3 1/2 " vs. 3" for waterfowl

[Get Bit]

Anybody have any real strong opinions on this subject ? I am contemplating getting a box of 3 1/2" for the goose opener this weekend, Is it worth it ? Would appreciate any info.
Thanks,
Get Bit

[ 09-06-2001: Message edited by: Get Bit ]

[Firedog]

I havent shot a 3 1/2 but I have had good luck with 3" 1 1/8 once bbb on geese. I am a belever in velocity and this is a light fast load. Don't have quite as many pellets as a regular load but if you pick you shots they are deadly.

[Dogfish]

I have an 835 (the original 3.5" shotgun) and I have bought a few boxes of those long shells. I have had good results on geese with both loads, but I have yet to find the occasion where I felt undergunned with only quality 3' loads. I have a 10 gauge as well, single shot, and the recoil is similar, VERY HARSH!, but funny as it sounds, last year I used the cigars loads for cripples, and the 3" loads for regular shooting. You have to be able to hit them first, and if you're worried about recoil, it takes the fun out of it. Go with an autoloader unless you are 200 pounds or more. You'll have a shoulder left after the season is done.

Andy

[ 09-07-2001: Message edited by: Dogfish ]

[bigshark]

Get Bit

I have an opinion on the long shell....Not worth the wear and tear on some guns...My Super Black Eagle went through to extractor
pins using them before I quite shooting them.
The first pin went on the second flat of shells....I don't call a flat of 10 boxes a case as some do. A case to me is 20 boxes. This was not just my gun but the experience of several others that I know of...On the flip side a hunting buddy has a Citori that has eaten many flats....on a guess only maybe
20 plus flats and has never had a problem. The long load in Federal BBB's is one heck of a load for passing geese. If you hunt Summer Lake for Snows its as good as I have seen. That said I must tell you I wonder what this shell will do loaded with the new Hevi-Shot....Maybe they will make a shotgun scope for the reeeeally high shooters. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Tilla]

I have to agree with B shark, it seems that the 3 1/2" was tough on my SBE, it could be the gun. My wife won a camo 870 with the 3 1/2" cababilities. So if I am good, she might let me use it and try the loads again.

[Jellyhead]

Tilla,

Let me know how the 3 1/2" 870 does w/the big loads. Federal 3 1/2" BBB loads last year tore up my buddies 870. It broke the Guide that's soldered to the inside of the action and keeps the barrel aligned. It's now at Remington Being repaired [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I think some of these 3 1/2" guns just don't have the weight to take the abuse these loads give them. But, those 3 1/2" loads kill geese dead, real dead.

Aaron

[Lured In]

My advice is just go by some 3" hevi-shot. Speed is great in steel loads, but it is also a necessity for it. I have a SBE and have run several boxes of 3.5" shells through it without problem, but I would take into consideration what the other folks are expeiencing. My favorite goose load is a 3.5" Bismouth BB running behind 3" BBB. I just patterned my SBE with a few rounds of hevi-shot 2's and 4's. I was very encouraged by what i saw. I will probably run a round of it behind my usual steel loads to save a little money. Even at $17 for 10 (better than Tungsten or Bismuth) it is still pricey.

[DF]

My first experiance shooting a shotgun was with 3 1/2 inch shells.
one word
OUUUCCH !
no recoil pad on the shotgun
and I wasent ready for it. But I learnd one thing real fast. Hold that gun TIGHT