I use 3" on turkeys.I've got a 3 1/2" I use to hunt geese,but that shoulder bruiser is a little hard on me to pattern in . Granted you don't seem to feel the recoil when you actually shot at game, but that patterning board is all together another story!I've taken plenty of turkeys with a 3" load and see no reason to switch over to a 3 1/2.