Waterfowl hunting with 3 inch shell

I grew up using 2.75" for everything; #6 for uplands and #4 for ducks, and #2 for geese, and it was just the cheap stuff from Canadian Tire. They worked very well and put a pile of birds in my freezer. The 3" and 3.5" are not necessary for knocking down the birds.
 
I don't own a 3.5" .12ga. Never have. Never had an issue with getting birds. Knowing your distances is perhaps just as important as making a good shot.
Not saying a 3.5" isn't worth it... they never existed when I started hunting so I just never bought one.
 
Smcx said:
Data to add to the rest of the responses. Not saying he’s right or wrong.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and this is why you need to pattern each load in your gun, more pellets in each round, doesn't always translate into more pellets on target. Our group has used 3" pretty much exclusively, and it works well for us, to shoot hundreds of geese every year. We did try 3-1/2" but the result was pretty much more recoil, and a higher price, for the same results.
 
I've shot 100s of patterns with various 12 ga and steel loads. 30 inch circle at 40 yards. I have never seen a 3.5 inch shell stand out head and shoulders above a good 3 inch load that shotgun and choke combo like. Usually there similar to that same shell in 3 inch, more blotchy, less even and often less pellets in the circle. Not worth a dime more than a 3 inch.

I've also patterned lots of 2.75 steel loads, score and challenger, that pattern very very well. Put just as many pellets in the pattern as the longer shells. Just because a longer shell holds a few more pellets does not mean they arrive on target. There are plenty of aftermarket choke companies that say the 3 inch will generally outpattern the 3.5 inch. Its got something to do with a square shot charge patterning better.

Speed wise generally the 1400 or 1450 fps shells will outpattern there 1550 counterparts in the same line. But not always. Depends on the wad used. 1400 fps bbs that pattern well will kill geese out to 45+ yards. If you can put that pattern on the bird.
 
Considering that I do 80% my waterfowling with a 20 gauge and cheaper steel loads, I can't see much need. If you like them, the extra cost and recoil fill your boots, they certainly help folks feel more confident wasting shells on shots beyond their abilities.
 
If you call them in close, and then shoot then in the face......even 2.75” shells are sufficient.

If your type of hunting involves a lot of pass shooting at distance, then the larger shells could be more appropriate. The thing is, a large amount of shooters aren’t proficient at distance anyway, so larger shells cant kill anything they don't hit. Just an expensive way to shoot holes in the sky
 
I've killed many ducks and geese with 2 3/4" steel shot BB's and 2's. My preference is 3" #2's, because of the increased velocity and heavier pellet load.
 
Used to shoot 3" for duck, 3.5" for goose. Also used to buy into the aftermarket extended choke tubes. After deciding to actually spend a good amount of time patterning, I found my best results to be 3" with factory modified tubes. 3.5" shell patterns can blow out, producing a worse pattern than 3" shells.
 
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Not a great duck hunter but have don it since 1962 & never used anything bigger than 2 3/4".
However never used steel.
 
Thanks for the replies I have a browning bps 3 inch and an 870 3 inch as well as an extrema 2 semi auto 3.5 all have screw in chokes.
I am getting back into waterfowl hunting and wanted to make sure I was properly equipped
 
One of the places I hunt geese is almost exclusively pass shooting, it's just the nature of the location (and sometimes dependant on what the farmer has in the field) - the 3.5" shells have made a difference there. And I was amazed at how my new berreta A400 soaks up the recoil of the 3.5s...not much different than my pump with 2 3/4.
 
If over decoys than there is no need for 3.5”. Sometimes they are too much as the bird is destroyed beyond use. Like said by others, pattern your shells. Then buy what shoots best. We use 4(ducks),3,2 size shot and 2.75 and 3” almost exclusively.
 
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