3 inch vs 3 1/2

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Simwean

New member
I've had an 11-87 for 15 years or so well before 3 1/2 shells existed so maybe even longer than 15 years. I've been toying with the idea of buying something that will shoot 3 1/2's. If i do it'll be a semi auto...

Last weekend I borrowed my Fathers browning that shoots 3 1/2's. I'm 53 years old and have been hunting since ... well since before I was probably supposed to go by myself back then a single shot 12 would more often than not knock me on my [beeep].

I'm not really recoil sensitive so to speak I'd like to think it was more my common sense questioning my sanity rather than an aversion to the pounding the gun was dishing out.

After putting a few boxes of 3 1/2's through his browning patterning it I began to question whether the extra pellets using the browning was worth the thrashing I was getting.

So I guess my question is which is a better decision buy 3 1/2 capable shotgun or just throw a thumb-hole/pistol-grip on my trusty ole 11-87 and call it good enough.

If I happen to get any replies thanks in advance. I know my post count is low but I've been coming here well over a year reading everything I can to improve.

Off topic you all have helped a ton I've gone from wandering aimlessly through the woods squalling like a rabbit to actually getting coyotes to start showing up. All I need now is just a little luck getting some lead stuck in one... so for that thanks alot everyone.
 
Not quite sure what you are planning to shoot, but I have not run into a situation where 3" 12 gauge shells would not get the job done.

I have a 12 gauge that will shoot 3.5" shells but have no intentions of doing so. It is a beretta Xtrema 2, and I use it for 3" stuff.

Also some 3.5" 12 semi autos can be problematic for cycling more so than 3" semis.

If I ever need more knockdown than that I will look into getting a 10 gauge.
 
Originally Posted By: SimweanAfter putting a few boxes of 3 1/2's through his browning patterning it I began to question whether the extra pellets using the browning was worth the thrashing I was getting.

IMHO it is not worth it. 3" is plenty for turkey, coyotes, rabbits etc. The beating and extra cost for the shells- no way. If you are shooting steel at waterfowl that is the only advantage I can see for 3 1/2", and even then I don't know. Stick with the 3" and call it good.
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Good luck!
 
I do not coyote hunt with a shotgun, although I have killed a couple while turkey hunting, so my answer may not help much. I have used 2 3/4 inch, 3 inch and 3 1/2 inch 12 guage shells hunting turkeys over the years, and have taken turkeys with all 3, and also a 20 guage gun. For the past few years I've used a 3 1/2 inch Benelli, and yes it kicks with those heavy turkey loads, but I've killed turkeys at 60 yards......which is really too far. I would think that with todays quality in chokes and shells, a 3 inch gun would work just about as well as the 3 1/2 for most of your hunting situations. I have a 3 inch Winchester pump with a Hasting turkey choke that will pattern just as good as the Benelli, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, because I rarely use it anymore. I'd say use your 3 inch gun, and don't look back.
 
I have a SBEII and I shoot a lot of waterfowl, I've been shooting the 3.5" shells for 6 or 7 years now at geese and the one thing I've noticed is when they are down they are down, running after wounded birds just doesn't happen very often. I can see where patterning on paper will bung you up a little but shooting anything in real life, honestly when's the last time you felt the recoil?? A 3.5" version of a shotgun doesn't cost THAT much more than a 3" version these days and then you always have the option. IMO bigger is better, don't leave any doubt in your mind that maybe you should have... Just my .03
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Which Browning? I have a Browning Maxus, and it seems to
handle 3.5's without tremendous felt recoil. Fit might
be an issue, too. If I want to shoot 3.5" ammo, I prefer
it out of my Browning Gold 10 ga.
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I purchased the Browning Maxus(less than 7 lbs) for the day I
don't want to haul the Gold 10(10.25 lbs) around anymore. I
might shoot 3.5" ammo out of the Maxus someday, for turkeys,
but for other game, the 3" ammo will probably do. The 3.5"
12 ga. notoriously patterns poorly. The shot strings are
long and clumpy, typically. For stationary, or relatively
slow moving targets, that will not be as much of an issue.
And relatively speaking coyotes, geese, and turkeys are slow
moving targets. For upland birds, and waterfowl, the 3"
magnum with better patterns, and shorter shot strings, is
usually a better choice.

So the short answer is you will get good results on game
with the 3" 12 ga. Shooting 3.5" 12 ga. ammo is a crap
shoot for gaining anything over the 3" 12. ga. If one
feels the need for a bit more performance over the 3" 12 ga.,
then expect to work to find a good choke/ammo combination,
in 3.5" shooting, that gives one that bit more of a real
performance increase.

Squeeze
 
I bought a browning BPS 12ga to shoot 3.5 on turkey and that thing kicked as hard as a mule. I spent about 300.00 on putting a kick-ezz recoil pad, lenghten the forcing cone and having it ported and it still kicked like a mule. Was a really good shooter and patterned really nice but I could never live with the kick. I mean 23/4 would kick as hard as 3.5 and I had it fitted to me by a gunsmith, because I have always heard that felt recoil was a gun fitting problem. So down the road it went.
I then bought a Franchi 612 12ga that shoots only 23/4 and 3" and is an automatic and the browning was a pump. The Franchi was head and shoulder easier on the shoulder. I then bought a Berreta Xtrema 2 to shoot 3.5 on turkeys and the kick wasn't worth the xtra I got. Side by Side the Franchi out shot the xtrema 2 on paper at 50 yds. So that has been my experience with 3.5 guns. If I had it all to do over I would have kept that Browning for turkey hunting. No need to pattern it every year and it shot where I aimed it. The Franchi shoots a little high and to the right and the beretta shoot low and to the left.
 
I have a 3.5 inch Benelli that I bought for duck hunting. I haven't shot a 3.5 inch shell in 3 years. If I were to hunt a field I might use 3.5 shells but in green timber I shoot 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells because the 3.5 is too punishing for my old shoulder and not necessary for 25 to 35 yard shots. The point is you don't have to shoot 3.5 shells but it is nice to have the capability to do so.
 
If it were me, I would buy a gun that was capeable of shooting either round. Depending on the game your hunting would be the biggest factor on what to use. I am another person that when hunting couldn't tell you what the recoil felt like. Bigger sure cant hurt your chances! Bring a knife to a gun fight and see what happens. I hunt with a very large group of waterfowlers and i dont think one of use shoots 2 3/4, very few 3", most all 3 1/2". If you don't like recoil then shot a light loaded 3".

When it comes to price, if your worried about the price different then you have bigger problems with the amount of hunting you must be doing to worry about the price difference.
 
I have an Extrema and 3" patterns better than the 3 1/2" so rather than spend the extra 2 bucks on a box of shells I've stayed with the 3".
 
get a Benelli Super black eagle 2 shoots 3.5" mags and patterns like you won't believe. I'm not sure how much you really will be acutally be shooting it but I use 3.5" religiously sure it kicks but usually I only run between 1-4 rounds down the tube a night....

Ryan.
 
Four of us have killed over 1500 honkers in the last 4-5 years using the cheap 3" experts.. 3.5 inch are not worth the extra $$. Just my Opinion.
 
Originally Posted By: Yukon21I have an Extrema and 3" patterns better than the 3 1/2" so rather than spend the extra 2 bucks on a box of shells I've stayed with the 3".

I have found the 3.5" shells to be a little more finiky but with the right choke/shotshell combination, I have yet to find a load that won't shoot extremely well. In my experience the choke is very important in the 3.5" world. I shoot both Carlson's and Pattern Master depending on the shell I'm shooting.
 
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I have a 3.5" gun. I like having the option of the larger shells for geese. I do waterfowl hunting with it so recoil is not a factor since I usually have on multiple layers and the fact that's it's semi-auto vs pump reduces some of the recoil.

Go with 3.5" in a semi-auto.
 
I started out on the 3.5 kick with the Winchester SX2 then traded for Benelli SBE2 had that for awhile and finally come to the conclusion that I really didn't need it. Traded it to an M2 and slug barrel. Haven't missed the 3.5 since. My 3" M2 will do everything that the SBE2 did.
 
Thanks alot for the replies guys... I can see the common sense in both sides of the debate. Money isn't really a issue... Well not a big one anyways. If I don't buy myself a toy once or twice a year I get cranky.

My year old lab just earned his junior hunter title this fall so I'll be going sea duck hunting alot more than I had been. Something I hadn't given much thought about until a few of you mentioned it.

I was mainly referring to yote hunting. when I posted... The Browning was a Browning Gold.

I guess what's going to happen is I'll make due with my 11-87 this winter/spring/summer. And when my dog gets another year of training under his collar and we're ready to hit the ocean for Eiders I'll snag a 3.5 just to have the option mainly because of steelshot I'm thinking.

I have a sneaky suspicion I'll be using the 11-87 on the yotes even after I get the 3.5.

I carry two guns after I had a yote basically land in my lap after three minutes of calling. My Leupold had frosted up ( gotta love Maine temperature swings) just enough to make me stop thinking those guys on Furtakers carrying two guns at once weren't as foolish as I had first thought.

Just to answer a few of the above questions. I use my shotgun as a brush gun for Whitetail, Shot 24 Partridge so far this year up in the North Maine woods above Millinocket, A few Mallards a couple of weekends ago goofing around on the coast, and yotes... Fired at two with the shotgun one with my rifle but have yet to drag one out of the woods.

Probably Turkeys before too much longer their population levels have reached the point where they're a nuisance.

On a side note anyone in the Bangor area that would like to take a noob predator hunter out and show him a few things PM me. I have permission to hunt tons of places. Won't be until after deer season is over though.
 
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The 3 1/2 is essentially a 10 gauge load. I think it is a plus possibly for geese, coyotes, and turkeys as more shot does not hurt. For ducks, I get along just fine with the 3 inch and lower recoil.

I once shot a turkey with my Mossberg 835 stoked with 3 1/2 inch. I did not realize it, but my shoulder was solidly against the tree-bad mistake. I have never had anything hurt any worse than that. It did kill the turkey at 60 yards, though.

Whether they are needed or not, I like having the option of the heavy load.
 
Personally I think it's a lot of extra recoil, cost, and hype with negligible recoil. As far as 3.5" guns not costing that much more, I've been looking at Benellis because I'm saving my sheckles to get one. At Sportsmans Warehouse for example a SBEII was $1579, and an M2 (what ill probly get) is $1179. I know they are not "exactly" the same gun but similar enough to see a price difference

I'm all for you buying a new toy though, so buy what YOU want and shoot the crap out of it and tell us your findings
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