This is the same arguement as the "magnum rifles vs 30-30" debate. But what I find funny is that I would be willing to bet that many of the guys who badmouth those with 12ga.s bigger than 3"ers themselves have magnum rifles and deerhunt with them. What is the difference? What a man uses is his business and no two situations are the same, doesn't make anyone anymore or any less of a hunter now does it?

I have alot of shotguns (a couple of 1100s, an 11-87, a Montefeltro Super 90, 1300Win, BPS, Stevens, 870 Supermag and my specific turkey gun the 835 Mossberg) and I have been known to carry them all at one time or the other. BUT far and away the gun I carry the most is also the most powerful and largest (the 835). I have killed birds inside of 20yds and over 65yds. Sometimes they AREN'T coming any closer and I don't care who you are, you either take the first good shot you get or you loose out.

Hunting near my home, sure I don't feel as pressured or "under the gun" as I do when I travel. I might "let him go for another day" this weekend as TN opens. But later this monthI will be in MO 4 days the first week and 4 days the second week. Odds are low enough at best ANYTIME you are hunting turkeys so that is why I don't handicap myself with equipment. Up there the woods are very open (mature hardwoods) and the pastures are plentiful (cattle operation) so some long range shooting is sometimes required and the conditions are conducive too successful "high steppin" shootin.

Calling a man a fool or less of a hunter for using technology too his advantage flies in the face of "modern man". By such ways of thinking, instead of using 3"ers you anti-3.5"ers should be using stickbows or spears. I'll be the first to admit that inside of 50yds a red dot, 3.5" shells, and lead alternatives like Nitro, Win Ext etc... are NOT needed. My little ol 1300 Featherweight Win with it's 21" barrel and factory xfull tube full of 5s piled up EVERY turkey I ever pulled the trigger on. BUT I knew that rigs limitations and didn't push them much over 45yds and accepted that some days I wasn't going to get that hung up tom at 60yds. But like anything else today, technology has changed all that and today any tom that cleanly presents himself within 70yds is "going for a ride in the truck". Since when did distance become the true measure of a hunter?

As for the 10ga, they are great guns but don't be mislead that they are that much better than a fully loaded and rigged up 3.5"er. Most 10s are shooting 2 1/4oz loads that are the same as the 3.5" 12 and not all that long ago the 10s weren't even that heavily loaded. A couple of weeks ago one of my co-workers carried several shotguns out, all were shooting Nitro ammo with Rhino tubes, red dots and fired from 40yds from a leadsled at 12" circle targets. The BPS 10ga didn't have as high of a pellet count (inside the circle) as did his 935 Mossberg (and the 10 had 2.5oz loads vs the 2.25oz 12). IMHO the 10s made alot of sense before the advent of the 3.5" 12s. Now I personally think a person is just hauling around alot of extra weight when carrying a 10. BUT don't get me wrong, I have NEVER killed a turkey to dead and I won't call you less of a hunter for using a bigger gun. And if I were gonna get a 10ga the ONLY load I would be shooting from it would be some HORRENDOUS 3oz loads that "Nitro Ray" will build you up custom if you so desire. NOW you're crankin the 10 for all she's worth.

I am comfortable with my manhood!!!
RA