I am hunting with a buddy that is an experienced hunter, but new to gobbler hunting. He doesn't have a 3" gun, so will be shooting 2 3/4" shells. He's willing to buy a gun...but not until he decides if he likes this style of hunting.

1. What is a good brand/shot size for him to try in 2 3/4?
2. What will this do to his effective range? I know it will back it offa little, but not sure how much.

THANKS!!!

Don't kid yourself. 2 3/4" loads are just as, or more, powerful as 3" loads. They just hold less shot. I've shot a couple ofbirds at 40 yd. with 2 3/4" loads. Try the Winchester HV loads. With a fixed choke gun, #4's might pattern better than smaller shot in a more open choke. But #6's have more shot. For several years I hunted with an old Win. Mod. 97. It had a pretty tight choke and would pattern #6's nicely at 40 yd. The new tungston turkey loads actually pattern better with an open choke than a tight turkey choke.

if you think about it....the 3" shells havent been around that long...everyone shot their turkeys with the 2 3/4" for years...my guess is he will too...best thing for him to do is get a couple of boxes of turkey loads and see what works best from his gun..wingbone is correct about the pattern of fours and the shot capacity of sixes...either way he'll he should be able to reach out there to thirty yards without a worry.

ditto on both replies so far.

He's probably better armed than I as I kill my gobblers with a 20ga. He'll do fine with his 2¾" 12ga.

back when i started chasing turkeys mid70's ishot quite afew with my model37 Ithica 2 3/4" back then i just hunted them in the fall

My son hunts with a 20 ga. and it actually patterns 2 3/4 Nitro Mags by Remington better than it does 3" shells.Like OldLongbeards said.many a turkey has fallen to 2 3'4" shells.

He will be fine with the 2 3/4 inch shells. Just make sure he patterns it before season so he will know his maximum effective range.

I only shoot either a 12g or 16g double barrel in 2 3/4" . I use Remington" Express Long Range" shells 12g #4 lead shot, 1 1/4 oz.; and 16g #6 lead shot 1 1/8 oz. I have shot and killed out to 45 yds, in 12g; and 40 yds, in 16g. Both guns only chamber 2 3/4" shells, with a full and modified barrel each, and are more than 65+ years old each. And, knock on wood, I have never needed a second shot. I personally find no need for magnums, auto's, camo'ed guns, choke tubes, scopes, hevi-shot, bright sights, tungsten, etc.. I do find a need for patience, tradition, and to carry the memory of my dad and his old, scratched, worn bluing, double barrel into the woods each spring. Sitting on the ground, I've never felt closer to heaven. God Bless! Tony!

Sage advice. It's not what you shoot; rather, it's how you shoot!