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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: waterman2 on March 06, 2017, 06:37:14 PM

Title: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: waterman2 on March 06, 2017, 06:37:14 PM
what do you use? 3" seemed to pattern better in my gun.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: gobblinfever on March 06, 2017, 06:43:25 PM
if they pattern good, use them. ive always used 3 inch
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Greg Massey on March 06, 2017, 06:44:28 PM
3 in..but i don't own 3.5 ...
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: 1iagobblergetter on March 06, 2017, 07:07:02 PM
3in and I do own several 3.5s especially if yours patterns better with them.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: owlhoot on March 06, 2017, 07:08:57 PM
3"
Is going to be all you need.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: bbcoach on March 06, 2017, 07:27:03 PM
3 1/2" for me.  Not required but I like the added density in the pattern.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: kyturkeyhunter4 on March 06, 2017, 07:46:13 PM
Use which ever one your gun shots the best, My 835 likes the 3 1/2  inch the best but believe me if it shot the 3 inch just as good that's definitely what I would shoot to avoid the extra recoil.
Title: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: BottomLand54 on March 06, 2017, 07:50:14 PM
3" don't care if 3.5 patterns better I will change choke to continue to shoot 3". First of all I am about done with 12 guages in general but I personally would never shoot a 3.5 turkey load, to each his own.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Gobble! on March 06, 2017, 07:51:07 PM
3.5" here. I'm into throwing as much shot down range as I can.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: outdoors on March 06, 2017, 08:34:34 PM
I HAVE A VERSA MAX TURKEY MODEL AND I GET REALLY GOOD PATTERNS WITH THE 3" THE 3 1/2" opens up quite a bit.........
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: hobbes on March 06, 2017, 08:51:04 PM
 

I typically shoot 3 1/2", 2 oz, #6 lead (Winchester Supremes).  I did shoot some Winchester LB's in 3" #6 a couple years ago, but didn't care for how tight the pattern was up close. 
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Gooserbat on March 06, 2017, 09:53:18 PM
With the advent of modern turkey loads, both longbeards and hevishot I've not found a 3.5" to be nessasary.  I do get better patterns from a 3.5" fed HW 7.  Coincidentally I now shoot tss and a 3" is all I need.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: WV TURKEY THUG on March 06, 2017, 09:56:38 PM
3 inch is all I use now, Winchester long beards
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: captpete on March 06, 2017, 09:59:24 PM
My 870 shoots 3" better than 3 1/2". The 3 1/2" has a gap in it....like you took a 1" sclice out of it from top to bottom.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: WildTigerTrout on March 06, 2017, 11:11:18 PM
 I shoot 3 1/2 inch because they don't make a 4 inch!! :lol: :o
Title: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Naylor649 on March 06, 2017, 11:13:28 PM
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on March 06, 2017, 11:11:18 PM
I shoot 3 1/2 inch because they don't make a 4 inch!! :lol: :o

X2 hahaha
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Marc on March 06, 2017, 11:44:05 PM

As a wing-shooter, I will not shoot 3.5" simply due to the recoil and the unfortunate and almost certain consequence of flinching from recoil.. 

The load might be capable of killing better, but I quickly become less capable of hitting anything using them...  And oddly, while hunting, I am completely unaware of any recoil, but at some level I certainly react to it.

And, for the most part (as mentioned on a different thread) we are talking about shooting a bird on the ground, generally at somewhere between 20-40 yards (with 40 yards really stretching it for me). 

By far the most difficult part of turkey hunting for me, is getting them to where I can shoot them...  Granted there is always a sigh of relief when that bird starts flopping though.

As few shots as I am going to take during a season, I have no issue utilizing Hevi-shot...  But, I have admittedly fallen victim to the perplexing marketing towards turkey hunters as far as the necessity of better shells and chokes, that in reality simply are not necessary in the vast majority of birds we take.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Waynesworld23 on March 06, 2017, 11:55:18 PM
3inch number 6s for me the 3.5s didn't shoot well at all
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: fallhnt on March 07, 2017, 01:13:15 AM
I have two early 90's Remington turkey guns that kill turkeys just fine with 3in shells.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: ilbucksndux on March 07, 2017, 02:23:55 AM
I flinch to bad with 3 1/2 and my guns shoot 3" better anyway
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: LaLongbeard on March 07, 2017, 04:05:50 AM
I've not seen much difference in patterns between the two there's a few more pellets in the 3.5 but why buy a 3.5 super magnum and shoot 3" 
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: UGAturkey on March 07, 2017, 07:04:17 AM
3 inch shells here.  I have an old 870 pump that can't handle anything else.  It patterned better than the 3 1/2 guns I owned...used to own. ;D
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Uncle Nicky on March 07, 2017, 07:26:20 AM
3 1/2
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: wcerin on March 07, 2017, 07:48:22 AM
3"  #6 Winchester Longbeards for me. Shot the 3 1/2 and had a better hunting pattern with the 3". Shoot what the gun wants, she will tell you.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: jed clampett on March 07, 2017, 07:58:15 AM
3 inch is all you need but I shoot a 835 and like the 3.5 in pattern better
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: tha bugman on March 07, 2017, 11:52:31 AM
I have shot both, just depends on what gun I am using.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Cut N Run on March 07, 2017, 05:43:50 PM
The 3 inch Hevi #6s & #7s both shoot great from my SBE and kill turkeys just fine.  I've had two surgeries on my left shoulder (I shoot left) and I don't need any more recoil than I already get.

Jim
Title: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Happy on March 07, 2017, 05:53:50 PM
Let your gun decide.

Sent from my SM-G800R4 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: suburbhunter on March 07, 2017, 05:57:56 PM
3" #5's Long beards for my 935.  :fud:
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Tom Threetoes on March 08, 2017, 12:10:33 AM
3 1/2" Hevi shot 6s, I may just get one shot and I aim to make it count!
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: goblr77 on March 08, 2017, 04:21:07 PM
3.5s for me. I like to shoot the largest payload I can.
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: GunRunner on March 08, 2017, 08:22:29 PM


      3 "    :newmascot:
Title: Re: 3" or 3 1/2"
Post by: Kylongspur88 on March 08, 2017, 10:32:51 PM
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on March 06, 2017, 11:11:18 PM
I shoot 3 1/2 inch because they don't make a 4 inch!! :lol: :o

:icon_thumright: same here.