Are 3.5in shells really needed? Debate/opinion

[SMcGarrity]

So what are the prevailing thoughts out there on this subject???

Are 3.5in shells truly needed? Or can you effectively hunt ducks/geese with 2 3/4 and 3in loads.

Let's hear it.

[Just Hunt]

I've asked that question for years...I HAD a BPS 3.5", but couldn't justify the added cost and recoil over a 3" automatic gun. A lot of goose and turkey hunters are sold on them though. With todays shell and choke technoligy I prefer 3".

[randy fox]

Myself im waiting on the new 4 inch magnum shells! But you can use 2 3/4 inch shells and harvest ducks and geese, if you are shooting decoying birds at close range.3 inch magnums do the job also. but coz here in america we tend to to think if 1 pound works, 4 pounds will work better, we have bigger more powerfull shells.I myself use the 3 1/2 inch monsters and love the recoil and the xtra muzzel blast. But then again i hunt with a 20 gauge also to make it alittle more challenging sometimes. its not the size of your shell as much as how good of a hunter you are. good luck with what ever you choose to shoot.and make sure to "KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY"..................................R

[SO IL fowler]

I hunted with a O/U untill just a few years ago that only shot 3" shells. I hunted ducks and geese with it. The main thing is making sure that you have a good shell/choke combo. The only way your going to get that is patterning your gun with multiple chokes and shells. The biggest thing that you gain with the bigger shell is more steel in the air. To most that is just a little bit of a confidence boost. You can also gain some fps out of a 3 1/2".

With that said, personally if a 2 3/4" shell patterns better than a 3 1/2" then I am shooting the 2 3/4" shell. But......... my gun patterns 3 1/2"ers very well with my choke. I like the abuse, I figure I'll absorb the recoil until I am as old as Randy haha.

[SMcGarrity]

Nice birds Randy - saw your pics today! Still waiting for the season to open here in MO. and waiting.....waiting....anyway

I patterned some 3.5 loads last weekend and my shoulder took a **** pounding. Hurts more when you aren't shooting at birds. I've mainly used 3.5s for geese and 3s for duck. I hunt with some guys who swear up and down that 3.5s are a waste of money. At the end of the day it comes down to whatever you are comfortable with and whatever works. So to that end, to each his/her own. Just wanted to see hear some other thoughts/arguments/opinions on what everyone uses and why.

So thanks for getting in here.

[Just Hunt]

I figure I'll absorb the recoil until I am as old as Randy haha.[/QUOTE] SLLAM....Easy there Gabe...Talkin about us 50-somethings as being old.....LOL You'll be there some day...or maybe not...LOL

[SO IL fowler]

HAHAHA......just messing with you guys Henry. I know that you "seasoned" guys can take the abuse lol.

SMc Just remember all of the clothes that you'll have on when your rockin' those 3 1/2's douring the season.

[rooster]

For some reason I most always hunt with 3.5 shells. But IMHO they are definately not needed. Case in point I took a new hunter out the end of last season and he harvested his 3 birds with 2 3/4 20ga steel #4 shot (in 4 shots I might add). Took the same hunter out in youth season last week and he agian harvested his two birds this time in 3 shots using the same box of shells.
So I guess the answer is no........................

[BadCaller]

When you step up to the 3.5 you’re going after a larger payload. If that is what you desire then why not shoot a 10ga with a larger bore. That is where the 10 shines against a 12 3.5. I never found a need to shoot 1 ¼ oz load of Hevi-Shot, most of my ducks are a shot with a 1 1/8oz load in the 12, 1oz in the 16 and 7/8th in the 20ga.
I do favor the 10ga for geese I am a sucker for larger pellets so I hand load 1 3/8 of 2 or 3 shot of Hevi-Shot. That bigger bore just creates some unreal patterns with Briley chokes. I have a friend who is just in love with a 10 and he shoot ducks and geese with 1 1/8oz of Hevi-shot. People think like Mr. Fox stated if a happy meal is all you need the certainly super size is better. Not the case with the 3.5 it’s just to much of a payload for the 12 bore.
Hell if the 8ga was legal like in England I would own one, not for the cannon reason but the larger bore. It’s my understanding that the 10 was banned on some of the refuges out in Cali so the 3.5 moved in. Who ever thought that more birds would be killed with a 10 than a 12 chances are they never shot a gun in there life.
So if you like to hand load swing on down to Ebay and get a 10ga loader for peanuts, and when you see that Ithaca sitting on the back of the rack grab it. Don’t forget the early browning with the steel receiver either. There a fun gun to shoot and when hand loaded you’ll out perform the 3.5 all day long.

[SMcGarrity]

Having clothes on definitely cuts down on that pain - very good point. But I was patterning with a trap vest w/ padding AND a fleece jacket folded over my gun shoulder shooting off a bench. Crap still didn't feel good. I chalk it up to adrenaline when you're in the field - seems like you hardly notice then.

Got some great patterns with Black Cloud 3.5s out of a Rem Super Mag using the regular MOD choke at 40 yards and up. A lot better than the same 3.5 Hevi-Metals. Even when using a Carlson hevi-shot choke.

[Gary]

i bought a bunch of 3.5's one time cause they were a steal on price ..... i went out and patterned them and was happy with the results . come goose season some birds came in and i missed the first shot and i noticed a huge difference in time it took me to get back on the birds .... at that point i realized the heavier payload wasnt worth the punishment and what i lost on time it took me to get back on target ......

with that being said one of my favorite loads on geese for later in the yr is federal copper plated steel 12g. 1 3/8oz bb's and with the fps being only 1265 they shoot great out of a wad stripper choke and lay a pounding on the birds ...

as far as ducks i shoot 2 3/4" 1 1/4oz of shot about 99% of the time

[dirtycletus81]

I have always heard Randy say " I only shoot 3 1/2's because they don't make a 4". It all preference in my opinion. I shoot 3" at ducks and 3.5 at geese. Bigger shell for a bigger bird.

[salthunter]

I quit shooting a 10, I quit shooting 3 1/2 " shells and the only reason I have 3" shells is they are often the same price or cheaper than 2 3/4
Ive changed my duck and goose hunting style over the years,.I dont need the speed or the range or the larger payload.
Today I took the 20 gauge goose hunting

[shootumindaface]

By all means no.. A equal size pellet shot at equal velocity has equal energy and penetration regardless of length of shell.. Albeit 3.5 gives more shot to start, pattern density trumps everything.. A good number of 12 gauge shotguns can not pattern heavy payload steel shot very well thus allowing 3 inch shells in many cases to be much more effective.

[PEI Duck Guy]

3.5's are ok nothing wrong with them, in fact I use them later in the season depending on the setup. However for the most part I run with 3" shells for ducks & geese. Prime example on Friday I shot and killed a goose with a 3" Blackcloud # 4 at 30 plus?? yards. It hit the water stone dead, but then I shot Blackducks & teal with that same load for the rest of the morning. I have found that later in the season with the birds a little fatter and if the wind is howling that the 3.5's seem amazing, but as people here before me have stated I think it's just piece of mind. Just mt .02 cents worth!

[Sgt14]

For what it is worth...

I just sold my SP-10, as it is a "10 gauge" only gun, only chambered for the 3.5 artillery shells. They have become somewhat expensive, and the gun just a tad more heavy. I "traded down" to a Benelli SBE II. In my opinion, the 3.5" 12 ga is more versatile, as it will fire all 12 ga. rounds. You can go cheap or heavy. With the 10 ga. ( I still see nothing wrong with it) you are limited to its 3.5" round.

Just because one has a 3.5" chambered 12 ga, that doesn't mean that one absolutely has to fire the bigger rounds. I've killed plenty of geese with a 3" chambered Remington 870. I just opted for the "full boat" (Comfortech, Max-4) SBE II.