do i really need 3 1/2's?

[MNhunter3781]

i like my 3 1/2's

[GooseSlayer35]

The recoil of a 3 1/2 inch doesn't bother me but for some reason out of my gun at 40 yards patterning it the 3 inch put more 2 shot in the 30 inch circle patterning board than the same load in 3 1/2 consistently. Pattern your gun and it should show you how much of a difference it will be. I will be saving around 5 bucks a box this year for a shell that shoots better than the 3 1/2 inch.

Most hunters think that the 3 1/2 will help them shoot farther but all it is doing is putting out more stray bb's that is going to cripple geese if your shooting long distances in my opinion. A 3 inch shell shoots just as far as a 3 1/2.

Pattern your gun and you will be able to tell if it will make a difference.

[Dandy Don]

A lot of guys have had the same results, but things changed about 2yrs ago! They now make special chokes that will pattern the 3-1/2" shell. One that has worked very well for me is the Briley EXR!! Last spring I bought one and the patterns are incredible with the 3-1/2" shells and the larger shot sizes!! were talking 88% or better patterns at 40yds with BB, 2 and 3 steel shot. It also gives similar results with hevi-shot or lead! So if your not getting the performance from this shell change the choke & try different brands of shells & shot sizes.

[tornadochaser]

A lot of guys have had the same results, but things changed about 2yrs ago! They now make special chokes that will pattern the 3-1/2" shell. One that has worked very well for me is the Briley EXR!! Last spring I bought one and the patterns are incredible with the 3-1/2" shells and the larger shot sizes!! were talking 88% or better patterns at 40yds with BB, 2 and 3 steel shot. It also gives similar results with hevi-shot or lead! So if your not getting the performance from this shell change the choke & try different brands of shells & shot sizes.

my briley exr blows any pattern with shot larger than 2's. my patternmaster will out shoot the exr any day with BB and BBB.

when it comes to shotgun patterns and ballistics, there just isn't any consistency from one gun to another, one load to another. guys asking others for advice are literally just wasting their time. there should be a sticky at the top of every waterfowling and wing shooting forum that says: "go pattern your gun and find out what works for YOU."

[Dandy Don]

I couldn't agree more every gun is different even when its the same brand of gun. Like you I have a few dollars invested in chokes some work great the others I end up trying to sell on Craigslist!!

[GooseSlayer35]

I agree 100% everyone needs to pattern there gun to see what works best. All I know is with all my chokes and some made for 3 1/2 inch chokes my 3 inch pattern the best. I can almost get 100% pattern at 40 yards with my 3 inch #2's every time.

The only bad thing is now I have no excuse for missing some of them easier birds.

[CanadianDave]

Whatever happened to get good first, then get fast??? Take your time with the 3" and learn on 'em. Become the better hunter and get the geese in nice and close. You'll enjoy yourself more, and you'll become a better hunter. Learn how the loads work, and your gun feels. Once you become experienced in this case, then it's time to move up to the big candlesticks and impress the girlfriends
If you wanna squeeze off a few 3 1/2's do it in the gravel pit, not at the geese. 3 1/2's don't make you any better, they just help you get luckier. I'd rather hunt with a guy that takes one shot and kills 'em clean, than a guy who wing's birds on the fly.
That being said, when you DO know how your gear works and you're very confident on your shooting abilities, then a 3 1/2 as your last one is nice insurance.
Take your time, learn, and enjoy the sport!

[Dandy Don]

Both Canada Dave & GooseSlayer make good points, but I will say this about #2's at 40yrds for Canada's if your shooting steel I just don't feel very confident with that shot size I really prefer BB at that range for clean kills. Again the advantage of the 3-1/2 is I can shoot a 1-1/2oz. load of BB, and with the choke I use and get 98%pattern! Out of 108 BB pellets in a 1-1/2oz. 3-1/2" load 105 are in a 30" circle. At 40yds BB steel has a lot more energy than #2 steel and just about the same amount of pellets. The key is finding the best choke for the 3-1/2" then knowing at what range your capable of effectively shooting, otherwise your just throwing away your ammo.

[Xcahser]

A dead goose is a dead goose.

The wonded ones is what I don't like. knock em in thier tracks head shot's all the way .

I use 3.5 no matter what, I just find that the more steel I can pack in a load the better.

This is especially true on late season hunts, when birds are wary and like to flare at any time.

I agree committed birds at 20 yards, 2 3/4 will do the job, but when you are trying at 60 and even 70, then the 3.5 with a tube makes all the difference.

The most important thing to me is understanding your pattern and your shooting capabilites.

I hate wounding birds!

[cupped&killed]

I really like my 3" loads.. i usually buy a case of 3" BB's and a case of 3" No 2's each year.. they do the job just fine.

[Dandy Don]

Cupped & Killed, Sounds like your gun isn't 3-1/2" capable. A gun that can handle 3-1/2" shells with the right choke & load can give near 10ga. performance. I use 3" in most cases but I always have 3-1/2" loads avail. for those long shots, with the right set up you'll be amazed at the knockdown power!

[bering sea skybuster]

No but yes if you like your the one paying the money for gun and tad bit more for ammo. I like 3.5 for late season but my first 3.5 and only was a ulti mag 835 we all know what that means !! I look at a man who shoots 3 inch and kills all birds as a mature and expert gunner . It takes lots practice to do it right all the time good luck and heck get a 3.5 gas gun Ned S swears by the 935 mossy sloppy trigger but hot deals galore in the used market high dollar guns are the rage but the fact is I seen some old native guys over 60 and just slaying geese with a 16 ga wingmaster most been hunting spring & fall for 50 year they have it down.also Knew a guy on the kusko river who out shot 4 full boating hunting parties with 20 ga browning a-5 piles of blue bills black ducks and geese there and in that time era a man would fill his freezer on a 5 day hunting trip after that it was egg picking and ready to put up fish for the summer.

[field-n-feathers]

I don't think that it's 100% necessary with today's more modern 3" offerings. I personally use 3 1/2" BB Black Cloud. Do I NEED it? Probably not. As others have said though, it may simply be a confidence thing. It patterns unreal out of my gun with a factory modified choke. It absolutely puts the smack-down on geese.

I would say that if you are crippling a lot of birds you are either shooting at too far a distance, having your point of aim too high or too low, or not leading the bird enough. It's possible that the added payload of a 3 1/2" round might help with the cripples, but not nearly as much as getting your lead and point of aim down. Point of aim is a big one. I really feel that in the heat of the moment, many people that are complaining of cripples and misses are not getting their head down on the gun properly - IMHO of course, as I am no professional shooter.

With that said, there are many loads and combinations out there that will deliver the same performance for different shooters and different guns. Pattern your gun and find what works out well for you.

[cupped&killed]

Cupped & Killed, Sounds like your gun isn't 3-1/2" capable. A gun that can handle 3-1/2" shells with the right choke & load can give near 10ga. performance. I use 3" in most cases but I always have 3-1/2" loads avail. for those long shots, with the right set up you'll be amazed at the knockdown power!

I have a 835, so i can shoot 3.5" shells, i just dont see the need too. My shots at ducks and geese are usually 40 yards max and my 3 inchers pattern very well.

[Dandy Don]

My SX-3 is also 3-1/2 capable, Cupped & Killed I had a 835 about 9yrs. ago and I remember those 3-1/2's sure pounded me so I don't blame you for using the 3" instead, I always carry a few of the 3-1/2 shells just in case there needed.