RE: Effective range of 12 ga. 3 and 1/2" loads
My longest with a 12 ga, 3" #4's, 1 7/8 oz of shot is 47 yards. That was a poke, but i killed him cleanly on the spot. a 3 1/2" load won't shoot any farther. same amount of powder, just more shot. i'd say the max shot i'd take is 50 yards. no farther. 60 is waaaayy out there, too much risk of wounding that bird instead of killing him.
slayer