Downsides to 3.5"?

Shandley

Shandley

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Greetings,

I am looking at getting a 3.5" 12GA shotgun (mainly for clay pigeon) with a 30" barrel.

I am wondering what the downside to getting a 3.5" over, say, a 3" or smaller as the 3.5 can generally shoot smaller shells.

Thanks for your patients with this noob.
 
If you are shooting clay pigeons you don't need a 3 1/2" chambered gun. All you need is 2 3/4". In fact, I believe that's all you can shoot at a club if that's where you are doing your clays shooting.
And as already mentioned regarding 3 1/2" shells, they cost more and have higher recoil. Basically they aren't needed unless maybe you are going after long range geese or turkey.
 
Well, truth be known, I'm the type that will pay to have the convenience to not have to buy another firearm so when I first heard a 3.5 can potentially fire a 2.75, I loved it. I'd hate to be in a position to have the opportunity to shoot a 3.5 but not be able to because I bought a 2.75. On top of that, who knows where this hobbit will take me in 3 years from now. I'd like to be prepared. I am NOT one to sell what I've purchased.
 
I wouldn't buy one gun over another because it had a 3.5" chamber, but all else being equal it's not a drawback and may be nice to have. As mentioned above, you will never shoot anything bigger than 2 3/4" at a clays range. When you say clay pigeons, what discipline are you thinking of -- 30" barrel might be a little unwieldy for skeet and a 28" or 26" is probably more usable for anything except trap.
 
3-1/2" just increases the pellet count and recoil. In a pump it means a slightly longer cycle time between shots, probably mostly negligible in a semi. Truth be told I don't find it of much use except when goose hunting, if you're not planning on that I'd stick to a 3" chamber.
 
3" is all you will ever need. I find I use 2.75" more and more for everything.

When I feel I need 3.5" shells I grab my 10 ga

Owning 3.5" 12 ga guns I can honestly say it's all marketing. Some will argue that they're better for long range goose hunting but chances are the same shot with a 2.75" shell most likely would have worked just the same
 
I've never shot a 3.5" shell (and probably never will). Those folks that I know who have, tell me they never will buy them again. Most turkey hunters that I know, will buy a 3" shell, but just as many, use 2 3/4" and get their turkey every year.

2 3/4" are the shells you will use for all clay games. Buy a gun to shoot the main clay game that you plan to shoot. An appropriate 2 3/4" 12 gauge shell will kill anything you want to shoot. JMHO
 
I own a 3.5" benelli supernova. Not a big fan of the 3.5" shell honestly, they are costly, hard to find, and in general pretty hard on the shoulder.

If I was to go back in time I would have just gotten the 3" model.
 
Nothing wrong with having a gun capable of handling the 3 1/2 if you ever change what you require down the road you are ready
Not to mention they have better resale and hold their value over a 3"
Slower to pump?? Not something I have ever noticed but I have been pumping since the mid 60's and been a long time since I watched a true pump master that would see any difference I would say
Plus you are probally talking semi anyway since very few serious pump guys left in the target games
Most that are down on them never owned one or shot more than a box of shells out of one
Yes I have the 10ga's also but still like using the 3 1/2 12ga especially my browning semi's where the 10ga does too much damage
I reload them so never an issue with supply or price for me which I guess is not the norm from what I read here
In the end get what fits and makes YOU happy
Just my 2 cents
Cheers
 
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I run a 3.5 SBE II for everything.

2.75's for 3 gun, sporting clays, skeet, and trap.
3" for crow and raven hunting
3.5 for geese.

Works fine for me.
 
Just so I'm sure you're tracking, a 3.5" can still fire everything smaller; both 3" and 2.75".

There really is no distadvantage to get something that can fire up to and including 3.5", because your options are wide open.

If you get a 2.75", then you're stuck with that as your only option. If you get a 3" then you can shoot 3" and 2.75", but not 3.5".

Best bet is to get a 3.5" so you can fire everything.
 
If you need a 3.5" Go 10 Ga, nothing compares to that. 12 ga is not bad but doesnt have the knockdown power, so using the 2.75 or 3" is all ive ever used in a 12ga. and 3.5" in a 12 is a waste of $ ($17/25 for duck shells compared to $35). Pump you might tend to jam or miss shots because the longer pump stroke, Extra weight also isnt needed if you want to be holding it out front. Try holding a brick at arms length compared to closer to your body, extra weight out makes fatigue set in faster. IMHO it isnt needed and only came out in the 90's due to steel shot requirements for hunting.
 
It's not all its cracked up to be. Each shell size will pattern differently so it's not like you can just swap a 3.5 in place of a 3 or anything else for that matter. You basically have to treat it like 3 guns, three ammo's and three chokes. Most 3.5's will blow out a pattern in a choke that patterns well with the 3".

I bought a supermag thinking I was going to be shooting candle sticks all the time. Nope 3" for most hunting situations, 2.75 for clays in the backyard.

BUT... I do see good value in a 3" chamber. Nothing a 3.5 can do that 3" can't match
 
Although, in my two barrels, with the same 3" turkey load and the same choke, the 3.5" chambered barrel does have noticeable less recoil over the 3" chamber. Only difference I can figure is the positioning of the forcing cone.
 
kennymo said:
3-1/2" just increases the pellet count and recoil. In a pump it means a slightly longer cycle time between shots, probably mostly negligible in a semi. Truth be told I don't find it of much use except when goose hunting, if you're not planning on that I'd stick to a 3" chamber.
Click to expand...

x2, actually I dont even like for goose. Longer cycle, longer action = bad.
 
Some semi auto guns with 3-1/2" chambers, don't cycle light target loads all that well, so having the longer chamber can be a disadvantage. I personally don't bother with 3-1/2" loads, even for geese, but light target loads do get used in my semi autos, so I prefer guns with 3" chambers.
 
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