3inch or 3.5inch

[mubz2cool 4]

hi all, is there any real advantage over having a 3.5inch cartridge rather than a 3inch?

[SNAP SHOT 194]

stick with the 3 inch their cheaper, and do the same job, not as heavy to carry around as the 3.5 inch when loaded, especially if its a semi-auto.

3 inch will do anything you need.

[COMPO 54]

I have a 3.5inch Baikal semi auto....and to be honest the cost of the 3.5 inch carts is prohibitive! i bought some cheap 3.5 inch remington carts and they were £14 for 25! they were the cheapest!

 

They are OK cart but dont give that much more if anything than the 3inchers

 

Other makes of 3.5 inch carts are really really dear!

 

Edited to add, i bought two boxes of those carts, so 50 carts and still have 49 of them! the one i did use i dropped two ducks at once with it....so perhaps it did throw a bit more steel into the air!

Edited November 29, 2008 by COMPO

[Deker 3,478]

Been around a while but it still "early days" for the 3.5inch!!

 

Sure, there is a use, but limited, biggest I have is 3" and I see no reason to get larger, especially with the prices being a joke...but never say never!!

[big john 0]

shot hundreds of geese in my time never used 3.5 inch cant beat rc 50s the daddys

[tom1cameron 1]

shot hundreds of geese in my time never used 3.5 inch cant beat rc 50s the daddys

 

 

Big John, that is a lead shot cart so we shall assume you are talking about non-wetland goose shooting in Scotland?

 

The 3.5" shell is not of any benefit for lead carts in 12g or lower calibres. It is when lighter loads like steel are used in 12 and 10g that it can be very useful.

 

 

The benefit of the 3.5" shell is that they provide a wider variety of steel shot loads and shot sizes than with the 3". Only Gamebore make the 3.5" shell in the UK and they load in UK BB's and smaller. By using the 3.5" they produce you get a higher pellet counts which is very important on flighting geese (3" = 36grm max shot size 1, 3.5" = 40 or 42gm max shot size BB).

The other imported 3.5" makes can give us larger shot sizes without compromising load. For example, BB, BBB and T shot are larger and require a larger load to maintain pellet counts.

 

The other benefit of a 3.5" shell is that it does not compromise speed for load. While Speed "may" not be everything when it comoes to lethality, it can help at longer ranges (if the steel starts faster it stays faster).

 

I dare not offend a friend by posting the information directly, but if you were to, for example, order a copy of the south dakota hunting handbook, there is some very valuable information in there about the lethality of steel loads. For small geese at 50 yds ranges or for all Canada geese shooting you need large pellet counts of large shot, here the 3.5" really comes into its own by firing 42-50gm of steel BB's and larger at moderate speeds. You cant do that with a 3" shell.

 

That all said, if you know how to shoot and can place a shot it will matter little. As an example, my mate and I both shoot 39grm steel 1's for long range foreshore ducks and close range geese. For the geese you "have to" place those 1's on the upper breast and neck. A breast or gut shot is not going to kill it unless it is very close. I shoot the 3.5" at 1450fps and he shoots the 3" and 1250fps. Both are deadly within range.

 

However, as most of us think we can shoot better than we actually can then the 3.5" shell is a useful tool. I always have it loaded first on the foreshore to "try" and make sure my first opportunity does come home. Incase its my only opportunity!

 

I am going to do some CONSEP type testing on pinks over decoys at Christmas using both 3" and 3.5" BB's. Will let you know.

Edited December 1, 2008 by tom1cameron

[mubz2cool 4]

shot hundreds of geese in my time never used 3.5 inch cant beat rc 50s the daddys

 

 

Big John, that is a lead shot cart so we shall assume you are talking about non-wetland goose shooting in Scotland?

 

The 3.5" shell is not of any benefit for lead carts in 12g or lower calibres. It is when lighter loads like steel are used in 12 and 10g that it can be very useful.

 

 

The benefit of the 3.5" shell is that they provide a wider variety of steel shot loads and shot sizes than with the 3". Only Gamebore make the 3.5" shell in the UK and they load in UK BB's and smaller. By using the 3.5" they produce you get a higher pellet counts which is very important on flighting geese (3" = 36grm max shot size 1, 3.5" = 40 or 42gm max shot size BB).

The other imported 3.5" makes can give us larger shot sizes without compromising load. For example, BB, BBB and T shot are larger and require a larger load to maintain pellet counts.

 

The other benefit of a 3.5" shell is that it does not compromise speed for load. While Speed "may" not be everything when it comoes to lethality, it can help at longer ranges (if the steel starts faster it stays faster).

 

I dare not offend a friend by posting the information directly, but if you were to, for example, order a copy of the south dakota hunting handbook, there is some very valuable information in there about the lethality of steel loads. For small geese at 50 yds ranges or for all Canada geese shooting you need large pellet counts of large shot, here the 3.5" really comes into its own by firing 42-50gm of steel BB's and larger at moderate speeds. You cant do that with a 3" shell.

 

That all said, if you know how to shoot and can place a shot it will matter little. As an example, my mate and I both shoot 39grm steel 1's for long range foreshore ducks and close range geese. For the geese you "have to" place those 1's on the upper breast and neck. A breast or gut shot is not going to kill it unless it is very close. I shoot the 3.5" at 1450fps and he shoots the 3" and 1250fps. Both are deadly within range.

 

However, as most of us think we can shoot better than we actually can then the 3.5" shell is a useful tool. I always have it loaded first on the foreshore to "try" and make sure my first opportunity does come home. Incase its my only opportunity!

 

I am going to do some CONSEP type testing on pinks over decoys at Christmas using both 3" and 3.5" BB's. Will let you know.

 

thank you, that was most helpfull. regards mo

[the wise man 4]

The biger he beter me old son thats what her in doors says 20 year ago to a man like

[COMPO 54]

shot hundreds of geese in my time never used 3.5 inch cant beat rc 50s the daddys

 

 

Big John, that is a lead shot cart so we shall assume you are talking about non-wetland goose shooting in Scotland?

 

The 3.5" shell is not of any benefit for lead carts in 12g or lower calibres. It is when lighter loads like steel are used in 12 and 10g that it can be very useful.

 

 

The benefit of the 3.5" shell is that they provide a wider variety of steel shot loads and shot sizes than with the 3". Only Gamebore make the 3.5" shell in the UK and they load in UK BB's and smaller. By using the 3.5" they produce you get a higher pellet counts which is very important on flighting geese (3" = 36grm max shot size 1, 3.5" = 40 or 42gm max shot size BB).

The other imported 3.5" makes can give us larger shot sizes without compromising load. For example, BB, BBB and T shot are larger and require a larger load to maintain pellet counts.

 

The other benefit of a 3.5" shell is that it does not compromise speed for load. While Speed "may" not be everything when it comoes to lethality, it can help at longer ranges (if the steel starts faster it stays faster).

 

I dare not offend a friend by posting the information directly, but if you were to, for example, order a copy of the south dakota hunting handbook, there is some very valuable information in there about the lethality of steel loads. For small geese at 50 yds ranges or for all Canada geese shooting you need large pellet counts of large shot, here the 3.5" really comes into its own by firing 42-50gm of steel BB's and larger at moderate speeds. You cant do that with a 3" shell.

 

That all said, if you know how to shoot and can place a shot it will matter little. As an example, my mate and I both shoot 39grm steel 1's for long range foreshore ducks and close range geese. For the geese you "have to" place those 1's on the upper breast and neck. A breast or gut shot is not going to kill it unless it is very close. I shoot the 3.5" at 1450fps and he shoots the 3" and 1250fps. Both are deadly within range.

 

However, as most of us think we can shoot better than we actually can then the 3.5" shell is a useful tool. I always have it loaded first on the foreshore to "try" and make sure my first opportunity does come home. Incase its my only opportunity!

 

I am going to do some CONSEP type testing on pinks over decoys at Christmas using both 3" and 3.5" BB's. Will let you know.

 

 

That was most educational.......someone who has read and understood some research, well done.......you have converted me....i might use the rest of those 49 cartridges now

[Deker 3,478]

shot hundreds of geese in my time never used 3.5 inch cant beat rc 50s the daddys

 

 

Big John, that is a lead shot cart so we shall assume you are talking about non-wetland goose shooting in Scotland?

 

The 3.5" shell is not of any benefit for lead carts in 12g or lower calibres. It is when lighter loads like steel are used in 12 and 10g that it can be very useful.

 

 

The benefit of the 3.5" shell is that they provide a wider variety of steel shot loads and shot sizes than with the 3". Only Gamebore make the 3.5" shell in the UK and they load in UK BB's and smaller. By using the 3.5" they produce you get a higher pellet counts which is very important on flighting geese (3" = 36grm max shot size 1, 3.5" = 40 or 42gm max shot size BB).

The other imported 3.5" makes can give us larger shot sizes without compromising load. For example, BB, BBB and T shot are larger and require a larger load to maintain pellet counts.

 

The other benefit of a 3.5" shell is that it does not compromise speed for load. While Speed "may" not be everything when it comoes to lethality, it can help at longer ranges (if the steel starts faster it stays faster).

 

I dare not offend a friend by posting the information directly, but if you were to, for example, order a copy of the south dakota hunting handbook, there is some very valuable information in there about the lethality of steel loads. For small geese at 50 yds ranges or for all Canada geese shooting you need large pellet counts of large shot, here the 3.5" really comes into its own by firing 42-50gm of steel BB's and larger at moderate speeds. You cant do that with a 3" shell.

 

That all said, if you know how to shoot and can place a shot it will matter little. As an example, my mate and I both shoot 39grm steel 1's for long range foreshore ducks and close range geese. For the geese you "have to" place those 1's on the upper breast and neck. A breast or gut shot is not going to kill it unless it is very close. I shoot the 3.5" at 1450fps and he shoots the 3" and 1250fps. Both are deadly within range.

 

However, as most of us think we can shoot better than we actually can then the 3.5" shell is a useful tool. I always have it loaded first on the foreshore to "try" and make sure my first opportunity does come home. Incase its my only opportunity!

 

I am going to do some CONSEP type testing on pinks over decoys at Christmas using both 3" and 3.5" BB's. Will let you know.

 

 

That was most educational.......someone who has read and understood some research, well done.......you have converted me....i might use the rest of those 49 cartridges now

 

 

Sort of makes you wonder how our Grandparents ever managed to bring anything down with a 2 inch roll of paper, bit of fishing lead and propellant from a banger!!!