Do you all think a 3 1/2inch capable shotgun is needed? The only thing I can think is for large waterfowl. So if I am just doing quail hunting, small game and deer hunting, do you think I need 3 1/2in? I ask because I can get a really cheap 870 3in but was kind of wanting 3 ½ but wonder if I need it.
3 1/2in shotgun Needed?
- Thread starter cgbills
- Start date
no...
you will never "Need" a 3.5" 12 GAUGE.
You might only "want" one for geese or Turkey.
It allows you more selection of ammo.
Every turkey I have killed has been with a 3.5'' 12 gauge and everyone could have been killed with a 2.75" 20 gauge. But I don't carry the smallest gun that will do the job.
you will never "Need" a 3.5" 12 GAUGE.
You might only "want" one for geese or Turkey.
It allows you more selection of ammo.
Every turkey I have killed has been with a 3.5'' 12 gauge and everyone could have been killed with a 2.75" 20 gauge. But I don't carry the smallest gun that will do the job.
crowbeaner
New member
I reload 2 3/4" shot shells from 1 oz. to 1 1/2 oz. "baby" magnums. My favorite load is 1 3/8 oz. of Lawrence copper plated shot in a Federal GM hull at 1340 fps. It will knock birds sideways at 70 yards with a full choke gun. If I thought for a minute that I needed a 3" gun, I'd have bought one by now. Unless you shoot STEEL SHOT you'll never need a 3" or longer. The last time I looked at Dick's, 3 1/2 " Hevi-shot loads were $42 for 10 shells. No, that is not a typo. Unless your last name is Gates, you can see why I reload; I simply can't afford them. I could probably buy 600 Nitro Express cartridges for less, and I don't hunt Africa. It's your money; if you want to get the snot kicked out of your sinuses and your wallet every time you pull the trigger, go right ahead. If the USPS allowed ammo being mailed, I'd send you a box of my turkey lurkey loads outlined above. I GUARANTEE you'd want the recipe.
sourdough44
New member
If ever you need to get all you can out of a shotgun just spring for some quality 'Hevi-shot' or the new Remington 'HD' loads. 3" is plenty.
globemaster3
New member
You can never go wrong with the 870. Its kinda like Ford's old 300 straight six. Reliable to a fault.
I've got pumps and auto capable of 3", but have rarely shot more than 2 3/4. Like Scorch, I've hunted quail, dove, hungarian partridge, pheasant, chukkar, duck, and goose. In my hunting group in WA state where I first hunted geese, all my friends shot 3" or 3 1/2" while I shot equal or better with my 2 3/4 BB or #2.
IMO, 3 1/2" isn't "needed".
I've got pumps and auto capable of 3", but have rarely shot more than 2 3/4. Like Scorch, I've hunted quail, dove, hungarian partridge, pheasant, chukkar, duck, and goose. In my hunting group in WA state where I first hunted geese, all my friends shot 3" or 3 1/2" while I shot equal or better with my 2 3/4 BB or #2.
IMO, 3 1/2" isn't "needed".
I like mine. 870 Express SuperMag. Knocks the snot outta the shoulder when shooting mag turkey loads, but it's the joy of watching others shoot it that keeps me coming back to it.
Honestly though, not really necessary. Could come in handy when hunting geese, like others have said, perhaps turkeys at a further distance, but overall, a little overkill.
Honestly though, not really necessary. Could come in handy when hunting geese, like others have said, perhaps turkeys at a further distance, but overall, a little overkill.
camper4lyfe
New member
I bought an 870 Express Super Mag. It can handle 3-1/2", but I don't think I'll ever use them.
I bought it because the price was right ($400 for the combo: rifled deer barrel and 26" vent rib).
I shot 3-3" lightfield slugs out of it, and had to stop. It all but killed my shoulder. 2-3/4" lightfields have a TON of hitting power (1-1/4oz slugs), so not much more is needed around here as you won't get many long shots.
I bought it because the price was right ($400 for the combo: rifled deer barrel and 26" vent rib).
I shot 3-3" lightfield slugs out of it, and had to stop. It all but killed my shoulder. 2-3/4" lightfields have a TON of hitting power (1-1/4oz slugs), so not much more is needed around here as you won't get many long shots.
Jack O'Conner
New member
Vast majority of my shotgunning has been quite successful with 16 gauge. My sister in law has done equally well with her 20 gauge.
I've never felt the need to go bigger.
Jack
I've never felt the need to go bigger.
Jack
Kreyzhorse
New member
I don't think a 3.5" is needed for turkey, but this past spring I saw my buddy kill a tom at 69 yards with one. Would have never guessed it would have held a pattern that far but it did. We ranged the distance several times and with two different range finders. Did it make me run out and buy a 3.5", no, I'll stick with my 3" Mossberg, but it was a pretty impressive shot.
Benelli Supernova
I hunt coyote, turkey, and sandhill crane with a 3.5" Benelli Supernova Steadygrip.
A 3.5" is not necessary but I like throwing as much lead as possible. Here is my pattern at 40 yards shooting Federal's 3.5" Flightcontrol Wad #6's 2 1/4oz shot with a Comp-n-Choke XXX full. This shotgun is completely unnecessary on anything other than large birds or varmints.
The coyote was taken with Carlson's Dead Coyote choke and Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 3.5" T shot at about 25 yards.
Is recoil bad? Yeah it's rough but tolerable and I weigh 155lbs. Besides were not recreational target shooting here w/ 3 1/2's, were hunting. Here's an example of recoil. After shooting eight 3.5's out of a benchrest dialing in my Eotech I noticed a crack in the trigger guard. My only guess is the shotgun didn't have much room to recoil in a tight benchrest and the trigger guard cracked under stress. Benelli kindly replaced the part. 3 1/2's are not as bad as everybody makes them out to be, I mean how many people do you know hunt or hunted with an A5 and never complained?
I hunt coyote, turkey, and sandhill crane with a 3.5" Benelli Supernova Steadygrip.
A 3.5" is not necessary but I like throwing as much lead as possible. Here is my pattern at 40 yards shooting Federal's 3.5" Flightcontrol Wad #6's 2 1/4oz shot with a Comp-n-Choke XXX full. This shotgun is completely unnecessary on anything other than large birds or varmints.
The coyote was taken with Carlson's Dead Coyote choke and Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote 3.5" T shot at about 25 yards.
Is recoil bad? Yeah it's rough but tolerable and I weigh 155lbs. Besides were not recreational target shooting here w/ 3 1/2's, were hunting. Here's an example of recoil. After shooting eight 3.5's out of a benchrest dialing in my Eotech I noticed a crack in the trigger guard. My only guess is the shotgun didn't have much room to recoil in a tight benchrest and the trigger guard cracked under stress. Benelli kindly replaced the part. 3 1/2's are not as bad as everybody makes them out to be, I mean how many people do you know hunt or hunted with an A5 and never complained?
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I bought an 870 super mag a few years ago to use for waterfowling, and I like it for that. When shooting larger steel shot, it allows me to get more shot in the air to make it comparable to lead. I think its ideal for waterfowl, and completely unnecesary for upland birds and deer. Shooting heavishot turkey loads makes me want to cry, but turkey hunting is basically one shot a season, so I'll keep using it, and patterning it off of a lead sled.
Amen to the lead sled. My wife, God bless her, bought me a Bennelli Nova 3.5 for my birthday. Not the Super Nove with the mercury recoil reducer. Well she wanted me to shoot it. So I thought why not, I'll run one of my 3.5in Win Turkey shell. I shot the durn thing and I wanted to cry, but couldn't. I shot it one more time just to show her it didn't hurt that bad. My right arm went numb, not kidding. But I squirrel hunt with it. I'll still shoot the both the 3.5 Turkey and Duck loads thru my Win SX2. They're not that bad.
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