3 OR 3 1/2

[indianaboy]

What is everyones preference for turkey loads. 3 or 3 1/2". Mine is 3 1/2. I thought for years it was silly to shoot 3 1/2s until I tried them last year. IMO they pattern so much better.

[Covehnter]

Bigger is Better in my opinion.

[Strut10]

You never know until you put each on paper. Sounds like you already did that & drew your own conclusion. I have seen a 3 1/2" gun that patterned 3" shells better. But only one out of all of them. It mighta changed its mind with some different choke tube. Dunno.

[hunterDWL]

3 im not fawn of the 3 1/2 i dont need it shot a few even owned one for a while gave it to a friend he loves it

[need2hunt]

I used o shoot the 3.5 but the 3" patterned just about the same. Seeing as my average shot has been around 20 yards I didn't see the need for the extra punch.

[PAstringking]

[ QUOTE ]
Bigger is Better in my opinion.

[/ QUOTE ].

when is that not the case??

i love my 3 1/2" Win. Supremes

[maytom]

Not a fan of the 3 1/2" shell at all, use to own one of the first 835's when they first came out on the market many years ago. NO fun pulling the trigger on that light pump gun shooting those Howitzer loads!! A 3" shell does the job perfectly, why punish yourself!! The shells cost more too http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Gobblegobblebang]

I hear you I have a 835 ultimag and love it. I have a limb saver and it helps alot. When you shoot a bird you want the option to mount it with 3.5 shells your options go down. and the cost wow!

[paintbrush]

I totally agree with maytom on this one.Why do you really need to shoot a shell that has about the same recoil as a .416 rigby to kill a turkey?

[cutter10x]

3 patterns better than 3.5s for me.....

[Squirrelhunter91]

I've never shot a 3.5" load. Never cared to. 3" Winchester Supreme #6's pattern fine out of the old 835 out to 45 yards. And trust me.. I've laid birds out at 40 yards no problem with the aforementioned load. It works. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[okiedog]

I shot the 3 1/2" last year, and proable will this year too. I like the big BANG! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[wtnhunt]

Have never tried 3.5 inch loads from my turkey gun, and it is not chambered for 3.5's, so I never will. It does fine with 3 inch winchester high velocity turkey loads.

[jbeck]

I have a gun chambered in 3.5, I run the 3" though. That 3.5 kills at one end and cripples at the other.

[Exturkinator]

I use 3 1/2 shells cause they pattern better with my gun / choke tube combination. And I like the recoil - remember it's a 1-shot deal so recoil isn't an issue (we use 3 1/2 shells for geese like they're going out of style)...

[Colorado Bob]

I don't have this problem. My 870 only shoots 2 3/4" shells. They work just fine for me. I've killed gobblers @ 40 yards --no probelm. To be honest---I'll killed a bunch @ 20 yards & only a couple @ 40 yards. Call them in close. CB

[HuntnMa]

3's.....i tried the 3.5 and it knocked me on my butt http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.....threw me right out of my chair, lol...feet flying , arms flying, i just can't do it...lol....

[arrow32]

I shoot 3"....never have shot 3.5 loads. Cant shoot them anyway the 3" do fine anyway.

[Covehnter]

[ QUOTE ]
I use 3 1/2 shells cause they pattern better with my gun / choke tube combination. And I like the recoil - remember it's a 1-shot deal so recoil isn't an issue (we use 3 1/2 shells for geese like they're going out of style)...

[/ QUOTE ]

I spend Nov. through Jan slingin' 3.5" loads at the fowl, granted they're not quite as hot as the turkey loads. Granted 3" may patterned better out of some guns able to pattern 3.5" shells but in most cases i'd guess that the more shot leaving the barrel pushed by more powder will put more pellets in the paper and have a little more slapping power.

[bowtech]

[ QUOTE ]
3 patterns better than 3.5s for me.....

[/ QUOTE ]
Same here and i just didnt like the recoil on the 3.5 especially on some of the lighter turkey guns

[rbreedi1]

All I have ever shot are 3"s. Works for me.

[Strut10]

[ QUOTE ]
Why do you really need to shoot a shell that has about the same recoil as a .416 rigby to kill a turkey?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ummm..........not quite. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[LifeNRA]

[ QUOTE ]
Not a fan of the 3 1/2" shell at all, use to own one of the first 835's when they first came out on the market many years ago. NO fun pulling the trigger on that light pump gun shooting those Howitzer loads!! A 3" shell does the job perfectly, why punish yourself!! The shells cost more too http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Few years ago I fired three 3.5" shells at a gobbler! Never hit him, never felt the gun either! You only feel the recoil when you pattern the gun! Not fun at all, I agree! But when your adenlin is pumping, you dont feel it kick, I didnt!

[nysbuckmaster]

i use 2 3/4 in shells caus thats all my 12 ga holds but ive killed them out at 54 yards with them so they work best for me

[snapper]

3 1/2 for me...bigger, faster, better!!!!!!

I have two birds mounted...one flying and one gobbling on the roost. Both shot with 3 1/2" and no probs. with getting them mounted. Cost of turkey loads aren't much different when it comes to 3" or 3 1/2". Most folks won't use a whole box of shells in a few years!

As for the recoil compared to a .416 rigby...LOL...pudd and I will let you know which one hits harder...pudd is going first though, its his gun! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[carbonhunter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I use 3 1/2 shells cause they pattern better with my gun / choke tube combination. And I like the recoil - remember it's a 1-shot deal so recoil isn't an issue (we use 3 1/2 shells for geese like they're going out of style)...

[/ QUOTE ]



I spend Nov. through Jan slingin' 3.5" loads at the fowl, granted they're not quite as hot as the turkey loads. Granted 3" may patterned better out of some guns able to pattern 3.5" shells but in most cases i'd guess that the more shot leaving the barrel pushed by more powder will put more pellets in the paper and have a little more slapping power.

[/ QUOTE ]

What loads are you using Cove? a 3 1/2 load with large shot is a pretty large shot string, not really the best for fowl. but ive seen your proof so no argument here.

[M00N]

I shoot a 20-gauge for turkey so no 3.5" option there. I shoot 3" and 2 3/4" through my 20-gauge. Depending on my choke and shot size I can get both the 3" and the 2 3/4" shells to shoot almost equally. I basically go with whatever shell is cheapest and easiest to get at the time and change my choke around to get the best performance from the load. My gun with the right setup shoots just as good as my father's 12 gauge out to 40 yards. The turkey won't notice the difference between a 3" or a 2 3/4" shell when shot, he'll die just the same. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Adjam5]

I have always shot 3" out of my older 835.
Just picked up a newer 835 a few weeks ago and also bought some 3 1/2" Wichester Supreme shells for turkey to try out. This new 835 is ported. The older models were not. It might make it a bit lighter on the shouder.

[indianaboy]

Not quite the response I figured I would get. Alot of people around here love the 3 1/2's.

[woodshed]

Indianboy,

yes, me too. I was expecting the "size matters" response. I'm amazed how many don't shoot 3.5's.

I shoot 3's because that's what my gun limits me too. I've been dabbling about how I can squeeze a new gun into the house without my guardian err,,,wife noticing. I've been thinking 3.5's and camo were suddenly a necessity and not a luxury!!

Now I don't feel as much pressure to get 3.5's.

Maybe I'm still hanging with the "cool" kids...

[Turkey_Hunter_4_U]

I use 3 1/2" because my Benelli is capable of firing them. I have friends that use both 3" and 2 3/4". Now I shot a Turkey opening day last spring, on a small hillside, that when I measured the distance was over sixty paces. It was a one shot drop, not something I would recommend knowing the distance. In PATTERNING my gun I know a turkey does not stand a chance between 40-50 yards. So pattern your gun and buy quality ammo. One other thing if you choose to shot a x-full or xx-full choke at close yards 5-20 yards the pattern is almost rifle tight, leaving no room for error.