Difference between 3" and 3 1/2"

[Sask boy]

I sent message earlier regarding purchasing a new Benilli and after reading back I noticed that I had a spelling mistake on my browning.
I have shot 3" steel for just a few years as we did not have to use it up here. We can still use lead for upland game most of the time we use 2 3/4" except when we go for pheasant then I use 3" lead.
I was wondering how much difference there is between the 3" & The 31/2 " regarding range and knock down power.
Most of the time I do not have to worry as we use field decoys but sometimes we do some pass shooting during mid day and then go back to the decoys for the evening shoot.

[tucker301]

The 3.5" loads simply carry a larger payload than do the 3". Same velocities, but more pellets delivered to the pattern. This equates to more pellets delivered on the target, presuming the aim is good ;)

[r-teej]

You'd have one sore arm after a day of 3.5'' lead shooting...

If you're shooting lead I can't see why you'd want anything bigger than a 3''. It's when you're shooting steel and you can hear the shot hitting feathers and the geese are still flying, than it's nice to have the extra load.

[Sask boy]

Originally posted by r-teej:
You'd have one sore arm after a day of 3.5'' lead shooting...

If you're shooting lead I can't see why you'd want anything bigger than a 3''. It's when you're shooting steel and you can hear the shot hitting feathers and the geese are still flying, than it's nice to have the extra load.

[Sask boy]

Originally posted by r-teej:
You'd have one sore arm after a day of 3.5'' lead shooting...

If you're shooting lead I can't see why you'd want anything bigger than a 3''. It's when you're shooting steel and you can hear the shot hitting feathers and the geese are still flying, than it's nice to have the extra load.

[Sask boy]

Hey r-teej I sent you a private message check it out and e-mail.

[Webfoot]

I'm curious to know:

How often do those of you who have the capability to shoot 3.5 shells use them? And what do you generally use them on? (ducks, geese, turkey, etc)

Thanks

[mudhen]

I use 3.5" in the wind so I can get more large pellets on the bird.

Also, I use 3.5" Winchester ER's for turks, they pattern much better than the 3" WER.

mudhen - CA

[tucker301]

Webfoot,
I use 3.5" exclusively on geese and turkeys.
I'll also use 3.5" on late season high-flying ducks on big water.

[bluedavis]

When you jump to the 3.5 shell you can either increase the payload or the velocity. I'm starting to think that the increased velocity is the way to go. Even at 30 yards I see a difference in knockdown power between 3 and 3.5 shells. I don't like chasing ducks on the water.

[Englishman]

When I bought my Benelli the selling dealer told me a 3.5" 12 ga is equivalent to a 3" 10 ga. Don't know if this is true but it is very close.

[Max4Gooser]

Never seen anything but 3.5" 10 guage never seen one in 3" I also use a 10 guage when the geese are not anting to commit, wish benelli made a 10.

[tucker301]

They are very close to each other. (http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?pg=27&firearm=5)

[krr6581]

More pellets than the 3" magnum and as you said Tucker but the velocity is actually lower. Same amount of powder but more shot that has to be moved down range.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

All I have noticed, is that the 3-1/2s put more pellets in the bird. 3" seem to have a little bit higher velocities, only about 50 fps though. I use 3-1/2 #2 and #3 winchester HV for ducks and geese, but I do mostly pass shooting. When I want a little extra range, 3" winchester supremes seem to outdistance the 3-1/2 HVs. Hevi shot though seems to out do them all, 3" or 3-1/2. My brothers 10 gauge does awesome for high flying geese, and I have never seen a 3" 10 gauge shell, I do believe they used to make it though.

[MOwaterfowler]

think the dealer ment to say 10ga 3.5" or 2 7/8"

I hunt big water alot with hard competion. We cheer when the prey gets over the decoys. so I shoot 3.5 alot. 1 5/8 of steel doesn't hurt anymor then the old 1 1/2 duckloads of lead.

i use all 4 sizes on ducks and 3-3.5 on geese and turkey and other animals. yea dad has a 2.5" 12 and sometimes we whip out the old dubbles and hit the field.

[sbeIIfan]

I shoot 3.5 inch for everything. Geese, ducks, and turkeys. I use 2 3/4 for Chucker and other upland game.

[Choclabman]

Another variable between the 3" and 3.5's shells is the pattern results.

From a SBE II and BPS I have always gotten better pattern with the 3" shells. This is with factory, BrileyX2 (LM, MOD), and Terror.675 choke tubes.

From pattern board results, I do not use 3.5" shells anymore.

[mudhen]

For turkey, I use only 3.5". The 3.5" patterns are so much better than 3" in my guns. The recoil does not bother me much as I don't shoot more than 100 or so turkey loads per year.

For waterfowl, I rarely use 3.5". The main reason is that the birds are usually so close that I don't need many extra pellets. I'm also shooting many cases of waterfowl shells per year, so I don't really need the extra recoil.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Mudhen, what shells do you normally use for waterfowl?

[mudhen]

Mudhen, what shells do you normally use for waterfowl?

I shoot all sorts of shells:

3" Hevi Steel #4's
EM Hevi Shot #6's
Rem Hevi Shot #2, #4, #6's (not anymore though)
3" Fed Steel #2's & #3's

For the upcoming season, I will probably order several cases of EM Hevi Shot in #2, #4, & #6.

[Liberty or death Jr.]

How do you like hevi-steel #4s? I was gonna go with them for ducks and geese, used winchester supremes #4 last year and they were great, so were the winchester HV 3-1/2s.

[mudhen]

I shoot Hevi Steel at small ducks like teal and widgeon. They work well on early season sprig too.

It's not an overly powerful load, but it seems to get the job done most of the time.

I use heavier shot for later season birds.

mudhen - CA

[Liberty or death Jr.]

Really, you use that for early season close teal? Thats the stuff I shoot at geese 30-50 yards up! For early season ducks I use #3 winchester HV or #4 winchester supremes. I'm gonna order a case of hevi steel #4 and hevi-shot #4. Thanks