RE: 3" vs. 3.5"
From the looks of all the forums I've been reading, the Winchester XR's are coming closer to the Nitro patterns than any other load.
With that said, we all know that the difference b/t a factory pattern and a Nitro patten is still really no comparison.
I am not sure if they Hevi-shot not being uniform makes any difference in its preformance or not, but I do worry about it messing up my gun barrel. So, I quit using it.
I would like to see Ray load some of the XR and Heavy Weight shot to see what kind of patterns he could get with the more uniform shot.
I have a 3.5'' 12ga BPS. I love the pattern I get. Most companies are now backboring their 3.5'' 12ga's. I guess they are doing this to handle the heavier loads.
I bought a 10ga. this year and it will be taking place as my primary turkey gun for a while. So far, I think the 10ga's recoil is less than the 12ga. 3.5''. I think its b/c of the bigger bore.
I would love to try some of Ray's 3oz loads. I am trying to get some 3oz lead loads from a guy now that he bought from Nitro and doesn't use them anymore.