to buy. Over the long run, that cost is meaningless. The deciding factor should be whether you think you need to shoot 3 1/2" to be successful. Nobody can tell you that.
Well said gunsaholic, and relevant points to ponder. As I have stated, 3.5 isn't going to improve your aim, or range. It helps put out more payload during the shot when faced with having to use steel. That is a problem the old-timers didn't face when Imperial "Special long-range" lead did the job on everything. 3.5s have been clean killers for me too as stated earlier when dropping 54 #4 buck pellets per trigger stroke on a running coyote or most of the 18 double 'aught pellets into a running deer when in range. They hit hard because of the payload. Agreed the 3.5 is not NEEDED but having that chamber choice adds a lot of versatility for people like me.
Chefboubou
Member
- Location
- Quebec City
That's the main problem. Since I'm looking for a first shotgun, I can't tell if I need to shoot 3 1/2" or not. However and based on all the pationate posts, I think I will be good with a 3". Worst case scenario, it will be a good reason to add a 3 1/2 in to my safe down the road.
Again, thanks to all of you who replied to this post!
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Also not many tend to patteren a gun or load therefore never knowing POA forsure or how a pattern looks. I can pattern my 7/8 #2 in a tighter pattern that will kill ducks then a scatter 3.5 inch shell pattern then what one will kill ? The 3.5 May crip birds but we arent target shooting and a chip counts lol also shot traveling at 1400 fps will have same impact no matter what gauge its thrown from. Another thought to ponder is speed. The faster a shell is the more open the pattern is. And rem ads say 9 inch lead advantage at 40 yards ? So if you pattern your gun for 30 inch circle half of that 15 so if 9 inches helps you hit the bird you wasn't making a great shot to start with imo i shoot 1300-1450 factory and reloads with great luck after patterning
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chefboubou
Member
- Location
- Quebec City
That's the main problem. Since I'm looking for a first shotgun, I can't tell if I need to shoot 3 1/2" or not. However and based on all the pationate posts, I think I will be good with a 3". Worst case scenario, it will be a good reason to add a 3 1/2 in to my safe down the road.
Again, thanks to all of you who replied to this post!
Fastestmanalive
Regular
- Location
- Quebec City
I will lend you mine if you want to shoot some hairy shells. You and I know it won't be your first and only shotgun.
