3" vs 3 1/2"

[Tom Foolery]

Ive never felt the recoil of a 3.5" shell when squeezing the trigger on a gobbler.

I hadn't either and I had killed several with 3.5" shells.  One day after a dead morning I was sitting at the base of a large oak talking to another guy on our lease when a hen crested a ridge with strutter in tow.  I eased up my 835 stoked with H13 #7's and got twisted around, birds moving right to left, and I mean way twisted around, squared up the sights and fired.  The recoil ripped the gun out of my left hand throwing the shot wide right and laid my 230lbs on my right side at the feet of the lease member.  The butt stock wasn't firmly on my shoulder, it was actually in the crease of my bicep, and it bruised me all the way to my elbow. 

That's when I came to realize I didn't need that recoil, as I watched a nice tom fly off unscathed.  I did pepper a nice sized oak tree though. 


Last year I had to take a similar shot, minus the lease member, on a bird that tried to sneak in the back door.  I was using the youth 870 20 gauge and the shot was a piece of cake.

[01Foreman400]

With factory loads I always shot 3.5" in my 3.5" guns with great results.  My handloads I shoot 2 3/4 and 3" loads.

[Happy]

I have tried both and the 3.5" was better in my 835. However if the 3" was a better performer the I would switch with no reservation. It is not necessary but I like them and have confidence in them. I will say this if you can't shoot them accurately then they are worthless.

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[maytom]

Another vote for the 3" shell!!!

[BottomLand54]

3" to me is brutal on my little shoulders I don't have much meat on, I am a boney fellor. That being said I wouldn't even fill a 4" Magnum load if there was such when a big gobbler is at the end of the sight. After what a 3" does to my shoulder when trying to pattern my guns I just can't seem to try the 3.5" I guess I'm still a kid! That's why I personally shoot 3".

[Waynesworld23]

A 3" shell is all you need with the way 20ga Ammo has come the 12ga seems unnecessary

[CrustyRusty]

I shoot whatever consistently patterns best in my gun.  And that happens to be 3.5" hevi 6's out of my benelli.  If I found a load that shot better I would use it. Recoil means nothing to me

[tha bugman]

Not trying to but i must admit I have been shooting 3 1/2 for years now just because my gun will allow it I guess and maybe thought it was just that much better. But here recently I shot a 3" the other day out of my set up and was amazed at how even and consistant it was. The 3 1/2 throw more lead but seem more splotchy now compared to the 3". Has anyone else realized this or is this just a fluke?

sounds like me realizing that 80 grains of powder shot the bullets in my muzzleloader much better than 100grains.

[pdaugherty]

My brother-in-law shot 3.5 #5 Win Supreme for years. He killed a lot of turkeys no doubt but his shoulder paid for it. He had never tried a 3 in before so I got him to shoot some 3in #5 HEVI-13. The pattern was noticeably different and now that is all that he shoots.

[dzsmith]

I always smile looking through the pattern pictures as I see proud people post pictures of there lbxr 3.5" #6s , knowing that im putting just as many and usually more pellets on paper with the same load in 3". I really dont know why either.

[NYshotgunner]

3 inch

[Longshanks]

I'm shooting Winchester Double X High-Velocity Turkey Loads 12-gauge 3-inch magnum shell with 1-3/4 ounces of shot at 1300 fps. Have never tried 3 1/2" for turkey

Never seen the need, for me killing birds at the 15-17 yard range with the shotgun.

MK M GOBL

Turkey hunter there.. Only have one gun that I shoot Hevi 13 3.5 7's.
330's in a 10 @ 40. Overkill and usually just hunt 3" which patterns the best out of the majority of my guns.

[tha bugman]

Its amazing how we ever made it through life prior to 3.5" shells....kinda like cell phones

[Happy]

Its amazing how we ever made it through life prior to 3.5" shells....kinda like cell phones

I dunno. I am pretty sure that the turkey I shot at 13 yards with the old remington hevi shot 3.5" mags would have charged if I had used less gun.

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