Let' s get a little more technical here DEERHNTR. What are you shooting? I sense your shooting a pump if those 3" ers are thumpin ya really good. Also are you shooting a smooth bore or rifled barrel? And what length is the barrel? What is your scope mount & scope? There certainly are nice advantages to shooting the longer (and heavier) slugs as they will carry more energy to each hit, no matter what the distance, 15 yards or 150, more energy.