General small game use??

[BUGS BUNNY]

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]

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]

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]

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.:confused:

[Dave McC]

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]

"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]

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]

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]

The exceptions being waterfowlers and long range turkey shooters.

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

[Hemicuda]

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

[JosephBoeckner]

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]

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]

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.