I'm in the market for a new waterfowl-dedicated shotgun. This will be used primarily for ducks and teal in the marsh, but I'd also like to hunt geese at some point, and wouldn't turn down a crack at Sand Hills. I have other shotguns that I use currently for Doves and Clays, so I'm not worried about this gun being able to cycle light loads or be a "do it all" shotgun. But, I'm also not taking either of my current shotguns into the salt.

My question: Based on the above, do I need to select a gun that can shoot 3.5s? Or, is 3" adequate for all of the above these days?

Thanks all.

3" is adequate IMO, but with alot of great guns making 3.5", and not much more expensive, I always like to have the 3.5" available just in case. It just makes you more versatile in the field IMO too...I've been on trips where I had shells and others ran out, and they couldn't shoot b/c their gun didn't shoot 3" or 3.5" shells.

For ducks 3" is more than plenty. Depending on the goose hunt you don't need 3.5" but they do help sometimes. Remember on cranes you can use lead as long as you don't shoot and ducks or geese. It is nice to have the capability to shoot 3.5" depending on your budget. My new gun is a 3.5"

No, 3" is more than plenty. For ducks, I use hand twisted 2 3/4" most of the time.

Patterning will significantly assist you in this, I've not seen too many 3.5" patterns that were better than most good 3" patterns. There are some but it's rare. If you think you need more than a 3" gun then go 10ga, it will pattern better than the 3.5's.

Mine shoots 3.5” but don’t ever use them.
Guess it’s Just nice that I can, if that’s all they have at the local Walmart or something.
Never felt like they patterned well in my gun.

Same here. I was going to buy an M2 but ended up coming across a deal for an SBE II at the same cost. I've probably only put a couple of 3.5" shells through it, an and that was just because a buddy handed them to me while we were hunting.