Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
04-01-2006, 03:36 PM
#41
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: pineview GF. USA
Posts: 374
RE: Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
When I hunted with modern shotguns I used 3-1/2" in my 870 and 835 and it's the only shell I felt the recoil when shooting game. Every gobbler I shot with them I'd be ringing my right arm around on the way to the bird. It's like a stick of dynomite goin off in your gun.
I now hunt them with the flintlock in this picture. 20ga. Old Virginia I made just for spring gobbler hunting. Got this 18-1/2lb.Osceola this past Thurs. in Greenswamp East public land in SW, Fl. Had 1-3/8" spurs and about 8" beard. Shot him at 32 steps.
I now hunt them with the flintlock in this picture. 20ga. Old Virginia I made just for spring gobbler hunting. Got this 18-1/2lb.Osceola this past Thurs. in Greenswamp East public land in SW, Fl. Had 1-3/8" spurs and about 8" beard. Shot him at 32 steps.
04-01-2006, 03:43 PM
#42
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
RE: Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
ORIGINAL: Ifly
When I hunted with modern shotguns I used 3-1/2" in my 870 and 835 and it's the only shell I felt the recoil when shooting game. Every gobbler I shot with them I'd be ringing my right arm around on the way to the bird. It's like a stick of dynomite goin off in your gun.
I now hunt them with the flintlock in this picture. 20ga. Old Virginia I made just for spring gobbler hunting. Got this 18-1/2lb.Osceola this past Thurs. in Greenswamp East public land in SW, Fl. Had 1-3/8" spurs and about 8" beard. Shot him at 32 steps.
When I hunted with modern shotguns I used 3-1/2" in my 870 and 835 and it's the only shell I felt the recoil when shooting game. Every gobbler I shot with them I'd be ringing my right arm around on the way to the bird. It's like a stick of dynomite goin off in your gun.
I now hunt them with the flintlock in this picture. 20ga. Old Virginia I made just for spring gobbler hunting. Got this 18-1/2lb.Osceola this past Thurs. in Greenswamp East public land in SW, Fl. Had 1-3/8" spurs and about 8" beard. Shot him at 32 steps.
Way to go Ifly! I have been to Green Swamp many many many times.
I have Upper Hillsborough, Green Swamp and Richloom close to me.
04-01-2006, 04:17 PM
#43
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location:
Posts: 100
RE: Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
Rebel Hog,
Yes it does. Rebel, I don't think there is anything wrong with 2-3/4" shells, I was just trying to point out the small difference between 3" and 3-1/2" shells.There are some 3-1/2" shells that have better ballistics and more shot then thier 3" counterparts, but the calculated recoil (fps x shot weight)is higher. If you look at the Federals Prem. Mag-Shok your only looking at a 15 fps difference between 2-3/4 and the 3" or 3-1/2" but a difference of a 1/4oz and 1/2oz of shot. If you look at some of the other brands,there is adifference of 75fps to 100fps for only a change of an 1/8oz of shot.
The ammunition manufactures light load the 3-1/2" shells compared to the 3" shells, because there is a lose of patterning quality in the fully loaded 3-1/2" shells. Which makes the 3-1/2" loads just marginally better then the 3" loads. It's almost like you need the extra shot in a 3 1-/2" load just to get the same pellet count in the kill-zone compared to a 3" shell, but to match the pellet count you have to lose fps and have more calculated recoil. 3-1/2" loads were really designed for shooting steel shot where there is a noticeable difference in preformance, but with lead or the new alloy shots the 3 1/2" just really don't offer that much of an advantage.
Yes it does. Rebel, I don't think there is anything wrong with 2-3/4" shells, I was just trying to point out the small difference between 3" and 3-1/2" shells.There are some 3-1/2" shells that have better ballistics and more shot then thier 3" counterparts, but the calculated recoil (fps x shot weight)is higher. If you look at the Federals Prem. Mag-Shok your only looking at a 15 fps difference between 2-3/4 and the 3" or 3-1/2" but a difference of a 1/4oz and 1/2oz of shot. If you look at some of the other brands,there is adifference of 75fps to 100fps for only a change of an 1/8oz of shot.
The ammunition manufactures light load the 3-1/2" shells compared to the 3" shells, because there is a lose of patterning quality in the fully loaded 3-1/2" shells. Which makes the 3-1/2" loads just marginally better then the 3" loads. It's almost like you need the extra shot in a 3 1-/2" load just to get the same pellet count in the kill-zone compared to a 3" shell, but to match the pellet count you have to lose fps and have more calculated recoil. 3-1/2" loads were really designed for shooting steel shot where there is a noticeable difference in preformance, but with lead or the new alloy shots the 3 1/2" just really don't offer that much of an advantage.
04-02-2006, 03:36 AM
#44
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Starlight, Indiana
Posts: 547
RE: Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
Check out my thread Patterned my 835. This gun does not kick half as bad as my 535. Maybe the ported choke. Anywhooo like Strut said I bought a 3.5 inch gun to shoot 3.5s' .
04-02-2006, 09:37 AM
#45
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: reynoldsville, pa./ western pa.
Posts: 129
RE: Why such a controversy over 3 1/2" shells
i been using a winchester 1400 2 3/4 winchester supremes no# 4 and i have killed over 30 turkeys with it. i have killed turkeys up to 40 yds with that gun. i just bought a mossberg 835 off my boss for 180.00. 2 boxes of 3 1/2 in. camo stock,shells. sling, and scope mount. not bad price. gun was only shot once.the 3.5 kicks like a mule, but you don't feel the recoil when you shoot that turkey.only when you shoot it off the bench you feel the recoil. i won a knight tk2000 muzzleloader shotgun it shoots 3.5 and it kicks like a mule. i am going to take the muzzleloader out this yr. so its up to you if you want to shoot the 2 3/4 , 3, or 3.5. what ever works best for you.if the gun fits you, shoot it, if you want a 3.5 buy it
