3" vs 3 1/2" Pros and Cons
01-03-2010, 04:10 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY
Posts: 2,820
The only advantage of 3 1/2 in shells is you have a much wider pattern when hunting flying waterfowl.
The reason they brought out the 3 1/2 was wingshooting. There really is no need to take the aduse of recoil of a 3.5 unless your gun will not hold a pattern at all and that is very unlikely. This shell will not give you anymore range just because it says 3 1/2 all it is ,is a larger load in the shell..
3inch is lots for any turkey in North America...
The reason they brought out the 3 1/2 was wingshooting. There really is no need to take the aduse of recoil of a 3.5 unless your gun will not hold a pattern at all and that is very unlikely. This shell will not give you anymore range just because it says 3 1/2 all it is ,is a larger load in the shell..
3inch is lots for any turkey in North America...
01-03-2010, 06:01 AM
#14
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Iowa
Posts: 292
Thanks guys. I have tries them out. My gun will shot 3 1/2" and I have patterned both. I just couldn't find a huge difference, or at least enough of a difference to justify putting up with the recoil. I just like to hear other hunters opinions.
Dan
Dan
01-07-2010, 05:29 AM
#16
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 159
As an owner of both I can only saw "not much"..and the difference is really not worth arguing about..I use the Federal 3 in 2 oz heavyweights in #5 for turkey, the same thing for 3 1/2 except it's 2 1/4 ounces, no gobbler has ever walking away from being hit with either.. personally I prefer the 2 oz 3 in, the extra bang, noise, expense and without question recoil..not really sure it's worth it to be honest about it.....
01-08-2010, 02:03 AM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 153
My 3" patterns nicely and I can do the job with it. I shoot 2oz #6's and the recoil is still plenty with that so I haven't even entertained the idea of shooting a 3.5. I haven't tried it so I really don't know but to me the 3.5's would just be overkill.
01-09-2010, 07:13 PM
#18
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 307
I have always used an 870 in 3"...killed birds at a good distance before. when I was about 16 I thought bigger is better. I ordered me a New england Arms single shot 10Ga in 3.5"...After getting about half way through the process of selecting a chock and shells I decided I would sell it to my cousin. That gun hurt...
01-10-2010, 10:25 PM
#19
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Eagleville Missouri
Posts: 338
I use a mossburg 12 gauge, real tree camo, tactical turkey gun,that will take 3-1/2's, and some day I may need to use 3-1/2's. I certainly like the idea that I can if I want to. But I don't remember when I last used even a 3' shell for spring hunting. I use 2-3/4 inch, 7-1/2 shot most of the time for spring birds, cause I'm gonna shoot when they are somewhere between 3-20 feet away. I do pack it full of bigger shells in the fall season for running, or flying turkeys at longer ranges and snap shooting when the sex of the bird makes no difference cause my tag fits them all and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.
01-11-2010, 04:00 AM
#20
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 824
How can more pellets give an extended range? 1 oz load going 1250 has the same range as a 1 1/2oz going 1250.