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What size shells do you guys suggest? I have a 3/12" Browning shotgun and have been shooting 3/12" shells. The shells can be so dang hard sometimes to get in the gun. Do you think using smaller shells would hurt me? Just wanted some opinions.

i dont think you could go wrong w/ 3" shells...i'm quite partial to 3" #3's...i don't know how much you shoot but them dang 3.5's will punish you...just my 2$...gator

For ducks? A 2 3/4" No. 6 lead works wonders at 50 yards even!!!! Seriously, I shoot 3" no 2's and feel that 3 1/2" are an expense you don't really need. Heck, some of these boys hammer just as many ducks with 2 3/4" as anybody.

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31
http://www.fowlmood.com

You really don't even need 3" shells unless you are pass shooting.

unless you shoot like i do...

I tried a box of 3.5" shells one time. I had a close encounter with a woodie and missed when she was over the dekes. I shouldnt have bet I shot when it flew within ten feet of me and I literally blew it in half. It was a bad waste of meat. It was ruined.

Shoot 3" on ducks, save the 3.5" for turkeys.

keep in mind i'm still a young buck, but i've killed plenty with 2 3/4 i do shoot 3's now cuz you never know how well the ducks are gonna work. I'm a pretty big ole boy too and them 3 1/2 will do a number on you, especially if you have a tendency to miss alot and have ot keep shooting

3 1/2" is overkill on ducks, good for geese though. Like GC said, if they are in the dekes 2 3/4" is fine, that's what my dad shoots most of the time, but I've stuck with the 3" #3's.

I've been using 2 3/4" #2's, #4's, and #6's (all steel mind you) with great success. It just depends on the type of hunting you're doing. If the birds are decoying, the 6's work very well. If I'm just getting pass shooting, then I go to the 2's and 4's. My son won two boxes of Bismith (sp?) and used them last year when we came to MS. I got to tell you, that stuff really works well, but the expense is just too much for me! Personally, I just use the 3" and 3 1/2" shells on turkeys. I go to the blind to enjoy myself, not punish my shoulder!
Just my .02 worth.

My attitude is simple:If you need 3 1/2" shells,you need to change either where you're huntin or how you're huntin!

sportsman

three and a half is a mortar shell....no need unless you are blasting at sky carp(snows).

my father-in-law still does pretty well with 2 3/4 number 2's.....I like 3" 3's myself.

3 1/2's kick too much?? No way. A 3 1/2 inch shell kicks about as much as a 2 3/4 inch mag lead used to. I usually shoot 3 inch shells, but I never question anyone shooting a 3 1/2. However, if all I shot was a few wood ducks in the hills then I would probably shoot only 2 3/4 and 3in.

i personally love the 3 1/2" shells #2 or #3. However the shells aren't as important as the pattern your choke is making. Thats been my experience with the whole thing. I have a 20 ga. youth model that i bought my girlfriend and it shoots 2 3/4" only and it shoots a better pattern than my 12 ga. benelli.

I shot 3&1/2" steel a couple of years ago, and in my opinion they are overkill for ducks. Every time they tried to land in the dekes, I blew the first one up, I mean just destroyed it. They do work very well on Turkeys & Geese though.
JT

3" steel is fine provided the speed is 1300fps or faster, which means ounce-and-a-quarter (or less) shot weight in the 3" load. Good Luck!