Waterfold hunting without 3 1/2'' shell?

looks like i am in the minority , i use almost all 31/2" in my 870 super mag and of course i love my BPS 10 GA. I do some waterfowl guiding and i face long gliding cripple shots almost daily . i want as many pellets as possible on those long shots. my motto is you can't kill em too dead. i can comfortably shoot the heavy stuff so why not .
 
huntingike said:
looks like i am in the minority , i use almost all 31/2" in my 870 super mag and of course i love my BPS 10 GA. I do some waterfowl guiding and i face long gliding cripple shots almost daily . i want as many pellets as possible on those long shots. my motto is you can't kill em too dead. i can comfortably shoot the heavy stuff so why not .
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Now, that is a good reason to use a 3 1/2 in 12 or 10. I would likely choose similarly if that was my situation.

The OP was told by ??? that he NEEDED a 3 1/2" 12 guage to hunt waterfowl, which he later stated would not likely include geese. More hunters would be better of with a 3" gun then a 3 1/2" in my opinion.
 
me and my buddies did lots of goose hunting this year
1 3.5" BPS
1 3" SX3
1 3" 930
1 2.75" 1100

all 4 of us got plenty of birds

but my buddy with the 3.5 spent more time rubbing his shoulder than anyone else

(also note he was also the only one shooting with a pump so that didn't help the recoil either)
 
I shoot a 870 for most of my birds (upland and waterfowl). I have a box of 3" in the lockup, but I think I have only taken about 5 rounds out of it, its been there two years. I shoot 2 3/4 all the time.
As for your question about chokes, I have about 5 different kicking around for my 870, I generally just use the modified that came with the 870, but change it up depending on what I am going to be hunting.
 
I'll probably stick to the 3'' since I'm kind of strap for money... I kind of see the point of 3'' 1/2 and might eventually trade up for it, but for now I'm looking for the cheapest do-it-all (sort of)...

I wouldn't mind too much the recoil since I'm kind of a strong fella, but in the end the question was more, would I look like a fool trying to hunt geese with 3'' wich apparently is clearly not the case...

Thanks you all...
 
huntingike said:
looks like i am in the minority , i use almost all 31/2" in my 870 super mag and of course i love my BPS 10 GA. I do some waterfowl guiding and i face long gliding cripple shots almost daily . i want as many pellets as possible on those long shots. my motto is you can't kill em too dead. i can comfortably shoot the heavy stuff so why not .
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I own the same combination as ike and some people will try and tell you a 3.5" 12 is the same as a 3.5" 10 gauge. You don't need a 3.5", but when they made a 3" why did we buy it when the 2.75" did everything?
 
syecod said:
Please tell me what brand of 2 3/4" steel shot shells that kills ducks effectively??
WE hunt ducks over decoys and geese in the fields, but have never found a 2 3/4 steel load that was worth a s**t. The wind would blow the steel pellets back in your face!!
3 inch Kent fasteel with a pattern master choke seems to work the best for us.
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My favorite duck load is the 2.75" Kent Fasteel 1 1/8oz #6 1425fps. Inside the decoys this shell will crush the largest grain fed mallard.

As to the OP you absolutely don't need 3.5" shells but it is nice to have the option if you're shooting 'em tall.
 
Didn't you know.. a 2 3/4 shell just bounces off waterfowl.. that and other hunters will ridicule you for not having enough gun.. hmmmmm I wonder what shells they used for years before the 3" came out.....

all kidding aside.. a 2 3/4 will do you just fine. a proper matching shell and choke will be a bigger impact and the larger shell.. (and not having the best matched choke to do the job)
 
ckc123 said:
Didn't you know.. a 2 3/4 shell just bounces off waterfowl.. that and other hunters will ridicule you for not having enough gun.. hmmmmm I wonder what shells they used for years before the 3" came out.....

all kidding aside.. a 2 3/4 will do you just fine. a proper matching shell and choke will be a bigger impact and the larger shell.. (and not having the best matched choke to do the job)
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keep in mind that was in the days of lead shot , not steel .
 
The "super mag" guns are not anywhere what they're cracked up to be. Having seen many guys using them over the last few years, the thought process of having a sky cannon has meant a true lack of waiting for a good shot and working on their calling and decoy spreads. Go for a reliable gun that will handle 2.75 and 3 and run with it. You don't need bigger. You also won't fear your gun when shooting from weird angles which invariable happens.
 
I have a SX3.

I shoot 2 3/4. 3 and 3 1/2. I also pull out my 10 gauge every now and then.

2 3/4 = 45 % usage - Duck and grouse
3" = 40 % usage - Duck and geese
3 1/2 = 15% usage - Canada Geese only

2 3/4 will kill a goose when they're close but I prefer to kill them dead. 2 3/4 gets you some cripples.I have made some long shots on Canada Geese and they were all from 3 1/2 Blackcloud #2. Reason for long shots, too many hunters out there that don't know about cam and concealment, keep scaring the waterfowl high, need to make some long passing shots.

There is an old saying; rather have it than need it than need it and not have it.

Use what you need to get the job done.

As for kick, sore shoulder, ha, keep good contact with the butt and you won't have any.

Wouldn't need to use 3 1/2 if I used lead and not everyone can afford Hevishot.
 
dusty1983 said:
I have a SX3.

I shoot 2 3/4. 3 and 3 1/2. I also pull out my 10 gauge every now and then.

2 3/4 = 45 % usage - Duck and grouse
3" = 40 % usage - Duck and geese
3 1/2 = 15% usage - Canada Geese only

2 3/4 will kill a goose when they're close but I prefer to kill them dead. 2 3/4 gets you some cripples.I have made some long shots on Canada Geese and they were all from 3 1/2 Blackcloud #2. Reason for long shots, too many hunters out there that don't know about cam and concealment, keep scaring the waterfowl high, need to make some long passing shots.

There is an old saying; rather have it than need it than need it and not have it.

Use what you need to get the job done.

As for kick, sore shoulder, ha, keep good contact with the butt and you won't have any.

Wouldn't need to use 3 1/2 if I used lead and not everyone can afford Hevishot.
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well said
 
syecod said:
WE hunt ducks over decoys and geese in the fields, but have never found a 2 3/4 steel load that was worth a s**t. The wind would blow the steel pellets back in your face!!
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ummmmm.......that's because 3" and 3.5" loads of the same mfr and shot size are soooooo much faster than 2.75"??.....wutever?:jerkit:

3.5" 12ga was developed to be able to launch a 10ga payload (2oz)from a 12ga barrel....PERIOD!The only "perceived" advantage is you are throwing a few more pellets which might help to fill the pattern a wee bit better at extended ranges(read "skybusting"?).If you can't geterdone with a 3" then a 3.5" magic wand probly isn't going to help you too much anyway?Spend that extra cash on some cheapo 2.75 skeet loads and a couple boxes of clays before opening day and you'll be alot better off in the duck blind than being overgunned with something you don't need and can't shoot for $hit or to it's potential anyhow.
 
I only use 2 3/4. I only hunt upland birds and ducks and geese at close range. I don't need geese or ducks that bad that I cannot afford to wait and get them when things are right.

I have NO hunter competition where I live.

If you just have to kill birds and insist on taking the long shots that I routinely pass up, and you hunt where there are all kinds of dorks just blasting away, then you probably need a bigger hammer.... I guess.
 
People that use 3" and 3 1/2" are either too lazy, or too incompetant to call the birds in right.:stirthepot2:

Seriously though. I use 2 3/4 exclusively (only because my gun only accepts that). It works great for me. With a full choke 40 yds is an easy shot.

2 3/4 is more than enough....
 
agite12 said:
I'm shopping my fist gun it will probably be a pump 12 ga. A Maverick 88 or maybe a Remington 870.

I intend to use it for different hunting (mostly Waterfold, rabbits, Deer) and trap shooting. I've been told that I need 3 1/2'' cartridge to hunt waterfold. How necessary is it? I mean 3 1/2'' gun are more or less 150$ more expensive, more if you consider the still very capable Maverick 88 isn't offerd in 3 1/2'' chambering.

Alternatively would 12ga be too powerfull for rabbits? or does combining open choke with light load will be sufficient to collect the meat.

Thanks.

Etienne
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We can continue on measuring our weiners BUT lets read his original question . Answer is no you don't NEED a 3 1/2" to kill a goose , a 2 3/4" will do the job BUT why not buy a gun which accepts them all to add versatility in case extra capacity is needed . Keep in mind , reads like a shooter's first gun so may not be the crack shot some people are. Why not have a look in the classifieds and pick up a good used 870 or such ?
 
mvarley84 said:
People that use 3" and 3 1/2" are either too lazy, or too incompetant to call the birds in right.:stirthepot2:

Seriously though. I use 2 3/4 exclusively (only because my gun only accepts that). It works great for me. With a full choke 40 yds is an easy shot.

2 3/4 is more than enough....
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I am neither lazy or incompetent when it comes to duck hunting ! I use 3 kent steel shells because I believed I was wounding waterfowl with a 2 3/4 inch steel shell. I don't sky bust or take low percentage shots.I still believe the first steel shells that where available when the law changed to nontoxic shot where not a good product. After reading these threads and some information from some ammunition companys I guess there might be a 2 3/4 " steel shell on the market today ,that the wind won't back in your face. I have some good duck guns that are only chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells and i look forward to using them again.
 
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