General small game use??

BUGS BUNNY · October 25, 2001, 09:59 PM

i havent hunted small game in years, i have a few neighbors that do and would like to join them, geese, pheasant, turkey and skeet, in pa. i think the semis are out, the 870 dont have a 3.5 chamber, who has something w/o spending a fortune? 12x3.5 chamber, someone mentioned a mossberg somewhere? is it decent and how much is going price for one?? thanx for any advice guys/gals..
PS:sorry its a boring post, not exciting like shooting down choppers.

fireals · October 25, 2001, 10:20 PM

Why do you feel you need 3.5"? Of the game you mentioned geese are the only ones you'd use 3.5" for anyway. I personally thing that is a great sales job and don't really see the benifits. If you can hit what you shoot at you'll kill geese just as dead w/ 3" as 3 1/2". The advantage is extra shot in the pattern.

I'd stick to an 870 or Browning BPS. If you're set on a 3 1/2" then the BPS is the way to go. IMHO.

My brother had a Mosseburg 500 that after a couple years and admitadly lots of rounds just jiggled when he handled it. It was totally worn out. My BPS is 15 years old w/ countless rounds through it functions like new.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Eddie

rugerfreak · October 25, 2001, 10:37 PM

Bugs----There is an 870 Super Mag Express with 3 1/2 in chamber-----I think I've seen them at Wally's for around $300 or so.

Go check the Remington site for more info.

addecus · October 28, 2001, 01:18 AM

Is it possible for a plastic shotcup w/payload from a 2 3/4" shell to make a smooth exit out of a 3 or 3 1/2" chamber ? I know it's done everyday but i'm thinking that it wouldn't help the pattern.

Dave McC · October 28, 2001, 08:34 AM

Patterns are subject to so many factors it's impossible to tell if a long chamber helps or hurts, and it probably does both at times.

I wouldn't worry about it....

PACKIN' PLASTIC · October 29, 2001, 03:44 AM

"2 3/4" shell in 3 or 3 1/2" chamber
Is it possible for a plastic shotcup w/payload from a 2 3/4" shell to make a smooth exit out of a 3 or 3 1/2" chamber ? I know it's done everyday but i'm thinking that it wouldn't help the pattern"

2.75" shells will do fine. The slight lip on a 3.5" should not hurt anything.

PP

Snow Man · October 29, 2001, 07:42 AM

Call me what you want, but the 3 inchers hurt! 3 1/2 inchers gotta hurt even more! Maybe part of it is that slugs kick harder than shot loads. I don't know. For myself, I'd shoot a couple 3 1/2" just to say I did it, then hand the gun back to the owner.

ENC · October 29, 2001, 12:25 PM

I have a 3.5 870

I love it.
The 2.75 patterns fine ( if they didn't the doves this year sure didn't let me know) I haven't actually patterned it because my shootin spot is closed ggrrrrrrrrrrrr

The 3.5's do kick alot but for goose turkey and long range duck I will definetly be using them no question about it.

swampgator · October 29, 2001, 12:48 PM

The exceptions being waterfowlers and long range turkey shooters.

And yes they are a bit heavy on the recoil. Bruising may result!

Hemicuda · October 30, 2001, 03:15 PM

If you truly need, or actually just want a 3.5" shell, then shouldn't you be looking at the 10 GA. anyway?

JosephBoeckner · October 30, 2001, 03:41 PM

if u want the extra shot use a 10 gauge turkey gun from NEF-thier pretty cheap compared to other guns-under 200 easy new

Guyon · October 30, 2001, 05:55 PM

I have the super mag Express for turkey hunting. But...

3.5" is too much shell for my wiry ass. I'm not big on pain. 3" works just fine. If I was going to shoot a lot of 3.5 shells at geese, I'd want/need a good decelerator pad.

Jody Hudson · October 30, 2001, 06:36 PM

Personally, after patterning lots and lots of 3 and 3.5 loads from two different guns... I went back to 2.75 where the pattern difference is minimal and the price difference is maximal so that I can practice a lot more.

October 25, 2001, 09:59 PM	#1
BUGS BUNNY Member Join Date: October 22, 2001 Location: n.central pa Posts: 30	General small game use?? i havent hunted small game in years, i have a few neighbors that do and would like to join them, geese, pheasant, turkey and skeet, in pa. i think the semis are out, the 870 dont have a 3.5 chamber, who has something w/o spending a fortune? 12x3.5 chamber, someone mentioned a mossberg somewhere? is it decent and how much is going price for one?? thanx for any advice guys/gals.. PS:sorry its a boring post, not exciting like shooting down choppers.

October 25, 2001, 10:20 PM	#2
fireals Junior Member Join Date: October 20, 2001 Location: Central Va Posts: 14	Why do you feel you need 3.5"? Of the game you mentioned geese are the only ones you'd use 3.5" for anyway. I personally thing that is a great sales job and don't really see the benifits. If you can hit what you shoot at you'll kill geese just as dead w/ 3" as 3 1/2". The advantage is extra shot in the pattern. I'd stick to an 870 or Browning BPS. If you're set on a 3 1/2" then the BPS is the way to go. IMHO. My brother had a Mosseburg 500 that after a couple years and admitadly lots of rounds just jiggled when he handled it. It was totally worn out. My BPS is 15 years old w/ countless rounds through it functions like new. Just my $0.02 worth. Eddie __________________ God Bless FDNY and may BinLaden burn in hell!

October 28, 2001, 01:18 AM	#4
addecus Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 87	2 3/4" shell in 3 or 3 1/2" chamber Is it possible for a plastic shotcup w/payload from a 2 3/4" shell to make a smooth exit out of a 3 or 3 1/2" chamber ? I know it's done everyday but i'm thinking that it wouldn't help the pattern.

October 29, 2001, 07:42 AM	#7
Snow Man Member Join Date: February 26, 2000 Posts: 66	Call me what you want, but the 3 inchers hurt! 3 1/2 inchers gotta hurt even more! Maybe part of it is that slugs kick harder than shot loads. I don't know. For myself, I'd shoot a couple 3 1/2" just to say I did it, then hand the gun back to the owner. __________________ ...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

October 29, 2001, 12:48 PM	#9
swampgator Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Gatorville, Florida Posts: 619	Few NEED a 3 1/2 " The exceptions being waterfowlers and long range turkey shooters. And yes they are a bit heavy on the recoil. Bruising may result! __________________ www.afn.org/~guns

October 25, 2001, 10:37 PM	#3
rugerfreak Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2001 Posts: 819	Bugs----There is an 870 Super Mag Express with 3 1/2 in chamber-----I think I've seen them at Wally's for around $300 or so. Go check the Remington site for more info.

October 28, 2001, 08:34 AM	#5
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Patterns are subject to so many factors it's impossible to tell if a long chamber helps or hurts, and it probably does both at times. I wouldn't worry about it....

October 29, 2001, 03:44 AM	#6
PACKIN' PLASTIC Member Join Date: July 31, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 46	"2 3/4" shell in 3 or 3 1/2" chamber Is it possible for a plastic shotcup w/payload from a 2 3/4" shell to make a smooth exit out of a 3 or 3 1/2" chamber ? I know it's done everyday but i'm thinking that it wouldn't help the pattern" 2.75" shells will do fine. The slight lip on a 3.5" should not hurt anything. PP

October 29, 2001, 12:25 PM	#8
ENC Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Location: Grand Lake, OK Posts: 658	I have a 3.5 870 I love it. The 2.75 patterns fine ( if they didn't the doves this year sure didn't let me know) I haven't actually patterned it because my shootin spot is closed ggrrrrrrrrrrrr The 3.5's do kick alot but for goose turkey and long range duck I will definetly be using them no question about it.

October 30, 2001, 03:15 PM	#10
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	If you truly need, or actually just want a 3.5" shell, then shouldn't you be looking at the 10 GA. anyway? __________________ Hemi. gun and car collector. Rare cars, and rarer guns.

October 30, 2001, 03:41 PM	#11
JosephBoeckner Junior member Join Date: August 25, 2001 Location: KS Posts: 159	get a 10 gauge if u want the extra shot use a 10 gauge turkey gun from NEF-thier pretty cheap compared to other guns-under 200 easy new

October 30, 2001, 05:55 PM	#12
Guyon Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2000 Location: Over the Hills and Through the Woods, Tennessee Posts: 1,207	I have the super mag Express for turkey hunting. But... 3.5" is too much shell for my wiry ass. I'm not big on pain. 3" works just fine. If I was going to shoot a lot of 3.5 shells at geese, I'd want/need a good decelerator pad. __________________ Gun control should just be about hitting your target.

October 30, 2001, 06:36 PM	#13
Jody Hudson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Near Rehoboth Beach Delaware Posts: 1,140	Personally, after patterning lots and lots of 3 and 3.5 loads from two different guns... I went back to 2.75 where the pattern difference is minimal and the price difference is maximal so that I can practice a lot more. __________________ We help people relocate to Rehoboth Beach Delaware. Our Site: www.Kate-Jody.com