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Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
#7256700
08/15/18 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
TxAg
OP
Extreme Tracker
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OP
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811 |
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.
Last edited by TxAg; 08/15/18 02:24 PM.
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: TxAg]
#7256713
08/15/18 02:26 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648
thomas_z71
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648 |
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.
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: TxAg]
#7256732
08/15/18 02:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 106
Gulfgoose
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 106 |
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"
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: TxAg]
#7256789
08/15/18 02:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,250
Judd
#1 Creedmoor Fan
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#1 Creedmoor Fan
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,250 |
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.
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: TxAg]
#7257491
08/16/18 01:00 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 961
TTUGrad08
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 961 |
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.
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: thomas_z71]
#7258861
08/17/18 02:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 324
Charlie817
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 324 |
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.
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Re: Dedicated Waterfowl gun: 3.5" needed?
[Re: TTUGrad08]
#7259196
08/17/18 02:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 377
NTXR
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 377 |
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. 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.
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