3" vs 3 1/2" Pros and Cons
#32
#33
Gman
#34
#35
I promise you, you won't notice the kick of 3.5's out of an 870 when shooting at a gobbler. The worst part is when you are trying to pattern a load that likes your gun. It will actually give you a headache if you shoot enough. I have shot a .300 mag., and I can tell you the 3.5 turkey loads out of an 870 kick a cosiderable bit more.
#36
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 824
I promise you, you won't notice the kick of 3.5's out of an 870 when shooting at a gobbler. The worst part is when you are trying to pattern a load that likes your gun. It will actually give you a headache if you shoot enough. I have shot a .300 mag., and I can tell you the 3.5 turkey loads out of an 870 kick a cosiderable bit more.
Isn't that a concussion?
#37
Mossberg 835
Suggestion when patterning turkey guns ---> borrow or buy a PAST shooting pad for your shoulder and shoot from a sitting position with shooting sticks. I shot my gun 8-10 times when sighting in a new scope without any ill effects.
I shoot 3.5" 2.25 oz Nitros out of a ported Mossberg 835 and was able to reduce felt recoil substantially by installing a ported choke and a Limbsaver recoil port. That Limbsaver pad +double porting + the extra weight of a scope, rail, bases and rings converted a very sharp mule kick into just a big push. Much more managable.
Another thing that hasn't been discussed ---> In my experience the Mossberg 835 handles the 12 gauge 3" 2.25oz loads better than most guns because the barrel is overbored. There is more room in that bore for the big shot to be choked without overcompressing it. The Star Dot choke I shoot in my 835 is .676 inches internal diameter. Indian creek tubes for other 12 ga guns range from .650 to .665 ID
All that shot gets too compressed in a standard 12 barrel with tight turkey chokes, which is why 3.5" loads don't pattern as well as 3" loads shot through standard 12 ga bores. in my experience.
I shoot 3.5" 2.25 oz Nitros out of a ported Mossberg 835 and was able to reduce felt recoil substantially by installing a ported choke and a Limbsaver recoil port. That Limbsaver pad +double porting + the extra weight of a scope, rail, bases and rings converted a very sharp mule kick into just a big push. Much more managable.
Another thing that hasn't been discussed ---> In my experience the Mossberg 835 handles the 12 gauge 3" 2.25oz loads better than most guns because the barrel is overbored. There is more room in that bore for the big shot to be choked without overcompressing it. The Star Dot choke I shoot in my 835 is .676 inches internal diameter. Indian creek tubes for other 12 ga guns range from .650 to .665 ID
All that shot gets too compressed in a standard 12 barrel with tight turkey chokes, which is why 3.5" loads don't pattern as well as 3" loads shot through standard 12 ga bores. in my experience.
Last edited by mouthcaller; 01-13-2010 at 10:30 AM.
#38
No concussion, but you would think it would knock enough sense in me to go 3 inch. It hasn't worked yet. As for the ported choke tubes, they do take some of the kick out. I'm just going to stick with what has worked for me, Rem. hevi shot mag. 3.5" and Rem. Wingmaster 3.5". I have enough of them to last me the next two or three seasons, so there is no need in changing now. I'm still thinking about trying the Indian Creek choke though. Curiosity is killing me.
#39
It is the same way with the Browning BPS. Have a buddy who has a 10 ga BPS and it is definately a punisher but not quite as sharp as my 12 ga BPS. Of course the 10 ga weighs a little over 10 lbs whereas the 12 ga is a little over 8 lbs.
#40
OVERBOARD MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
i wold have to agree with moutcaller about the 835
i started of with an indian creek and went to a jelly head and the jellyhead out proformed the indiancreek and i wll alaso say that i am comfortable out to 50 yards even though i believe i am capable of more with the hevishoot 3.5 but will not take it further then that and to be honest with you all i couldn't get a 3 in to pattern my gun and i will also say that my shoulder was sore tryin to find one that did when i should have just started with the hevi 3.5 to begin with
i wold have to agree with moutcaller about the 835
i started of with an indian creek and went to a jelly head and the jellyhead out proformed the indiancreek and i wll alaso say that i am comfortable out to 50 yards even though i believe i am capable of more with the hevishoot 3.5 but will not take it further then that and to be honest with you all i couldn't get a 3 in to pattern my gun and i will also say that my shoulder was sore tryin to find one that did when i should have just started with the hevi 3.5 to begin with