2 3/4"...3"...3 1/2"...whats the upgrade/advantage??

kdsberman · 04-14-2007, 08:40 PM

This is probably a dumb question, but I just got a new turkey gun (Mossberg 835....sweet gun!!) and im shooting 3 1/2" Winchester Supreme Double-X shells. I used to shoot 3" out of my New England. So whats the advantage of 3.5's over 3's?? More power/bb's/range??? Thanks

mauser06 · 04-14-2007, 10:39 PM

dont worry about shell legnth. worry about patterns and youll kill birds. its been very common to find out 3.5 inch guns pattern better with 3 inch shells. i would try a couple diffrent shells in both 3 and 3.5 inch in diffrent loads and sizes..as well as a diffrent choke or 2. gets expensive quick. one way around that is find some turkey hunting buddys and you all buy a box or 2 of shells and you all swap...then you end up buying a box or 2 but have a variety of shells to try. find the load that patterns best in YOUR gun. then find your maximum range that still has a killing pattern...

as you go up in size you only gain pellet count really. the velocity and energy will be about the same regaurdless of legnth because that extra powder is pushing extra weight(pellets) so in the end that ends up pretty close...but theres loads in 3" shells with 2oz of pellets..so you can get a stiff load in a 3" shell..im not sure what the 3.5 inch shells are loaded with..i wanna say 2 1/4oz but not sure. extra pellets are nice..and good..but not if they dont pattern well.

another thing that comes with shell legnth is recoil. i forget the numbers...all turkey loads are gunna recoil pretty hard. but them 3.5 inchers are known to really hit "kills on one end(the birds) and cripples on the other(yours

)" lol

good luck...finding a good patterning load is one of the most important things when it comes to your turkey gun..

Buckmasterflex · 04-15-2007, 01:25 AM

I shoot the Mossberg 500 which only holds 3inch shells and I have an awesome pattern with the full choke that came with it.. I shot and killed a turkey the other day at 55 yards with the winchester supreme 3in 1300fps 5 shot... My buddy has a benelli that hold 3 1/2 but he also uses 3in shells

excalibur43 · 04-15-2007, 02:47 AM

I agree with everyone. You can kill a turkey with a 410 if you prefer, but you would most likely have to have him come in close. IMO, you are gaining mostly pellet count. I hunt with a 12 gauge and a 10 gauge. The 12 will shoot up to 3.5 inch shells. Shoot and pattern each shell through your gun, and also shoot each shell in #4,5 and 6 shot to see what patterns best in your gun.The tighter the choke, the smaller shot size will usually pattern best. As was stated earlier, the best pattern you get, will result in the more turkey's you harvest!

SwampCollie · 04-15-2007, 06:32 AM

A 3.5" has more pellets, which for turkey's is a good thing. However, most 3.5s don't shoot those long candles worth a hoot. Your 835, with that overbored barrel, should shoot them nicely. Turkey hunting is the ONLY type of hunting where I see 3.5" shells as even slightly useful or advantageous. Necessary? Not hardly. But if your gun shoots them well, you have more pellets on hand to put into the head and neck, which is a good thing. Been a kings share of birds killed with 2 3/4 loads, and still are every spring.

kdsberman · 04-15-2007, 06:41 AM

Well to tell you the truth, my shoulder (and face) and cant take the recoil from shooting 20 times. I shot the 3.5's yesterday and they seemed to pattern well. A little bit high, but i think thats only cuz i was messing around with the rear sight height when i first got it. But even a little high, i had about 20 pelletsminimum in the head and neck. Those things HURT! It left a welt on my face it recoiled so much!

maytom · 04-15-2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsberman

Well to tell you the truth, my shoulder (and face) and cant take the recoil from shooting 20 times. I shot the 3.5's yesterday and they seemed to pattern well. A little bit high, but i think thats only cuz i was messing around with the rear sight height when i first got it. But even a little high, i had about 20 pelletsminimum in the head and neck. Those things HURT! It left a welt on my face it recoiled so much!

Ditto!! That's why I went to a Winchester 1300 with a 3" chamber!!

Mr. Longbeard · 04-15-2007, 07:54 AM

I have all three... 3" 12ga, 3.5" 10ga and a new Rem 3.5" SPT... The Rem Super mag 3.5" will out shoot them all hands down... I'm getting around 20 hits in the vitals at 40 yards with Win HV #4's

And at 50 yards I get around 8-10 hits

Shot a gobbler at 56 paces last spring with it... So I would say that if your buying a new gun I would definetly suggest the 3.5"

When it comes to turkey hunting a little recoil not going to keep me from having the best patterning gun I can affored

Branson · 04-15-2007, 08:24 AM

I'm getting the best pattern with a 2 3/4" Winchester Super-X Magnums in #6 shot. I get around 30 pellets in a 8" circle at 35 yards, so I feel confident with it. Last year I dropped one at 30 yards with no problem. I'm shooting a Mossberg 600AT with a C-lect Choke. Haven't been able to find a turkey choke for it, so this is what I got to work with.

fishstix · 05-05-2007, 10:00 AM

I have an 835, and shoot 3" WINCHESTER supreme shells and they hold great pattern out to 40 yards. Yes Mossberg is an excellent gun harvested 4 turkeys with mine. On the price of shells, come on. on average a ethical hunter will shoot turkey shells 3 times a year, once or twice to pattern the gun and once or twice to harvest a Turkey, isn't the experiance worth it.