Inertia 3.5in just in case

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huntingfish

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Hey guys,
Nothing much to do these days than window shopping online! I started looking at 12ga semis (inertia actions). I understand that shooting a 3.5" 12ga shell will make my shoulder fairly upset, but is there any problems with the reasonning of getting a 3.5" chambered shotgun and only shooting 2 3/4" - 3" shells? Any reliability problems that could arise?

I'm thinking...should I ever need 3.5" (whatever that special need is at the time), I'll have a gun that can do it.

Cheers,

David
 
the inertia action will do little to reduce recoil. a gas gun would be a better option. i have only shot two and three quarter out of three inch chambered inertia guns and never had any reliability problems.
 
Have a SBE 2 never had an issue with 2 3/4 or 3" and have shot a pile through it .The only issue I have had is 3.5" and usually that's when the gun is near vertical, seems to hang up every now and then .Both my A 400 Beretta and browning gold did the same so could be an inherit thing.
 
reddog said:
Have a SBE 2 never had an issue with 2 3/4 or 3" and have shot a pile through it .The only issue I have had is 3.5" and usually that's when the gun is near vertical, seems to hang up every now and then .Both my A 400 Beretta and browning gold did the same so could be an inherit thing.
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Funny you say that about the hang ups with 3.5 inch shells. I am in the same boat in all my years of waterfowling and I can honestly say I have shot less than 100 rounds of 3.5 inch shells, if I was going to experience a hang-up it was with a 3.5 inch shell.

I have had no issues with my SBE3 cycling 2.75 inch shells. Last weekend shooting skeet in -15 weather there were no issues, and the cold can wreak havoc on the autoloader sometimes.
 
I'm a bit dissappointed in learning that the inertia system won't do anything to migitate a bit of the recoil, but thanks for your honest feedback guys.

Unfortunately, I don't think a gas operated shotty is in the realm of budget-possible.

I'm looking at the Girsan MC312 variants and they seem to be doing well in the reviews I've seen. Anyone has one?

David
 
A couple of guys I hunt with have SBE2s and they seem to cycle everything pretty well. They both have the walnut stocked models and shoot 3.5s with no obvious injury. A lot of felt recoil has to do with gun fit, I have a 6 lb O/U that I shoot 1 3/8 oz loads out of occasionally and though I wouldn't shoot a round of skeet with them I can handle it because the gun fits well.
 
I have a 3.5" Browning Gold auto that I bought new about 15+ years ago, it's well broken in and properly cleaned and lubricated as required. It will reliably cycle anything, from my low pressure, low velocity 1 oz reloads through any factory 2 3/4" load, 3" regular and extra high velocity steel and whatever I can find for 3 1/2" steel goose loads. It did this from new and still does this after possibly 1500-2000 rounds of target and hunting loads. The only problem ever was an occasional 3 1/2" stovepipe if I mixed these with 3". I seem to recall this only occured with one brand of 3 1/2" ammo. Rock solid reliable, soft shooting. Be advised that 3 1/2" guns are normally up to a pound heavier that the same gun in 3" and also have a longer action, making the overall gun longer than the same model and barrel length with a 3" action.
 
I've had a Girsan MC312 in the synth stock since last Spring and have mostly fired 2-3/4 shells, from #8 up to 1600fps slugs. It cycles the 2-3/4 just fine, even the target loads. I have shot the more powerful slugs in case I would want to hunt with them, but only a few at a time. After the first time I shot the slugs I bought a Limbsaver - I'm 70 and only weigh 165 so not a lot of mass to absorb the punches, but the LS was all I needed to make this a great gun. I also have a Hatsan 12g pump in full-length and also one in 14" - they all wear the LS ;-p And all handle the slugs fine.
 
I have a SBE 2 and it has cycled everything perfectly I’ve put through it, from low brass target loads too 3 1/2” BBB. If I’m not mistaken, but been a while since I read it. The manual says to break it in with 3.5” heavy loads , a minimum of 3 boxes. Then you’ll have no issues. I’m not a very big guy about 150 lbs and shoot mostly 3.5” loads for geese and I don’t find the recoil any worse than gas guns I’ve had in the past. I haven’t done a lot of skeet shooting so can’t comment on a whole day of shooting it.
 
3.5" 12ga guns are over rated imo. If you need a 3.5" shell move up to a 10ga
A 3" 12ga will run more reliably with lighter loads and still offer plently of heavier loaded ammo
 
brybenn said:
3.5" 12ga guns are over rated imo. If you need a 3.5" shell move up to a 10ga
A 3" 12ga will run more reliably with lighter loads and still offer plently of heavier loaded ammo
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A lot of truth to this. My waterfowl gun is chambered for 3.5” and I mainly use 3” loads and switch to 2.75” loads for small ducks. I found that I only used 3.5” for geese. I have now gone to a 10g for geese and find it to be much better then the 3.5” 12g. I now have a pile of 3.5” loads that I may never be able to finish as I’ll never use them on ducks.
 
I use 10ga for geese. For ducks i use mainly 2.75" still in 12ga. 3" in 20ga because thats all thats available locally

3.5" 12ga offers higher costs. More muzzle blast. More recoil. More muzzle rise. Slower follow up shots and often less reliability but at least you can always borrow ammo from your buddys lol
 
The big 3 1/2" Roman Candles in either gauge seem to have some advantage at or near maximum ranges such as pass shooting but I can't see any advantage over decoys or jump shooting. I long ago quit using them for even the largest northern prairie geese over field decoys. Many of my hunting partners tried them and none could see any advantage for the hunting we were doing. More recoil, much higher cost, no advantage. We also experimented with the huge T and F shot that was recommended in the early days of steel and found it to be a very poor killer with poor penetration. We all more or less settled on High Velocity 3" BB or triple B if the birds were wary, around 1500 fps + for best penetration on those heavily feathered northerns. Ducks alone if not mixed in with geese, usually 2 3/4" #3.
 
Our little group shoots 200+ geese every year, and we have never found the need to use 3-1/2" loads. I bought a flat of 3-1/2" one time because they were old stock and priced lower than the 3", but in two years , I have only used one box.
 
I no longer buy 3 1/2" shells and haven't in years. I believe Wildfowl magazine did a comparison using Kent Fasteel 3" and 3 1/2" same shot size load a few years ago and it was an interesting read. The 3" seemed better overall performance. One factor was the second and or third shot and either staying or getting on the target, as others here have mentioned.
 
stubblejumper said:
Our little group shoots 200+ geese every year, and we have never found the need to use 3-1/2" loads. I bought a flat of 3-1/2" one time because they were old stock and priced lower than the 3", but in two years , I have only used one box.
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I hope that flat were not Challenger shells. I did the same and found many squib loads in there. Really frustrating!
 
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