2 3/4 enough?

R

radshop

New member
I was handed down my father's Savage Stevens 820B 12 Gauge. It chambers only 2 3/4 inch shells. It's the only shotgun I have right now, and I'm wondering if I should "invest" in a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 to get the ability to handle 3 inch shells and the interchangeable choke. I envision recreational trap/skeet, quail and pheasant as the activities. Being a cheapskate, I'm inclined to stand pat, but there are a lot of good after-Christmas sales going on right now.

Any words of wisdom and/or experience welcome. Thanks.
 
All my shotguns are chambered for 3" shells. I've rarely ever shot Magnums except on ducks at long yards in high wind.
But your question makes me wonder how anyone shot birds before the introduction of Magnum shells. The answer: They were better shots, and used lead on everything.
Magnum and Super-Magnum shells gained popularity after the ban on lead shot over waterfowl. Large shells have their place, but a skilled shooter will find them being more insurance than a necessity.
It also makes me wonder what the next thing is that we're told we can't live without.
The most important thing to consider about your gun is that the barrel may not be proofed for steel and certain other types of nontoxic shot due to their weight and hardness. Using steel in a non-proofed barrel could eventually be disastrous. If you're shooting clays and upland birds don't worry about it. Use lead shot. If you plan to hunt waterfowl, then get a gun for that.
It's a great addiction, by the way. Good luck!
 
I think you'll be fine. The only thing I use 3"er's on is turkey.

On the other hand, any excuse for a new gun is valid by defenition. :D
 
For geese and ducks you will want 3 inch. I have a 870 super mag and to tell you the truth 3 1/2s are to much for me. For a one day hunt they are ok! But they just beat me up to much. For anything other than waterfowl the 2 3/4s are just fine.

I went on a three day goose hunt and used 3 1/2 mags. I wish I had a pic of what my arm looked like. Some of the other guys told me to go see a doctor because my arm looked that bad. I learned if you shoot at the heads it makes for a good body shot. makes for a good lead for a good body shot! With 3 inch shells I could knock down as many geese as 3 1/2s.

2 3/4 with lead and not steel you should have no problems with everything else.
 
A 2 3/4 inch will work fine for the game you listed. I hunted with a 2 3/4 inch 16 ga most of my life and it did a good job for me. Now I have a couple 3 inchers, but you can count on one hand how many 3 inch shells I've put through them.
 
I took close to 100 geese in high school with dinky li'l 2 3/4" loads. The first 40 or so were with a 16 gauge. The better non toxics duplicate or top lead loads today.

Clay games, pheasant and quail are all in 2 3/4" country.

Get another shotgun if you wish. An 870/500/1300/ 37 is so much value for the money it makes sense to have at least one around.

But your shotgun will handle the activities you name.
 
Tough Birds

If you think our California deer are tough, you should see our game birds. A 12 gauge, with a 3.5 inch shells might do for the occasional close range quail shot. But you need at least a ten gauge for our other birds. They are armor plated. Typical upland game loads just bouce off of them. Then they go get their deer pals. Then the hunter is really in trouble.

The only sure hope for a pheasant is a ground shot with at least a .30-30.

Our geese require anti aircraft type guns.

Those standard sze 12 gauge shells are pretty worthless!:D
 
Roy Reali - you've got quite a streak going; 334 posts and I've never seen you give a straight answer to anybody. Thanks for the insight on local game; I'm in "The OC."
 
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