Why??

[squeak003]

When someone asks about 3" slugs no matter what gauge they are in does everyone always suggest 2 3/4??

[MagnumWill]

Well- 2-3/4" is the most readily available. I haven't seen any slugs in 3"(then again, i have asked or looked for them, though).

[ar15chase]

I have seen them, but have no need for them. Heres a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCDwiM6iQdA

[MagnumWill]

Yay! I'll have to grab a box ;)

[squeak003]

most ammo manufactures make at least 1 type of 3" slug, rifled and/or sabot, for the most common gauges

I.E. Winchester makes a 3" in:
sabot:
12g
rifled:
12g, 20g, 410

Federal makes a 3" slug in only 12g

Brenneke makes a 3" in:
sabot:
12g
rifled:
12g (3 types), 20g, 410

[ddeyo1]

id say the reason people are probobly saying no is because of recoil. i myself have no problem with it, but i dont use 3 inch slugs for anything either. If i was hunting game that was thick skinned and weighed over a ton maybe id consider it. but 2 3/4 inchers will plow through a whitetail no matter which angle you shoot it from. Thats probobly the reason most people say no to 3 inchers

[SDC]

Because if a 2 3/4" slug won't kill something, nothing short of an airstrike is going to do you much good. OTOH, the lower recoil and controllability of a 2 3/4" slug is going to let you put it where it has to be, and with faster follow-ups if you should need or want them.

[OLNfan]

I always shoot 3'' slugs, there the same price as the 2 3/4'' in canadian tire. So why not shoot them? they work just fine for me! Im just as accurate with both, and can get quick follow up shots with either or. As for deer? I just use my compound bow or crossbow. Iv only got 1 deer with a rifle and the other 7 with archery. When I go black bear hunting I like to bring a shotgun if there close range enough iv got as close as 40 yards with my 45-70 to get them so Im eager to try with my shotgun and 3'' slugs. (No baiting its illegal in my province) yeah its cool to get a far shot, but its even cooler to get up close and personal.

[squeak003]

the reasoning for my question is because in this thread i specificly asked about 3" do to jamming and the 1st 2 replys i got was about how i should use 2 3/4.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352440

and its not just this site but u guys are the most understanding when want to complain about stuff

[Willie Lowman]

I had a rifled 20ga once that wouldn't group with anything but 3" sabot slugs.

A 3" 12ga may have a flatter trajectory but I am not going to knock my fillings loose to find out. All my 12ga whitetail kills have been with cheap 2 3/4" sluggers in my cheap 870 Express.

Where I hunt getting a shot past 70 yards is very rare due to black berry bushes and hemlocks. 2 3/4" does every thing I need.

If you are talking about a 20ga I don't see a problem with a 3" shell. I don't understand why you asked the question in the fist place. Buy some 3" shells and see what kind shoots best.

[bwheasler]

For some reason my 870 just doesn't like. That's the big thing slug guns is I have found them very finicky about ammo. Which if why the most important is to try a variety of slugs to find which is the best. I wish I could use 3", but accuracy is fatal.

[hogdogs]

For me, I just didn't read closely enuff to note the 3 inch *20* gauge... I don't personally don't have a need for the 3 inch that justifies totally relearning. Them 3 inch shells are in a league of their own. A single bead gun in my hands is limited to 60-80 yards no matter what slug I use...
Brent

[bejay]

im sure most recomend a 2 3/4 over the 3 inch simply because of less recoil but there isnt much of a difference even the slug is the same weight out of both so you not going to gain a whole lot, performance wise considering the limited range of a slug in a smoothbore shotgun to begin with a 2 3/4 is more than adequate.
but if 3 inch makes your saiga reliable, by all means shoot them ive shot a 410 saiga once it was one of the most unreliable shotguns ive ever had the pleasure of shooting makes me wonder why they are so popular.

[Doyle]

You will gain NOTHING by going to the 3" except more recoil and poorer ballistics.

[squeak003]

why poorer ballistics??

i dont mind more recoil as the saiga kicks like my 22lr.....

[hogdogs]

I will gladly buy into an auto recoiling far less than an NEF single but to say it recoils equal to a .22LR is quite the stretch! Sorry but I ain't buyin' that! I got a savage we can put in a test device! You put the saiga in it and I follow up with the BOLT ACTION savage .22lr... Bolt is not going to soak up any recoil... If your saiga recoils more than the savage you give me the saiga... If it is equal or less I will give you a 12 gauge pump, 20 gauge pump, .22lr bolt action savage, .22lr auto loader pistol and a 1977 Marlin .30-30 336C...
How much ya'll wanna Calcutta bet I walk away with a Saiga auto?
For those not in the know "Calcutta" is side bets... I got 500 I get a new gun!
Brent

[.45 COLT]

Doyle Wrote:

You will gain NOTHING by going to the 3" except more recoil and poorer ballistics.

Would you explain the "poorer ballistics" part?

DC

[earlthegoat2]

Probably because there is nothing a 3" slug cant do that a good 2 3/4 inch Brenneke cant.

[hogdogs]

Poorer ballistics? I ain't a techno about ammo but I do know the flinch factor will prevent many from hitting the ground if they threw the gun from a roof...
As for 2.75 VS 3 inch... What is to be gained? From a saiga? Is this firearm so much more accurate that you can stretch your "comfortable" range to 150-200 yards? EVERY SHOT? If so... I would still stick to under a hundred yards as I just don't have permission to hunt deer on enuff hay fields for that. Hogs are gonna run in all but the fewest shot scenarios and I prefer to sic the dogs on them and handle them alive...
Brent

[.45 COLT]

I'm not saying to use 3" shells. In fact, two of my presses are set up for 3" and about all they do is help hold the bench down. I rarely load or shoot anything but 2 3/4" shells.

What I'm asking is that 'You will gain NOTHING by going to the 3" except more recoil and poorer ballistics.' be explained. The "more recoil" part is pretty much true in most cases but the "poorer ballistics" I don't quite understand. That's a pretty broad statement.

DC

[Catfishman]

Hey I don't know. I would think the 3" Magnum has better range.

[squeak003]

i was being sarcastic with the whole recoil issue......
but uh....yeah....

the only thing im looking to gain out of the 3" is for it to cycle properly and i was wondering which round is a better round and why

[Willie Lowman]

which round is a better round and why

That is entirely subjective.

For me a 2 3/4" (12 gauge) is a better round. It kills deer and breaks clay as well as I could want.

For you the 3" (20 gauge) is needed for your gun to run. That in it self makes it a better round, for you, in that gun.


If you want to know more, get off of this gun forum and google '20 gauge slug ballistics' Buy some ammo and shoot it. DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS!!! Then come back, as a new member of the elite keyboard commando opinion squad, and tell us what the better shell is.

[Doyle]

Would you explain the "poorer ballistics" part?

Same powder load, heavier slug = less velocity and faster drop. Therefore, poorer ballistics.

[Doyle]

I need to correct myself about the post I just made for ballistics. I just found some slugs (Federal) that uses the same size slug for both 3" as 2 3/4" with the 3" having more powder. If that is what you are using, then yes the 3" would have the better ballistics.

I was thinking about the case where all the extra 1/4" was taken up with a larger sized slug without increasing the powder load.

[.45 COLT]

Fair enough, but consider this:

With two slugs of the same design (in this case, I assume, Foster) and different weights, the Heavy Slug will have a higher SD and BC.It will lose velocity at a slower rate than the Light Slug. Depending on Weights and Muzzle Velocities, the heavier slug will probably give up a bit in velocity and drop at 50 yards - but the heavier slug will almost certainly have the edge in FPE and Momentum - and better Terminal Ballistic performance. At greater distances, the Light Slug's advantage in External Ballistic performance diminishes, but the Heavy Slug's figures remain considerably better than the Light Slug's at the business end.

That's not to say I'd go with a 3" Slug load - I wouldn't. Either will do the job at normal shotgun range and, as you mention, the 2 3/4" Slug load usually has less recoil.

DC