12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

Which do you prefer: a 3-12" load with 2 oz of shot at 1300 fps or a 3-1/2" load with 2-1/4 oz of shot at 1150 fps? Is there a noticeable difference or not? I usually use #5 shot in my gun as it patterns better than #4. Any opinions will be appreciated. Just a note I won't fire at a Tom more than 40 yards away. My gun is a Remington 870 Super Mag Camo w/24" barrel.

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

More shot= dead bird, if it patterns well and you keep the shot under 40 like you said. I don't think you'll see alot of difference betwen the two, honestly.

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

I like my sholder to much to shot 3 1/2 shells.
I will stick to 2 3/4.

When you get 45 years old it takes a long time to recover from
a black and blue sholder LoL

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

Superpig, I shoot the same gun by way. Win HV #5's are LETHAL!!!!

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

i would use the one with the most shot if it still patterns alright. I personally use hevi shot 3 1/2" with 1 7/8 oz of shot. I wish it had more, but it patterns great in my 835 and will kill a bird. I doubt you'll see much difference between the two, but id use as much shot as possible.

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

I have to agree with 12Point the more hits in the vitals you get the better. So for me it would be the shell that throws the best pattern at 40 yards. Those few fps that you are loosing with the heavier payload wont be that big of a deal:D

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

I recently bought a box of 2 ounce #5 Remington Premier shells rated at 1300 fps for my 3 1/2" 12 gauge. I've tried similar loads from Federal and Winchester, but nothing rated up at 1300. I had a bunch of chokes on hand to test and was looking for something that would shove the 2 ounce and over loads into a tight pattern at 40 paces.

I found that the slower shells performed just as well, speaking of lead. The thing I really noticed, is that the faster 2 ounce load rated at 1300 generated a huge increase in recoil. I mean so much more punch than the rest that I would gladly give them to away. I can shoot 3 or even 4 of the other brands right after the other to attain the kick of just 1 of the Premiers. They were just plain nasty.

Don't get me wrong, I still shoot 3 1/2" shells. The slower fps shells were just more bearable after multiple shots. Now, here's a funny thing I found about the Remington Hevi-shot.

Having not been real impressed with my patterns, and on the advice of my turkey mentor, I grabbed up a box of Remington Hevi shot. Ironically, he shoots the same gun you have... an 870 Supermag 3 1/2 incher with the same dimensions. He suggested I try a .665 choke, (his was an un-ported Trulock), with the 1225 fps Remington #6 Hevi-shot, in the 1 7/8 ounce payload. I've shot the best pattern I've ever counted with this combination to date.

The funny thing about it was that the Hevi-shot recoiled about as much as a HV Winchester 3" turkey load that I used to throw out of my old turkey gun, a lightweight Winchester pump. Go figure.

The only thing I've seen shoot better than this thus far has been the Rhino choke / Nitro shell combo. Another close hunting buddy went to the Rhino choke / Nitro shell combo that was recommended for his gun and it flat out smokes anything I've seen. To make matters worse, he's shooting 3" shells. Very nice indeed. Hope this helps and good luck with the Toms.

RE: 12 Gauge 3-1/2" Loads
 

I forgot to mention, the Hevi-shot #6 hits every bit as hard down range as #5 lead. More pellets with the same or better kinetic energy? Yessir, that's a huge plus no matter how you slice it.