I'm about to buy a shotgun. It must be as versatile as possible, because I only get that one gun for now.

I've chosen the Remington 870 Express in 12 gauge. I've shot a couple Brownings, a Winchester, a couple Mossbergs, and several Remingtons, and the only gun that I would actually have other than the 870 is the Rem 1187. But I don't have the budget for that.

I can choose between a 3" chamber and 4-shot magazine, or a 3.5" chamber and 3 round magazine. I don't know which to choose, and that's where I need your help.

On the one hand, I never really expect to use 3.5" shells. Too much recoil, mainly. Also, I think having another round in the mag might be a good thing.

On the other hand, the 3.5" chamber doesn't change the pump pull, gives me the ability to shoot any 12 gauge ammo, and might possibly come in handy when hunting geese.

I'm going to hunt turkey, deer, hogs, and ducks/geese with this gun. Deer and hogs will be with a rifled barrel. Would I rather have the larger chamber (which I honestly doubt I'd use as much) and one fewer rounds, or would I rather have the cheaper, smaller chamber with an additional round, at the cost of possibly wishing I'd gotten the larger one?

In other words, how much difference will the 3.5" make versus the extra round?