Can a 10 gauge shot gun do anything better than a 12 gauge firing 3.5" magnum shells?

[Super-Dave]

With the existance of 3.5" magnum 12 gauge shot guns, is there anything that the 10 gauge does better?

[Rigby1962]

I’m not sure but the 10 does it with less pain to my ears and teeth.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Better patterns---less recoil

Downside----is the guns are HUGE.

[mnw42]

It has been my experience that the 10 ga patterns better than the 3.5" 12s. The shot column in the magnum 12s is too long then patterning can be less consistent. The recoil tends to be sharper than the 10 too.

[mikenbarb]

I have both and prefer to use the cannon for Goose and long range pass shooting. Where I live the 10's are gaining popularity again due to steel shot regs. My 10 gauge patterns alot better than my 12 with 3.5's. And it packs a nice payload with #4 Buck for our deer drives. Drops them at 65 yds like a rock. Its more expensive to shoot and not the vast selection of ammo like the 12.

[.45 COLT]

The 10 Gauge will allow 000 Buck to be stacked in layers of 3, 0000 Buck in 2s. Probably doesn't mean much to most folks, but does to me.

DC

[mikenbarb]

.45colt, I have never seen 0000 Buck. Im interested if you have info who makes it. 000 is the largest I have seen and it might work good out of my 10.

[.45 COLT]

I haven't seen 0000 Buck (.375") on the market for a long time. Used to be around some, but the last I saw was around 1975 or thereabouts.

I cast my own using a 2-cavity LEE mold and wheelweights. Makes a nice hard ball. I also cast 0, 00, 000 (all single-cavity) and several other sizes. Takes a while, but it's cheaper than store-bought Buck, and just as good or better.

Hornady makes a .375" ball for muzzleloaders (.375" Lead Balls, Hornady #6020, $10.01 per 100 pieces), but they're dead soft lead and run almost $9 per pound. Not a good option for somebody serious about Buckshot.

DC

[alfred]

Yes as stated above.Now the real question I think is "How much better".Folks did all of the above with 2 1/2 and 2 3/4 in shells for a hundred years.From Ducks,Geese on Santee Cooper to Deer & Turkey in the Georgia Swamps,I have used 2 3/4 inch 12 & 20 gauge with great results.My first Goose was in 1953.I owned and shot 2 3/4",3" and 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge.I never bought the 10 gauge because of the limitation in shells.Goose with steel shot?Maybe.Turkey NO.I know of hundreds of Turkeys being killed with a single barrel H&R with a 2 3/4 inch chamber by a Georgia share cropper.He was my Uncle.He also kill many a deer with that gun.Matter of fact the single barrel was the most popular shot gun I saw used till the mid 60's.Madison Avenue had still not convinced everyone that they needed more than one shot.Most folk were use to using just one.Sportsmanship to some was "You had your chance,now the game gets theirs."

I AIN'T DEAD AND I AIN'T QUITTING.alfred