2 3/4" vs 3" vs 3 1/2" 12 guage turkey shot?????
Here's how I see it....12 guage is 12 guage period (well except for over bore barrels) The four components to consider in comparison of shot pattern and string are barrel diameter, choke constriction & design, shell design and shot type. All things above being equal, the 2 3/4" should have the same initial effectiveness that either of the other two would have with the exception that the shot string would be smaller in length delivering less pellets in the focused POI. So in a situation where you are shooting farther than your shot type and size carries suitable energy to down that bird quickly your better off with increasing the number of pellets on target...hense the 3" and 3.5". However with the new premium heavier than lead shot in the smaller size pellets (#5 & #6) you get the benefit of maximizing your pellet count and increasing delivered energy at extended ranges (+35 yards) over copper plated lead shot. This new shot is designed to be softer than barrel steel and chokes so it is compatiable with for lead only turkey chokes ensuring tight patterns. A full and dense pattern from a 2 3/4" carring sufficent energy will kill a turkey at reasonable ranges just as dead as a 3.5" will because the pellets in the front of the shot string are completing the job that once had to be done by increasing the string size due to steel shot ineffectiveness. The 10 guage does offer some pattern size increases over the 12 guage however its physical weight makes it a brute in the woods. Lets face it, the 3.5" 12 guage was developed due to the ban of lead shot for waterfowl hunting and the reduced effectiveness of the next most cost efficent shot...STEEL. For upland game hunting (Turkey) lead shot is not banned and has recently been improved on with the heavy shot. So really no need for the 3.5" unless overkill is what you desire.
Here's how I see it....12 guage is 12 guage period (well except for over bore barrels) The four components to consider in comparison of shot pattern and string are barrel diameter, choke constriction & design, shell design and shot type. All things above being equal, the 2 3/4" should have the same initial effectiveness that either of the other two would have with the exception that the shot string would be smaller in length delivering less pellets in the focused POI. So in a situation where you are shooting farther than your shot type and size carries suitable energy to down that bird quickly your better off with increasing the number of pellets on target...hense the 3" and 3.5". However with the new premium heavier than lead shot in the smaller size pellets (#5 & #6) you get the benefit of maximizing your pellet count and increasing delivered energy at extended ranges (+35 yards) over copper plated lead shot. This new shot is designed to be softer than barrel steel and chokes so it is compatiable with for lead only turkey chokes ensuring tight patterns. A full and dense pattern from a 2 3/4" carring sufficent energy will kill a turkey at reasonable ranges just as dead as a 3.5" will because the pellets in the front of the shot string are completing the job that once had to be done by increasing the string size due to steel shot ineffectiveness. The 10 guage does offer some pattern size increases over the 12 guage however its physical weight makes it a brute in the woods. Lets face it, the 3.5" 12 guage was developed due to the ban of lead shot for waterfowl hunting and the reduced effectiveness of the next most cost efficent shot...STEEL. For upland game hunting (Turkey) lead shot is not banned and has recently been improved on with the heavy shot. So really no need for the 3.5" unless overkill is what you desire.
