In the past two months I've purchased two Model 1100 Remington shotguns in new condition. One standard model for $200.00 and an upland model with a straight stock and 21 inch barrel for $300.00. The owners lamented that they needed 3 1/2 inch guns to kill waterfowl. I really can't think of anything I couldn't kill at reasonable ranges with a 2 3/4 inch Hevishot load. How did we ever get any game in the good old days? I was forced to use a 16 gauge until I was in my 20's and never suffered. I used a 12 gauge blackpowder double just for fun for years too. I really like getting good guns for these prices, but how did we get into this state of affairs? God bless and good shooting.

Welcome to the new bigger, faster, stronger, power starved America and thank you for chosing Bigger is Better Tours.  If you look on your left youll see a compound bow and on your right, if you look closely youll notice a Remington Ultra Mag.

Hi All,
 
      Duh ?????????????? well I must remember that my English side by side which only has 2 1/2" chambers cannot now kill anything and I must retire it and rush out and get a 3 1/2" chambered gun as the squirrels are just sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much tougher nowadays. Must be the kevlar their wearing:rolleyes:
 
     Now I do have a 2 3/4" chambered O/U by Baikal which I have used with Bismuth to drop a couple of Canada Geese with, Oh the Goose didn't complain just dropped out of the sky, got it's own back though fell right inot a Bramble thicket this was inland shooting as they came off a stubble field :D .
 
     Nice catch, don't complain just nod sweetly and then run like hell with the goods  before they realise just how dumb they are

I fully agree with the opinions expressed here.  We seem to have gone overboard on the magnum view.  
 
Awhile back I bought a Remington 1100 3 inch 12 ga from my dad and find I seldom use it.  I much prefer the 16 double for general use.  But then, I am not a long range duck/goose hunter.  Guess that is one of the things that makes this game so interesting, all the differenet views...

Good point Brithunter.
 
It's the same deal with centerfire cartridges. With all these new gimmicks they're bringing out, people keep thinking "I need more power!", and buying ridiculous cartridges such as the .25 WSSM, the RUM's, etc. for deer hunting. A 2 3/4" will do fine for anything, don't let anyone fool you into thinking that you "need" a 3" or 3 1/2" to do the job.
 
-Rohann

Most shotguns I have patterned have actually shot better with 2 3/4 inch shells vs. 3 and 3 1/2 inchers......I also agree with the opinions above and will continue to shoot my teensy eensy little bitty 2 3/4 inch loads and will continue to knock things out of the sky and ground with regularity....

PETA is working on a 5 inch Mag shell for all to use !!    You may not hit squat with it, but your broken shoulder will keep you from hurting any more of the things they love !!
 
I am gonna stick with 2 3/4 and get them as I have done for many years.

It's a rare shotgun that patterns better with the longer shells.
 
I'm so far behind the times that my findings don't matter much though. Heck, I'm still huning with a 2 3/4 inch 20 gauge single shot shotgun, for pete's sake!
 
Still, the birds must pity me some; for they still seem to obligingly die when I shoot at them.
 
Daryl

I must admit to being a 3" fan, BUT, it's a .410 sxs, squirrels, rabbits, coons,crows doves, quail, ducks and even a dumb cackler that made the mistake of comeing over too close[ducks and goose were pre no lead rules] have made the last roundup with 3/4, now 11/16 oz of #6's.
In my 20ga sxs, which has 3" chambers , I have never used anything except 2 3/4" 7/8 or 1 oz loads and have never felt undergunned.
Don

I do understand the arguement you are trying to make here.  I'm not quite so sure what the big craze is with 3 1/2 magnum shotgun shells.  I think it's just for the guys that spend entirely to much time with a shotgun and want to use it like a rifle.  I have a lot of guns in my one dozen collection that covers about everything I really would ever want to use.  Out of the 12 I have one shotgun.  My remington 870 that I bought used and has never failed me.  Best $150 bucks I ever spent in my life.  
 
 
On the other hand.  For the rifle side I do think that a RUM is way to much power for use on deer.  The only real reason I have for disliking the short magnums is because I think the bullets just look weird.  I can understand a guy wanting to use a RUM on very large and dangerous game, because I happen to own one.  My 300 RUM will never be taken out on a deer hunting trip, but it will be going for bear, elk, and moose.  My good old 30/30 is my favorite deer gun.  I think something important to remember here is that only time will truely tell.  I'm sure all kinds of hunters thought the 300 win mag was too much power when it first came out.  Now it's considered an amzing elk gun.  Some day I may be considered a fool for my RUM or a genious for buying one.  Either way I'm happy with that purchase and someday hopefully my kids and grandkids will enjoy it as well.
 
I'm not trying to side track your post, just trying to stick up for the RUM guys on this forum.  
 
The answer your original question, as far as a shotgun is concerned my 2 3/4 shells have never let me down.

I've owned many shotguns...even have a few now.  I've never owned anything but 2 3/4".  The only concession that I've ever made is that I 'long throat' my shotguns.  You cannot do that with modern shotguns with the chrome lining so that tells you something about the type of shotguns I may (or may not) have.

Instead of more shot, I concentrate on better shot patterns and being a better shot.

Quote from: Jay EdwardInstead of more shot, I concentrate on better shot patterns and being a better shot.

 

Amen, brother Jay!  I have 2 Winchester 1200's, 12 gauge & 20 gauge--both 2 3/4 chambers and my pride & joy, a Stoeger Uplander SxS in 20 gauge with 3" chambers.  99% of the ammo that goes thru these shotguns are 2 3/4", the 1% of 3" is, of course, thru the Uplander!
 
Ol' John..:D

Hi All,

       Well I can truthfully say that when I shoot the shotguns that almost all of the ammo is 65mm long, the 70mm long stuff is only when i buy "specialist" cartridges like the Bismuth for wildfowl. Oh 65mm is 2 1/2"  the only problems I have had with this was years ago when I used to shoot a Mossberg 500 Slugster, cartridges again were 65mm and occasionally on overhead shots whilst racking the pump for the 2nd shot the shorter 65mm case would drop down throught the skeleton lifter :o  Oh well .

     Don't tell any one ..................................... but I honestly cannot remember when i last shot the shotguns  :o

My best hunting round is a hand loaded 2 3/4 shell with  1 3/8 ounces of #5's for land based critters such a rabbit and grouse and squirrels. I tried #6's for a while but found penetration to be very poor on larger rabbits. I seldom hunt ducks but when I do I use a time consuming hand buffered load of 1 1/2 ounce #5's in a 2 3/4 shell. It is a very tight pattern and too tight for close brush hunting. My friends keep stealing them because they work so well on the 50yrd high flying ducks. I am not a great wing shot and my best day for ducks was with a single shot 20 GA. but that was due to the ducks coming in droves very low right over our heads. Most shots were under 20YDS. My worst and least productive duck hunt was in feezing weather on  fast high flying ducks with a 12 GA. double with factory 3" 1 7/8 ounce heavy magnums. After about 40 shots my shoulder was so bruised I couldn't continue shooting despite having very heavy winter clothing and a recoil pad.
 Forget the 3 1/2 inchers. I don't need them and don't need the punishment to bring down small game. New materials are out now to replace the steel loads and I have never found any avantage in loading longer than 2 3/4 " or heavier than 1 1/2 ounces. If the game needs more power than that I will use a rifle.
 Just my opinion:
 Firebird

I'm doing my best to avoid some of the ancillary comments, (RUMs, WSMs, and WSSMs), and stick to the specific subject.
 
I'll add my 2-cents-worth this way:
 
While a student at KU, I "got into" turkey hunting. Knowing little about it, I went to the "experts" to find out what I needed. The result was an H&R Topper 58 in 12 ga. with a 3" chamber, a 30 " bbl and a full choke. As we all are, I was quite 'smiley' as I drove home from the gun store with my new "turkey gun" and a box of super-ultra good goshamighty magnum shells.
 
There was a public hunting area on the way home, and I decided to stop in and see if I couldn't scare up something to shoot at with my new gun. Sure enough, I wasn't out of my truck ten yards before I jumped a covey of quail. The details of what happened next remain a bit foggy, but I haven't the slightest idea whether I hit one of those quail or not. I didn't even look. I turned on my heel and headed straight home. Upon arrival, I got out my hacksaw, and cut the full choke off that bbl - it's now cylinder bore.
 
That box of 3" magnum shells lasted me some 30 years, and were all shot by others whom I gave to shoot when I loaned them my shotgun :D. I still have that shotgun, and I have many good hunting tales derived from it's use. None of them involve a "magnum" shell of ANY length.
 
Paul