3" vs 3 1/2"

[DMP]

3" vs 3 1/2"

I currently shot Hevi 13  3" 2 oz #6s with a jelly head choke out of a 24" 835 and get good results.  Would it be worth it to also try 3 1/2" shells? 

[Tom Foolery]

I would try the 3.5" shells, can't hurt anything but your shoulder. 

[ccleroy]

Derek, I'm switching to 3.5's for the first time this season....always have shot 3", but more payload= no brainer if you have the opportunity to shoot it. I  mean really at crunch time your shoulder won't feel it.....lol

[Longshanks]

These are some numbers out of my Berettas:

Hevi 13  3-2-7/  Pure Gold Choke / Beretta Urika

250 in a 10 in circle at 40yds


Hevi 13  3.5-2.25-7/  Hevi 13 Choke / Beretta Xtrema 2

300 in a 10 in circle at 40yds

The tricky part is finding the right combo for each gun/ choke/ shell.  For the most part whether its 250 or 300 it spells dead turkey.

[chatterbox]

Derek, I'm switching to 3.5's for the first time this season....always have shot 3", but more payload= no brainer if you have the opportunity to shoot it. I  mean really at crunch time your shoulder won't feel it.....lol

Crunch time.... That sums up a 3.5!

[nyhunter]

Well you'll most likely get more hits "BB's in the head" with the 3.5" but if your current setup is workin for ya why spend the money? now if you need to buy more shells then i would try them. Oh and your gonna want to buy a good recoil pad for that mule because its gonna kick ya.

[DMP]

Derek, I'm switching to 3.5's for the first time this season....always have shot 3", but more payload= no brainer if you have the opportunity to shoot it. I  mean really at crunch time your shoulder won't feel it.....lol

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I need to get some shells for this spring, I just hate to do another round of patterning with 3 1/2" shells.  May have to borrow someones led sled.

[West Augusta]

Best thing I did was go to 3.5" MagBlends.

[Swamprunner]

Derek, I'm switching to 3.5's for the first time this season....always have shot 3", but more payload= no brainer if you have the opportunity to shoot it. I  mean really at crunch time your shoulder won't feel it.....lol

Ricky, I am going to 3" TSS. The 3.5" will knock you in the dirt, and you WILL flinch. I am tricking out an 870 with a Knoxx.

[ccleroy]

Derek, I'm switching to 3.5's for the first time this season....always have shot 3", but more payload= no brainer if you have the opportunity to shoot it. I  mean really at crunch time your shoulder won't feel it.....lol

Ricky, I am going to 3" TSS. The 3.5" will knock you in the dirt, and you WILL flinch. I am tricking out an 870 with a Knoxx.

Lol, awe its not that bad ole soft shoulders......lol.....I have been toying with the TSS idea but I have no one  close that loads it, I would love to find someone to give me a price on loading some TSS 3.5" 6's.

[bawana]

Yep, go with the 3.5's, and get a lead sled!

[rebelman]

I'm thinking about switching to 3.5" but only because I want to buy a new gun.

[CASH]

Obviously turkeys have been killed for years without 3 1/2 in shells.  I shoot them just because I like having the extra shot.

Sure they kick when you pattern, but nobody feels it when you shoot a gobbler.

[davisd9]

Make sure you do not blow your pattern with them.  I jumped on the 3.5" bandwagon for a while and just no real need for them.  I also shoot a 835 24" barrel with a Star Dot and the 3" Mag Blend are all I need.  It is fun to watch a turkey get hammered up close with a 3.5" but patterning them was giving me bad habits and I believe you should pattern in a hunting type situation, not a bench and leadsled. 

[allaboutshooting]

The only contribution that I'll make is to suggest that sometimes a follow-up shot can be necessary. I shoot 3" standard loads of Hevi-13 and can get back on target very quickly, should I need a second shot for any reason. Just something to think about no matter what brand or length of shell you shoot.

Thanks,
Clark