3" shells out of a 3.5" gun

[yella yelper]

Is there any hard evidence that a 3" load will pattern better out of a 3.5" gun than its 3" counterpart? Example let's just take a Longbeard #5 out of a SBE vs an M1 both using the same choke. Surely somebody somewhere has tested this?  I know each gun is different, just looking for generalities.  My initial thought would it'd be the same but not for sure. Thoughts?

[dirt road ninja]

My opinion is that it would not make any difference at all.

[Izzyjoe]

Somebody probably has tried it, but I really don't think it make a real big difference if any.  I now a fellow that shoots 2 3/4 loads in a 11-87 sm with good results. He don't want the kick of 3" or 3.5's!

[outdoors]

I JUST BOUGHT A VERSA MAX AND I GOT SOME FEDERALS TURKEY THUGS 3" @ 3 1/2"
And a * BIG * PEICE OF CARDBOARD AND AT 30yrds. ON TOP I SHOT THE 3 1/2" AND
THE BOTTOM 3" AND TO MY SURPRISE  THE 3" SHOT ALOT BETTER PATTERN AND MORE
EVEN   And this was with a stock choke that came with it ...

[Ihuntoldschool]

It can go either way just depends on the individual gun, choke, and load.

[Bowguy]

Guys it's too much shot being crammed into too small of an area. As soon as it hits the forcing cone it gets busted up n this leads to irregular patterns. On a gun such as the 835 w open cones and oversize barrel you will see a def increase in pattern density at least in the ones I own n tested. These are older guns though, on the newer ones nothing seems to have changed. You can prob get a better pattern in your 3-1/2 but it may mean more testing loads.

[allaboutshooting]

Is there any hard evidence that a 3" load will pattern better out of a 3.5" gun than its 3" counterpart? Example let's just take a Longbeard #5 out of a SBE vs an M1 both using the same choke. Surely somebody somewhere has tested this?  I know each gun is different, just looking for generalities.  My initial thought would it'd be the same but not for sure. Thoughts?

I've never seen evidence either way. I have some 3.5" chambered guns that pattern 3" shells exceptionally well and some 3" chambered guns that do the same. It just seems that some guns/barrels pattern better than others.

Thanks,
Clark