3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

i am going to buy an autoloader and i dont know if i should get the 3 or 3.5 , is the 3 inch enough to kill geese. if it is i'll save me about a hundred bucks and go with the 3":eek:

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

My 3" auto does just fine. Suppose the 3 1/2's are great also....but I'm happy with what I've got;)

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

i like having a 3.5, you can shoot the same payload as the 3 but with more velocity. or shoot a bigger load at the same velocity. heck, you can buy the 3.5 and just shoot 3's our of it if you want. i use my shotgun for 98% of all my shooting...clay, doves, ducks, turkeys. i got a few other scatterguns sitting around that don't get much use.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

another vote for 3.5, $100 extra is worth the versatility.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

My personal view is that 3" is enough for all geese!! I have seen many geese taken with 2 3/4". The only reason for the 3 1/2" coming into existance was because of non-toxic shot. People thought they needed big loads for it to work effectivly. This turned out not to be neccesarly true(possibly with steel it could prove and advantage)
I would therefore concentrate on the gun fit rather than the size of the cartridge!!
Best cartridge Iv found for geese and duck being Eley Bismuth maxiums (2 3/4" 34grams) And also so Bismuth magnums (3" 42grams)

Thats your English advise for the day!!

Tomy D








My freind got a 3 1/2" and hates it!! he cant use some 2 3/4" and certainly cant use 2 1/2" cartridges and has lost many chances fidling with the gas parts from light to heavy load!!

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

If you are going to be a serious goose hunter,spring for the 3 1/2 ,if you dont you`ll regret it later! Every time a flock comes over "just a little high" you will think if I had only bought that 3 1/2 I could have killed those geese! I have a Bennili super black eagle,that I shoot doves in early season,then up to the big shell`s with never a problem!!

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

I am of the opposite I would tell you buy the 3" you really do not need the 3 1/2 if you want to have a 12 guage that shoots like a 10 guage buy the 10 guage. You will be a LOT happier.

In honesty the 10 guage with 3" shells will kick you less than the 12 with 3 1/2.

Next I would recomoned that you use the extra money to buy a case of hevi shot when you can find it on sale. That with a 3" is all you will need to use for geese. I prefer 2 3/4 shells and I use Kent for speed. I have found that speed is a lot better then more bb's it will put you with a better chance to take the head shot.

Well that is just my .02 cents worth though. Everyone has a different opinnion and that is why there is so much stuff out for waterfowling Aholics. We are never happy until we own or have tried them all.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

With the development of some of the new 3.5" you can't go wrong, near 10 gauge performance, with versitility of a 12 gauge. It's better to be "over gunned than under gunned"
Hevi-shot is a waste of money, why pay twice as much for half the shells??Any idiot can do the math on that one.Unless you plan on 80 yd. shots, stick with steel. Steel bb"s kill out to approx. 65 yd. all you need is the pattern to hold tight enough.That's where the extra 1/2" of payload comes in, more pellets in the pattern increases you odds of killing hits. Pretty simple, isn't it?? 10 gauges and hevi-shot go hand in hand, good theory, but not practical.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

I shoot a 3 inch 870 and I can kill anything that flies. I use BB's and have no problem dropping geese out to 40 yards. I thinka big problem with 3.5 inch guns is that people think they can shoot birds at 60 yards and that isn't the case, they just end up sky busting alot.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

Im sorry to have to mention this, Chinchy but if a flock come in ' a little high' you should leave them no matter what gun/load you have. The idea of the 3 1/2" cartridge is not for extra range as it only really extends it about 5yds, but for extra killing power at close range!!! Any responsible hunnter should never shoot at a bird that he deems is a bit far no matter wot the cartridge!!

Tomy D

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

I just bought a Remington 11-87 with 3.5" chamber. I went with the 3.5" mainly because I am going to be hunting turkeys with it. But even if I dont always shoot 3.5's out of it...I always CAN if I need to.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

TomyD
I did`nt make any kind of statement about killing birds at extreme ranges,or that the 3 1/2 kills bird`s 20 yrds farther than a 3". I have hunted long enough I don`t need any lecture on hunting ethics or killing ranges! I simlpy stated it WILL kill birds that are out of range of the standard 3",only makes sense. Even if you only gain the 5 yrd`s you state,that is still 5 extra yrds for a" KILLING SHOT" on a flareing bird! The simple fact is a 3 1/2 carries more shot & delivers it at greater speed,so it will provide more knock down power no matter the range! My standard way to load is 3" first then the 3 1/2 for EXTRA RANGE, it a option that you don`t have with a standard 3" chambered gun!!

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

Well me ein a newbie at this i bought my BPS in a 3.5 just from a stand point that i got it on sale at the same price of the 3". Just thought what the heck? If i ever wanna shot the big loads i can, ive found that the 3"ers seem to work fine within range and im poor so all i shoot is steel. i guess im tryin to say is............everyone to there own ;)

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

I'm no ballistics expert but I think a 3" mag will shoot harder than a 3.5 for the simple reason that you have the same amount of powder pushing a smaller load of shot. But I will also say I shoot 3.5" guns and shells because it's a personal preference that bigger is better and I might need those extra BB's to hit what I'm shooting at.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

Chincy,
Maybe they make 3.5" shells differently for waterfowl than turkeys, but 3" shells go faster & hit harder down range than 3.5" The 3.5" has more shot, but the increase in shot weight is not proportional to the increase in powder. That kind of stress on a gun will wear it out faster. Go to your local range, and pattern 3" & 3.5" shells on paper. You may be in for a surprise.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

Looking at the ballistics chart, I'd say the speed/hitting power "advantage" of 3" is, at best, nominal. The 3 1/2", 1 3/8 load moving at 1550 looks like a hell of a goose load to me. http://www.kentgamebore.com/public/products/fasteel.asp

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

The extra payload in the 3.5" is worth it for turkey and waterfowl, not to extend range, but to provide a more dense patern for cleaner kills. Dead is dead anyway you look at it, last I checked. The 3.5" just makes more birds dead for me than wounded. Last year i shot 3.5" exclusively for ducks and geese and had my best season with kill percentage.

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

well guys thanks for the info , i think im gonna get a 3.5 super x2 or a browning gold

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

Both very good choices, best of luck!!

RE: 3 1/2 vs. 3"
 

In response to the 1 3/8 oz loads moving at 1550 fps, kents fasteel loads and federals speed shok loads both work awesome for ducks and geese. I used both last fall and their performance was awesome compared to standard steel loads.