20 gauge 2 3/4" or 3"

utbrowningman

Any noticeable difference that makes the price worth the switch? Taking my oldest pheasant hunting and he shoots a 20.

charliemeyer007

I like 3" chambers but I only re-load 2.75" myself.

nononsense

utbrowningman,

It depends on the shotgun and the chokes selected. I patterned mine with both and several loads to see which way it wanted to go.

My superposed 20 ga. really liked the 3" with copper plated #6 shot for pheasant and I use #7-1/2 for grouse, quail and dove.

Best.

Mobuck

My Son found that 2 3/4" Nitro Mag's were all he wanted in his Fox 20 gauge. He killed numerous turkeys using an old Ithaca 37 20 with 2 3/4" loads so no shortage of power. I think 3" is too much recoil for young hunters.

Mossbergboogie

If you could get a better pattern, yes. However if you are already killing birds and happy with a 2.75 a 3 isn't going to kill them any more dead.

gearheaddad

Personally, I believe a 2 3/4" is plenty for pheasants. That being said, I typically shoot 3" at wild birds just because I can. I also use a 28 gauge for wild pheasants and have good luck with that.
Is your "oldest" big enough to absorb a little more recoil?
Tell him to aim, it's very important!!
Good luck and please post photos after your successful hunt!!

Mobuck

The company my older Son works for used to take them on a "team building" pheasant hunt in SD every year. He killed as many(or more) birds using 20 ga 2 3/4" 2 3/4 dr 1 oz copper plated 6 as those shooting 12 "shoulder bruiser" loads. Although I own a couple of 20 ga 3" chambered guns, there have never been any 3" 20 ga loads here. The length of the shot column and resultant flyer shot(except on the high $$ stuff)negates the extra amount of shot and only results in more recoil w/o improved patterns.