[pumper]

I bought a Super Mag, but mostly for the better recoil pad, not to shoot the bigger shells. I have the option to do so, but since I hunt predominantly upland and trap they are not necessary. The Super Mag with a 28" bbl is the same length and weight as the three inch gun with 28". Remington did a good job of modifying the bolt do keep the receiver the same size. Besides, now I have a gun that says SUPER MAGNUM on the side, do you? Hehe.

 

[Scott231]

I got two 3.5 autos C-D and SuperX2 I love the fact that I can shoot any 12g round.Except maybe not those wimpy rounds some of you shoot at those clay thingamabobs.Women and children loads I call them.
I weigh 170lb recoil don't seem to be a problem.

You people need to toughin up. :lol: GO BIG OR STAY HOME :wink:

Scott

.

 

[pumper]

Interesting opinion Scott. The more steel you throw the worse you pattern gets. At a skimp 170 you dont seem to be eating enough. Come to my house and I'll fill your belly with birds taken by 2 3/4" steels. Then we'll take turns punching each other in the shoulder until you give up.

 

[thashooter]

What about using 3 - 1/2's when using buckshot? Or if they came out with 3- 1/2 slugs? Either with a larger slug or more powder.

 

[Scott231]

Pumper! Less shot for better pattens :lol I have wasted A lot of time and money at the reloader putting those darn little bbs in the hulls.

And all I needed was the primer/power/wad

Thanks for the wakeup call :!:

Scott

 

[pumper]

With too much shot all the pellets do is get in the way of each other. Also, more poweder is needed to propel the heavier payload. The bigger shock tends to make more pellets stray as well. I have actually found that with 1 1/8oz #4s at 1400fps I get more pellets in the circle than with any of the 3 1/2" payloads, anything from 1 3/8oz up to 1 9/16oz at any velocity. 1400 fps still gives enough downrange energy with stell for my shooting, out to a bout 50 yards. I recently patterned the new Federal 3.5s and got the same patttern whether I used a IC(mod for steel) or Mod(full for steel).

 

[20 gauge #1]

In my opinion 3.5 shells are only needed for turkey and deer hunting with buckshot. Manly because you get more pellets to make the pattern more dense so you will put more pellets in the kill zone.

Also, I don't believe a 3.5" 12 gauge magnum shell will shoot any farther than a 2 3/4" 12 ga magnum shell. Magnum usually means more shot. Look at the velocity for magnums versus std. shells. A Hi brass 12ga 2 3/4" shell from federal has 1330fps velocity and the 2 3/4" turkey shell has 1250fps velocity.

The intended reason for longer mag. shells is for denser patterns.
However, if your a good shot, you dont need them.

I have killed many turkey with a 20ga and 3" fed. shells with #5 shot, through a extra full choke at 30-40 yards average. The record for me was 58 yards and it knocked him out just as well as a 12 would.

 

[pumper]

Yep it is funny that magnum means something different from handguns/rifles to shotguns.

 

[Guest]

Hey y'all 3.5" shooters!! Do i got some loads for you!!!!
(FYI these loads are NOT for the faint of heart!)
Try these: Federal 3.5" 2 1/4 ounce loads @1150 FPS,
through a five pound gun (ex. NEF SB1). The recoil is about equal to a .470 NE. I would strongly recommend benchresting
this particular 3.5". Its recoil is about 95-100 ft-lbs. Another equally hard kicking load is the 3.5" Kent 1 3/8 ounce @1550 FPS. So pick up a box and have some fun!!
Rock on mighty 3.5"

 

[kildux]

In regard to what hoover 18 said , I also get excited and don't realize the recoil. When I realize it is when I get out of bed the next morning and my shoulder is so sore I can't move my arm. For any thing but turkey hunting ,3in. or 2.75in. will be more than enough

 

[Guest]

put it this way, its not that bad of kick! I am 5'10" and 150. But you have to look at what you are doing. Are you decoying or pond jumping or even pass shooting at high birds. the 3.5 will knock birds down at 80yards and if thats what you need then get it. But please choose the 870 supermag over the 835. I have seen a lot more problems with the 835 then any other gun that shoots 3.5" However, in close decoying 3" with modified chock and you can knock the ducks and geese outta the air easy.

 

[Guest]

TJShaw00 - Just load your own 2 3/4" 6HS's!

As for 3 1/2 inchers? I always thought the shell was just a damn gimmick, and I worked in three sporting goods retail stores - which doesn't make mne an expert on anything. 80-85% of what we sold wasn't really necessary much of the time, however.

Question BTW - "Why have ammo makers despensed with even loading Hevi-Shot in 3 1/2" 12 gauge loads?" And why shoot steel now that Hevi-Shot is available?

 

[pigeonhunter]

Hevi-shot 3.5 for pass shooting ducks and geese (thats all the goose shots we get here) and hevi-shot is just so damn pricey.

 

[Guest]

I have used 3 1/2 on geese, works great, ducks, thoguth geese were coming and was able to drop the duck aftermy buddy missed twice and he was abotu 40-50 yds out. and I have used them on turkey at 50yds and drop him on the first shot. If you can stand the recoil then use them. And the recoil is tough. I am only a 6ft 1585lb guy shhoting it out of a Mossberg 835 it kicks.

 

[Guest]

I would take the 3 1/2" any day, I've shot one for 3 years now and don't cripple 1/10 the birds my buddies do with the 3". If you are going to shoot a 3" be prepared to let the birds come another 10 yards closer, and don't hesitate to buy an 835 Mossberg mine has worked awesome and was $250.oo cheaper than an 870!

 

[Guest]

FYI:

I weigh 150# and shoot a 10guage 3-1/2" mag for Turkey.

I have no problem shooting it whereas my dad who weighs 220# shot it once and won't touch it again.

Reason: My smaller, lighter body can take the impact by easily pushing my shoulder back and absorbing the impact whereas the larger, stronger person takes the impact like an old oak tree, solid, thus hurting or bruising them etc...

The 10 ***** is probably more gun than I really need but I like it. I also have a Remington 12guage Super Mag which shoots the 3-1/2" and I like this also. Personal preference. Happy Hunting.

 

[Desertrat]

Holy cow!! All this talk of power, FPS, 3 vs. 3.5"......golly....
No thanks boys......I think Ill stick to my whimpy 20ga. and 28ga.!!!! HEHEHEHEHE.....must cost an arm and a leg to feed all that shot thru those beasts!!!!

 

[Guest]

There is no legitimate reason to shoot a 3.5" 12 ga.
Pattern Density: The pattern is not significantly better when using a 3.5--in some cases it may be worse.
Velocity: The simple fact is that it really doesn't matter how much over the speed of sound your round pellets leave the gun, within a few yards (at most) your shot is traveling just below the speed of sound. The only thing you have bought when you purchase super high velocity 3.5 (or 3" for that matter) is less shot--often for a higher price. Go slow! You end up with a more appropriate payload that is still traveling the same speed. (trust me--I learned this from my father-in-law--who has a masters degree in physics!)
If you really need to shoot a big gun, get a 10 ga.--otherwise, all you probably need to do is practice a little more...

 

[mcbirch]

What? If in a 3.5 shell I can throw more weight then a 3 inch shell then for a give shot size a 3.5 inch shell will pattern denser then a 3 inch shell. It a simple fact, if you throw more pellets your going to get a denser pattern. Prove it to yourself get a budies 3.5 inch gun and some 2 1/4 ounce 3.5 inch shell and pattern them and then fire some 3 inch shell with 2 ounces of the same shot at the same range. If they are both choked the same the 3.5 inch shell will have a slightly denser pattern.

I do not understand why every one is so sour grapes over the 3.5 inch guns. I like mine it give me the option to shot ANY 12 gage shell on the market. I do agree that 3.5 inch shells are not always needed in many hunting situation but to say they perform worst is just sour grapes.

Someone show me a pattering test the proves that 3 inch shells shoot a denser pattern then a heavier 3.5 inch shell both fired from the same gun, same choke, same range then I will eat crow until then it all just sour grapes.

mcb

 

[Guest]

alls 3 1/2 12 gauges do is bust your face up, they may have more shot than a 3 inch, but travel at less speed, carrying less kinetic energy, and typically pattern like crap, as far as shells go. but there is one good thing about a gun capable of shooting 3 1/2 inch shells, unless its a mossberg, because there is nothing good about those. The advantage is this, shooting a 3 inch load in a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge gives you better patterns, due to them having a bigger bore. My 870 express supermag is about the deadliest turkey gun I have ever shot, I put on average of 35-40 pellets in the head and neck at 45 yards shooting winchester XX turkey loads ( 2oz #4's). I dropped a bird at 49 yards this past spring. As far as goose loads go, if T's pattern good in your gun use em and nothing else. BBB is ok if thats all you have or can get to pattern well in your gun. anything smaller than T's or BBB's are duck loads. As sportsman you should always use the largest shot that works well out of your gun that you can handle, this is to make cleaner, quicker kills. Like when I hunt whitetail I use a 300 win mag with 180gr failsafes, yes its way overkill, but I have never lost a deer that I have shot.