3 1/2'' Chamber Worth it?

[skscj]

If anything, the look on your buddys face after you give him the shotgun and say "try this". Priceless

[RobG]

I'm going to have to politely disagree. More payload means that the 3.5" shells have a denser and more effective shot pattern at long ranges because there are less gaps in the dense pattern for the target to escape.

Whatever works for you. I don't shoot past 40ish yds so that small amount of extra shot does nothing for me. If I was shooting strictly geese I may use 3.5". Or not. I have downed a bunch of geese without them. Heck, I stoned a speck on opener at close to 50 with #2 Kent steel.

[robairto]

I have lots of shotguns and have sold more than I own now. I use a Benelli M1 3" for duck hunting with 3" 2s and BB's for followup (12yrs). I also use a 26" barrel since I like the whippiness of the shorter barrel. This yr I used it for opening day of pheasant with 6#s and it worked just fine. Club shooting over my former GSP I used 20 gauges and even then was over gunned. 3.5 maybe for geese shoots but that would be it. Having said that, I'd buy a SBEII if they were closer to $1000.

[Rob454]

If you are totally dedicated to duck, goose and other water fowl then I would get it. Does it only chamber 3 1/2 or can you still shoot 2 3/4 and 3 inch? if youcan chamber all three sizes then get the 3 1/2 if you cant then get the 2 3/4 and 3 inch.

[RobG]

I have lots of shotguns and have sold more than I own now. I use a Benelli M1 3" for duck hunting with 3" 2s and BB's for followup (12yrs). I also use a 26" barrel since I like the whippiness of the shorter barrel. This yr I used it for opening day of pheasant with 6#s and it worked just fine. Club shooting over my former GSP I used 20 gauges and even then was over gunned. 3.5 maybe for geese shoots but that would be it. Having said that, I'd buy a SBEII if they were closer to $1000.

Exactly. Too many people buy the 3.5 thinking they are now going to make 60+ yd shots. The 3.5 really shines with the large shot payloads for geese as it was intended for.

[drunktank]

I loosely compare it to shooting clays with, say, a 00-buck vs standard AA shells. If your aim is true, you'll hit with both. If you are slightly off, the AA will have more in the air with less gaps to cover the clay and make a hit.

[choprzrul]

I have a Mossberg 835 3 1/2" fully camo'd with a 24" barrel. Perfect for the goose blind when I lived in Nebraska. I shot the 3 1/2" stuff for many years before discovering Heavy Shot. The birds that would take 2 or 3 shots of 3 1/2" BB or BBB would simply fold with 3" heavy shot in BB. Yeah, the price is way out of whack, but I wasn't wounding a lot of birds and having to watch them fly away after pulling a bunch of feathers. I was absolutely amazed at the difference. We could always tell the birds that I hit because they would be dead and bloody compared to everyone else who used steel. Get the 3 1/2" for the versatility, but I would stay away from steel shot for waterfowl.

[TRAP55]

Calif Fish & Game is getting ready to implement a 3" shell only restriction for waterfowl hunting on the reserves. That said, 3" will generally give a better pattern from a 3.5" chamber on most guns.

[MidnightSon117]

Get it. Since when did you want your shotgun NOT to feed certain ammo?

[HK Dave]

3.5 = Ouch

[wildog8812]

Get it. Since when did you want your shotgun NOT to feed certain ammo?

+1

It is not that much more to get the super mag over the standard express and it will let you shoot 3 1/2", 3", and 2 3/4' shells instead of just 3" and 2 3/4" shells. This way if for any reason you decide that you want a 3 1/2" shell you have the option.

[sargenv]

I dunno. I feel that the 3" hull is plenty especially with the companies now making high velocity steel loads available for a fair price. If I were to get something in 3.5" it would likely be the 10 gauge as it really has an advantage over the 12 gauge 3.5". The pattern starts out wider and the shot string is likely not as elongated. I suspect the 10 throws a better "cloud" than the same weight in the 12 and it will do so at lower pressures with the same or better velocity (IMO). I've seen what a properly loaded 10 gauge can do to a goose with a load of T shot. It was impressive to say the least.

Since I no longer hunt on state or federal land I have other options than most. I'd say try to find someone with one and try it for yourself if you can. You can always sell it if you do not like it.