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Author Topic: Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1/2" mags  (Read 783 times)

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Offline NYH1

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1/2" mags
« on: October 21, 2004, 11:38:35 AM »
I've been asking a lot of shotgun questions lately and you guys have been a big help by answering them, thank's!! :-D  So here is another!!!

Is there really a big difference between the two as far as performance go's? Using the same brand and style of ammo the velocity is the same for the most part and you gain about 1/8 to 1/4 ounce of shot per shell. Is that really worth the added recoil of the 3 1/2" mag? Speaking of recoil how bad is a 3 1/2" mag. in a pump shotgun like a Remington 870 Express? I shot an 1187 with 3 1/2" mag. and that kicked real hard, how much harder will a pump kick? Like I said, is it worth it? Again thank's
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Offline New Hampshire

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2004, 12:01:21 PM »
This is a hrad thing to actualy answer.  Some will say yes, some no.  It really depends on you the indivdual wether you deem it an advantage.  AS for the recoil?  Well lets just say I wouldnt want to shoot my buddies 3 1/2" Rem. 870 supermag much!  Kicked my butt good and bruised my buddies arm (thatll teach him to tuck er good and tight into the shoulder, not your arm  :-D .)  Ill take my 3" 870 Magnum any day.  Kills anything I need it to.
Brian M.
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Offline dukkillr

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2004, 04:35:32 PM »
i agree completely... i only use the 3 1/2" for turkeys... and thats the only 3 1/2" 12ga I own... i like the shorter action on 3" bps or even my 2 3/4" model 12... you can shoot them faster, cheaper, and they don't hang up or get short-shucked... 3" is all the power you need for waterfowling, and if you're not going to shoot them, don't buy a 3 1/2" gun...

i would also say that my personal opinion from my time in public hunting areas has led me to believe that the 3 1/2" guys are usually the guys who can't call, don't know how to work ducks, or are too lazy to carry decoys... they have to resort to sky busting birds working someone else, thus they need the extra power and range...
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Offline Graybeard

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2004, 06:22:30 PM »
Just more recoil really. You can get 2 oz. in the 3" and if you can't kill it with 2 oz. of shot you really got no business killing it to start with. That's lead shot. Dunno about the replacements as I don't hunt anything that requires those.
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Offline Ramrod

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2004, 11:46:06 PM »
If it weren't for the poor performance of steel shot, the 3-1/2 inch 12 gauge loads would not exist. They came out as a way to approach the killing power of those 2 ounce lead loads Graybeard just mentioned. With some of the better substitutes now available, the 3-1/2 inch is unneccesary.
To put things in perspective, not that many years ago 2 ounce loads were 10 gauge magnums, standard 10's were 1-3/4 ounce.
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Offline Bob_K

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2004, 04:20:56 AM »
I've shot 3.5" steel and 3" HeviShot out of my 11/87 SuperMag.  I saw comparable performance from both.  Both gave multiple kills from a single shot.  (Thank goodness there were others in the blind that had not filled their limits!)

The recoil from my SuperMag was not really noticeable in the hunting situation.  It did kick pretty hard when I was sighting in 3.5" Lightfield slugs from bench, however.
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Offline NYH1

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2004, 11:11:43 AM »
I have a Remington 870 Express 12 ga. that will shoot 2 3/4" and 3". Right now its set up for deer hunting with a 23" fully rifled barrel and a cantilever scope mount (most of the southern zone in New York State is shotgun only and its about 2/3 of the state). I do have a 28" field barrel with the Remchoke system. My friends do a lot of hunting with shotguns from turkey, duck and geese to rabbit, quail and pheasant and smaller game as well and want me to join them. I'm going to get a Remington 870 Express in 20 ga. for the smaller game. I will use a 12 ga. for turkey, duck and geese. I have to change the stock on my 12 ga. to use my 28" field barrel because it has the rased cheek piece on it. I was thinking if the 3 1/2" mag. did out perform the 3"mag. then I would get a 870 Express in 3 1/2" and not worry about changing the stock.
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Offline Ramrod

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2004, 12:34:18 PM »
New York Hunter, if that were my situation, I would buy a synthetic stock for turkey and waterfowl, shoot the 3 inchers and be happy. It might even work OK with the slug barrel and scope setup, so you would not have to change back and forth. And it would be a heck of alot cheaper than another gun.
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Offline NYH1

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2004, 07:09:16 AM »
Ramrod, thats my way of thinking too, but I don't like the black synthetic stock so I'm going to get the regular hardwood stock without the rased cheek piece and just swap back and forth. I've never had the stock off but it can't be that big of a deal I don't think.  I really don't think it's worth it to go with a 3 1/2" mag. over the 3" mag. even for turkey hunting. I don't think you gain that much performance, especially for the recoil that go's with the 3 1/2" mag. I've never hunted with a 3 1/2 mag. but I have shot them before and it was brutal that was in a Remington 1187. I can't imagine the recoil in a pump. Think's for the replies, I really appreciate it.
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Offline MGMorden

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Difference between 12 gauge 3" and 3 1
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2004, 06:01:33 AM »
There are very few things that would require a 3.5".  I did recently buy a 3.5" gun, but only because it was on sale (Charles Daly camo pump for $125).  I've never found anything that would require a 3.5".  3" have always worked well for me, and my dad has been hunting deer, turkey & squirrel with his 870 for close to 30 years.  He's never used anyting but 2 3/4" rounds and he always gets whatever he shoots at.
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