3" vs 3.5"

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-DIRTNAP-
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3" vs 3.5"

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

when comparing a 3" to a 3.5" gun. does the 3.5 gun have any benefits to shoot that much shell over a 3" puzzling to me is apex has the gt3 load 814 #9 pellets there pt3.5 load has 905 #9 only 91 pellets difference. does the 3.5 hit harder or am I missing something? why only that much gain in a half inch more shell?
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Hoobilly
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by Hoobilly »

the only real difference is recoil and more pellets in the pattern with the 3.5"
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CamoMan4025
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by CamoMan4025 »

I shoot a 3.5" gun cause they don't make a 4"...............GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!
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southpaw
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by southpaw »

The 3.5" guns have a higher pressure ratting. Also, more room for powder and shot.
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

Ya but there 3" 2 1/4 oz vs 3 1/2" 2.5 oz only 90 pellets I would have thought alot more room
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Spuriosity
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by Spuriosity »

3.5" has nothing but disadvantages IMO. More expense and lots more recoil for no increase in killing ability (with TSS). My 2.75" 1&5/8s oz loads kill as far as I am willing to shoot with a lot less recoil and money.
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by southpaw »

They also offer a 2.75" 2 oz load that is going faster than the other two. I guess what it comes down to is that 2 oz load will have a killing pattern well past 40 but the 2.5 oz load will have a better one. If I am spending a bunch of money on a hunt, I know what shell I am taking. However, I load my own and have yet to travel out of state on a hunt so I will stick with my 20 tss loads ( working on 12ga 3.5" loads just in case).

Heck, my 410 will print a pattern that will kill past 40. It falls short in the 20" tho. The 20ga does twice what it can do (twice the shot). The 12ga does much better (again, more shot). The biggest advantage I have seen with shooting the larger payloads is that your closer (20 yards ish) targets are bigger. More room for the bird to move and still catch a lethal dose.
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

makes sense so its all about payload not distance
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by southpaw »

Nope. It is both. My 410 puts 130-150 in the ten at 40, my 20 280-320 and my 12 puts more than I am gonna count. If my memory is right, #9 at 1200fps will kill at 70 ish yards. I have no plan at shooting that far. The 410, though traveling the same speed, has very little chance of killing a bird at that distance. A heavy 12ga load should get the job done and better patterns at farther distances. I have not patterned at that distance, but it would not surprise me to kill that far. The point is that it gives better patterns at 20-30 than the smaller loads. Long beards have a baseball size group at 25 out of my 835 with the long beard choke. My reloads with #5 nickle plated lead I can kill past 50, but my numbers are no where near them. My 20 is more like a basket ball. I know the long beards will kill out to 60, but under 30 you better be right on and not flinch.

If I am set up and I know there is no chance of a shot over 40 I am putting a lead load in. My lead leads pattern better at close range and there is not point shooting a tss at them. I hunt a mix of woods and fields.
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

Ya I can see 410 comparison ...but say you were shooting federal 3.5" 9 tss 2 1/4 oz 1200fps compared to nitro tss t321 load 12gauge 3" 8/9 mix load at 1230fps not sure 3" may be better?
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by -DIRTNAP- »

Any thoughts on that ^
willie
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by willie »

no 3.5 for me.1 3/4 or 2 ounce of shot is the same weather 3" or 3.5.i think to much of my shoulder and neck to shoot a 3.5 anymore.when i was young i did foolish things but i learned.if 13/4 or 2 ounce doesn't do it it is the shooters fault.
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by Gar Commander »

Less is more in this comparison
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Dr Juice
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Re: 3" vs 3.5"

Post by Dr Juice »

willie wrote:no 3.5 for me.1 3/4 or 2 ounce of shot is the same weather 3" or 3.5.i think to much of my shoulder and neck to shoot a 3.5 anymore.when i was young i did foolish things but i learned.if 13/4 or 2 ounce doesn't do it it is the shooters fault.
This ^^^ [emoji1417]
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