3 in or 3.5 in chamber

kevin95 said:
you will never make a mistake with a 3.5" chamber. If you run out of shells you can borrow your buddy's shells. I personally never shoot dynamite sticks but you never know when you will need them.
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Strongly disagree. I would rather have something designed for 2 3/4 (or 3) that cycles, than something modified to fit 3 1/2 that jams every third shell.

I have found that a lot of the cheap 3 1/2 guns were not actually designed for the purpose and the extraction shows it.

C
 
Chefboubou said:
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!
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Logical choice.

C
 
I have 4 12ga hunting guns .not one of them has a 3.5" chamber . have never seen the need for the long chamber .I use 2 3/4" shells for upland and 3" for waterfowl .
 
Thanks. I shouldered both a 3 and a 3.5 and felt more comfortable cycling the 3 (even though the stroke length varies only slightly). I soon as I get my RPAL, I'll order it....
 
In the group that I hunt with, most of us use 3" Kent Fasteel loads for geese, but a couple of the guys use 3-1/2" black Cloud or Blindside loads. The guys using the high dollar 3-1/2" loads usually fire the most shots, but they never kill the most geese. Coincidentally, those same people often use 12 gauge 3" loads for pheasant, and last fall they started using the Prairies storm loads. They usually do get their two bird limit, but they always fire more shots than anyone else to do so, and when they do hit a bird, there usually isn't a lot left to eat. Buy a 3" gun, and spend the money that you save on the gun and ammunition to shoot some skeet or sporting clays.
 
the spank said:
2 3/4".........the only thing that gets hammered hard by 3" or 3.5" ammo is the shooter. Both on the shoulder and the wallet! :)
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Which 2 3/4" steel or non tox loads are you using on waterfowl? I'm curious cause I plan on doing a fair bit of patterning this spring/summer and I'm always looking to reduce recoil when it comes to duck hunting. I get unreal patterns from cheap Winchesters 3" 1&1/8oz of #3 I think 1550 is the list speed. Only picked them on account of price and pattern, I'm not a speed guy generally. I'd like 1&1/4 or 1&3/8oz at 1350 or so but can never find em.
 
The good ol days

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if I were to buy a new shotgun it would be in 3 inch
if I want 3 1/2 I'll use my 10 gauges
they pattern better and recoil less then a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge
and the ammo is cheaper then 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge
same speeds but more shot and way better patterns
 
Well - The issue is that lead is denser than steel, so the equivalent weight amount of steel occupies more volume in the shell casing. So the 3 inch steel shell is comparable to the old 2 3/4 in heavy duck load. Now, those old 3 inch lead magnums would likely give a nasty kick.
 
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