For deer and turkeys the 3 inch 12 ga can't be beat.
12 Gauge: 2-3/4 vs 3 inch, Practical Differences
- Thread starter Jack Flash
- Start date
I too had a SP 10 or two. Ithaca's before... Fed Premium 3 1/2 in BB in lead was a good load on geese. Ithaca made a mag 10 short bbl piece called a roadblocker. Would have made a perfect home defense gun. Steel shot was terrible for the most part at the beginning. I've never shot a turkey with a 3 inch shell. 2 3/4 inch anything is good in the house for home defense. Heck I sold 5 or 6 Mossberg 410 pumps with short bbl aand a kinda flattened end of the bbl. Can't remember what they were called
YeshuaIsa53
SWCA Member
My Father gave me his prized Browning Light Twelve, which will only shoot 2 3/4". Killed many ducks with that. Wore out the wood hunting in the rain all the time back to back to where it started splitting. Duck taped it until I could buy another and send that one back for new wood and re-gold-plated trigger. Had the stock shortened a bit, as I have a very short length of pull and wear some rather thick clothes hunting cold mornings. Liked it so much, sent my new one back for the same length.
Most folk have trouble shooting the guns, but I can be on target pretty fast.
Most likely may be difficult to find someone who likes them. Gave me a bit longer full choke barrel, too. That barrel and choke would outshoot the other barrel quite a long way with lead duck loads. Only did that once. Couldn't finish a teal without wasting it, but extended my capabilities way out there.
Fast forward to hunting good waterfowl states. Strictly used 3" 3s except on clays, and 3 1/2" when just goose hunting. Could have gotten the same or better results by changing chokes, I think.
Tungsten Iron BBs is in one of my shotguns for home defense. May not need that buckshot after all, and is much more neighbor friendly. Close combat doesn't really require more pellets or bigger pellets. Point of aim out to ten feet or so doesn't really need special loads. The buckshot? I love 00 Buck in 2 3/4".
If those don't stop all the insane, hope I can get to my slug gun. One saboted ounce of lead with do the trick if it gets serious. The wife has her own likings.
Most folk have trouble shooting the guns, but I can be on target pretty fast.
Most likely may be difficult to find someone who likes them. Gave me a bit longer full choke barrel, too. That barrel and choke would outshoot the other barrel quite a long way with lead duck loads. Only did that once. Couldn't finish a teal without wasting it, but extended my capabilities way out there.
Fast forward to hunting good waterfowl states. Strictly used 3" 3s except on clays, and 3 1/2" when just goose hunting. Could have gotten the same or better results by changing chokes, I think.
Tungsten Iron BBs is in one of my shotguns for home defense. May not need that buckshot after all, and is much more neighbor friendly. Close combat doesn't really require more pellets or bigger pellets. Point of aim out to ten feet or so doesn't really need special loads. The buckshot? I love 00 Buck in 2 3/4".
If those don't stop all the insane, hope I can get to my slug gun. One saboted ounce of lead with do the trick if it gets serious. The wife has her own likings.
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I did an informal field test a few days ago comparing 2 3/4" #4 buck to 2 3/4" #0 (not 00) buck. The victims were two old laptop computers that my wife asked me to "decommission". Range was 20'. Shoulder fired, aimed from my Ithaca 37 Deersĺayer, 20" cylinder bore barrel. Result: two very dead laptops, but the 27 pellets of #4 buck was noticeably more devastating due to the pattern more completely covering the target vs a more centralized pattern. Actual effectuve difference: Nil.
I've shot a lot of 3" stuff in years gone by when I duck hunted a lot (lived in the East Arkansas delta for 6 years, and duck hunted 3-4 days a week). For waterfowl, I think the difference is real, although shotshell and pattern technology had made great advances since I was duck hunting in the 90s. Nowdays, the only thing I use 3" for is turkey, and probably not necessary then. I will also carry my Mossberg 835 with 3" Dead Coyote loads (size T shot) when predator calling at times. My favorite all around load for small to medium game (not dove/quail wingshooting) is a 2 3/4" short Magnum, 1 1/4 Oz. of #5s. Pattern is really good out of my Ithaca 37 with 30" full choke barrel. I patterned it just a couple of weeks ago, and it would be a reliable 40 yard turkey killer.
I've shot some 3.5" / 2 Oz. stuff out of that Mossberg, turkey loads and I had one box of 3.5" Dead Coyote. Nope. Very unpleasant to shoot (although you wouldn't notice so much if shooting at a longbeard). I am not that mad at turkeys. I remember patterning those, set up a paper at 40 yards, rested over the corner of the bed of my pickup.
Boom! Yikes, that hurt!
Couldn't be that bad, I must not have been holding it tight or something. Tried again.
Boom!
Yep, it was that bad.
If I thought I needed 3.5" power, I would for sure get myself a gas-operated autoloader, not a pump where you take the full force of the recoil.
I've shot a lot of 3" stuff in years gone by when I duck hunted a lot (lived in the East Arkansas delta for 6 years, and duck hunted 3-4 days a week). For waterfowl, I think the difference is real, although shotshell and pattern technology had made great advances since I was duck hunting in the 90s. Nowdays, the only thing I use 3" for is turkey, and probably not necessary then. I will also carry my Mossberg 835 with 3" Dead Coyote loads (size T shot) when predator calling at times. My favorite all around load for small to medium game (not dove/quail wingshooting) is a 2 3/4" short Magnum, 1 1/4 Oz. of #5s. Pattern is really good out of my Ithaca 37 with 30" full choke barrel. I patterned it just a couple of weeks ago, and it would be a reliable 40 yard turkey killer.
I've shot some 3.5" / 2 Oz. stuff out of that Mossberg, turkey loads and I had one box of 3.5" Dead Coyote. Nope. Very unpleasant to shoot (although you wouldn't notice so much if shooting at a longbeard). I am not that mad at turkeys. I remember patterning those, set up a paper at 40 yards, rested over the corner of the bed of my pickup.
Boom! Yikes, that hurt!
Couldn't be that bad, I must not have been holding it tight or something. Tried again.
Boom!
Yep, it was that bad.
If I thought I needed 3.5" power, I would for sure get myself a gas-operated autoloader, not a pump where you take the full force of the recoil.
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SGT ROCK 11B
Member
2 3/4 inch = Standard
3 inch = Magnum
3 1/2 inch = Super Magnum
For buckshot I am a fan of #00. A “Standard” 12 gauge load of #00 Buck contains nine pellets. The "Magnum" is twelve pellets.
3 inch = Magnum
3 1/2 inch = Super Magnum
For buckshot I am a fan of #00. A “Standard” 12 gauge load of #00 Buck contains nine pellets. The "Magnum" is twelve pellets.
DWalt
Member
Whatever happened to 2-3/4 Magnum loads? I haven’t checked to see if they are still made. Not that I will ever need any.
Regarding home defense, at across-the-living room distances, shot size makes very little difference. Personally, I believe it should not be smaller than #5 birdshot. Long ago I saw a dead body of a guy who took a load of birdshot to the chest. Not a pretty sight. The debate about the relative effectiveness of different buckshot sizes is never-ending. I always believed #4B was the best balanced choice. More shot pellets increases hit probability and diameter and weight of a single pellet is enough to cause serious bodily damage.at least at closer distances. Much like shooting someone with 24 .22 LR bullets.
Regarding home defense, at across-the-living room distances, shot size makes very little difference. Personally, I believe it should not be smaller than #5 birdshot. Long ago I saw a dead body of a guy who took a load of birdshot to the chest. Not a pretty sight. The debate about the relative effectiveness of different buckshot sizes is never-ending. I always believed #4B was the best balanced choice. More shot pellets increases hit probability and diameter and weight of a single pellet is enough to cause serious bodily damage.at least at closer distances. Much like shooting someone with 24 .22 LR bullets.
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scooter123
Member
My preference for a Defense load is a 2 3/4 inch #4 Buck load. Recoil is very manageable so a followup shot is quite simple. BTW, on occasion I'll set my O/U on the rack and shoot a round of Skeet with my Browning BPS. While it does take a bit more work there is something really satisfying about dusting a true pair with a pump. In addition it keeps the skills tuned up in the event you may actually need them.
Back in 1968 we could buy the 2 3/4" shot Magnum load for 70 yard high ducks
that were loaded with #4 lead pellets.
When steel came out, we used steel BB's for our 65 yard shots
but these loads were not called "Magnum", just high velocity.
However a 12 Ga. 2 3/4" with a 1 1/2 oz. of lead going 1265fps
might be called a "Magnum load" , when you pull the trigger.
I don't shoot steel pellets in anything larger than a 3" hull.
I can go back to the 1960s with shotgun shooting and hunting. Back then, 1 1/4 oz was a heavy load for lead. It was adequate for most hunting trips and worked on ducks and pheasants. Waterfowl hunters often went to 3" for ducks and geese.
The 3" Magnum loads started in the mid-1930s and offered up to 2 oz of lead shot. Obvious advantage, but most hunters had guns that chambered only in 2 3/4" so the 3" was slow in becoming popular. Most gun manufactures started making semi-auto shotguns that could be adjusted to shoot both shells in the 1950s, but they did not work that well. Dedicated waterfowl hunters bought 3" magnum guns for the extra shot weights. 3" shells could hold up to 2 ounces of lead, and later, held 1 3/8 ounces of steel.
The US Fish & Wildlife Department mandated steel shot for all waterfowl hunting in 1987. It took only a year for manufacturers came out with 3 1/2" ammunition and guns designed to handle them to give waterfowl hunters greater ability to hunt geese and ducks. 3 1/2" shells were loaded up to 2 1/4 ounce lead and 1 5/8 ounces steel, giving turkey hunters a big advantage using lead and waterfowl hunters an advantage over shorter shells when hunting geese and ducks.
The 3" Magnum loads started in the mid-1930s and offered up to 2 oz of lead shot. Obvious advantage, but most hunters had guns that chambered only in 2 3/4" so the 3" was slow in becoming popular. Most gun manufactures started making semi-auto shotguns that could be adjusted to shoot both shells in the 1950s, but they did not work that well. Dedicated waterfowl hunters bought 3" magnum guns for the extra shot weights. 3" shells could hold up to 2 ounces of lead, and later, held 1 3/8 ounces of steel.
The US Fish & Wildlife Department mandated steel shot for all waterfowl hunting in 1987. It took only a year for manufacturers came out with 3 1/2" ammunition and guns designed to handle them to give waterfowl hunters greater ability to hunt geese and ducks. 3 1/2" shells were loaded up to 2 1/4 ounce lead and 1 5/8 ounces steel, giving turkey hunters a big advantage using lead and waterfowl hunters an advantage over shorter shells when hunting geese and ducks.
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
That is awfully strong ammo for snakes, even snakes that size. That'll leave a mark lol...
I'm teaching my 18 year-old grandson the Remington Wingmaster; my advice is that if he'd like to learn how to flinch, the 3" and 3.5" ammo is best. 
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robvious
Member
I am pretty deep in the Remington camp in defensive shotguns... but if I were to start over with a blank slate I would shift to the Mossberg 500 something... and use the new mini shells for home defense, large capacity with minimally diminished ability.. but since an 870 is my go to... 2 3/4 old Winchester XX short Magnums #2 lead... worthless for anything but defense . and they bark.
I keep the mag full of 2 3/4" #4 turkey loads. Because 1) I hunt turkey, and 2) because it would be ironic to use turkey loads on criminal turkeys.
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Maddog 521
Member
My Winchester Defender shoots S&B 2 3/4" #1 Buck the best. It's always close by and ready to go.
Pisgah
Member
Shotshell loaders decided they needed something new to sell, and someone said, "Hey, if we add 1/4 of an inch...", and VOILA! the 3" shell was born...
Who needs them? Not a soul.
Who needs them? Not a soul.
