10 or 3.5 in 12

[mdgoosekiller]

I have a 12 gauge that will shoot 3 inch and 2 3/4 inch shells, but I want a little bigger gun for gunning geese. I was thinking of getting either a semi-auto 10 gauge, or a magnum 12 gauge capable of handling 3.5 inch shells. Which would you guys suggest? Who shoots 10 gauge, and what models do you shoot? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Jeff Riverin]

Mdgoosekiller,

the 10 works very fine on geese but the 3 1/2" 12 gauge is more versatile. If you're looking to buy a goose only shotgun, a 10 is a good investment.

My choice go to the 3 1/2" 12 gauge.

[Mark Brendemuehl]

mdgoosekiller- I agree with Jeff wholeheartedly. The 3 1/2 inch 12 guage is more versatile than the 10 and plenty of gun to handle giant geese. If you feel like you need a little more knockdown power, try hevi shot, tungsten etc.
Good luck
Mark

[Rusty Hallock]

mdgoosekiller,

I used to have a Browning Gold 10. The gun performed flawlessly but I got tired of the weight of the gun. The 3.5" 12 guage is more versatile, in my opinion. The only time I use a 3.5" shell is turkey hunting. When I goose hunt, I use #4 or #6 Hevi-Shot in a 3" shell. Hevi-Shot provides me more then enough knockdown for geese in my opinion. Good luck in your search for a new gun.

[David Hochman]

mdgoosekiller,
I would agree with the above posts. I have a Browning gold 10ga that I havent used in 2 years. With the speed of the new 3.5 inch shells(1560fps) and the quality of the new after market choke tubes the 12 gauge 3.5 is all the gun you will ever need on Canada's. I will add that after shooting lots of geese in the last 2 years with the 12 gauge, I did take my 10ga out on 2-15-05, the last day of our season for old time sake. To my surprise I wasnt overly impressed, there was very little difference. I think the 10ga did hit them a bit harder but the difference isnt great enough to warrant the price difference in shells.
Hope that helps,
Dave

[Jeff Riverin]

I agree DUCKSBANE about the 10.
The only difference between the 10 and 12 3 1/2" is that the mighty 10 pattern better than the 3.5 due to it's overbored barrel.

If you really wants a 10 gauge-like paterning in a 12 sized shape shotgun, you should take a look at the Mossberg 835 ulti-mag or to the Mossberg 935 that have .775 barrels(nearly 10) instead of standard .731 ones.

Anyway, just my opinion.

Hope this helps!

[DeWayne Knight]

OK I'll jump in here and be the rotten apple; I disagree with the other guys :D The 3.5 12 gauge is ballistically inferior to the 10. The reason is that in the 3.5 12, you have a relatively long, narrow shot column, where as the 10 gauge has a shorter, larger diameter shot column. This translates into more shot being in the vicinity of the bird at the time they come together (hopefully). Felt recoil is also less in the 10 gauge, all other factors being equal, (same weight shot charge, etc) because of the more efficient wad/shot column.

DeWayne

[Rob Jepson]

Guys,

I've shot sporting clays with DeWayne and I can see why he would want the bigger shot charge from a 10 gauge. :D All kidding aside, DeWayne is a crack shot, but I am going to disagree with him. I am in total agreement with Rusty's assessment with the one exception that I shoot only Hevi-Shot #4s at waterfowl. My turkey load is the Hevi-Shot 3 1/2" #6.

Rob Jepson
Avery Pro-Staff Relations Manager

[Grant Doyle]

I think that a 12ga 3.5" is sufficient to shoot geese. I use a Browning Gold 3" and kill more geese than I want to clean. But one thing that I would suggest that I was very impressed with was a Pattenmaster choke tube. Put a Patternmaster or Wad Wizard on the end of what ever gun you get. I shoot mostly steel with Patternmaster. With that I had better luck knocking down honkers with 3" than 3.5" with a modified choke tube. My Grandpa shoots 3.5" steel BB with factoy chokes right beside me with 3" steel Pattenmaster and I hit the birds a lot harder than he does.

Grant Doyle

[Jeff Riverin]

I echo DeWayne Knight's comment on 10 ballistic's VS 12 one. A 10 gauge handle large shot loads much more better than any 12.

A 12 3.5 is not a 10 period.

[Jason Connellee]

Gotta side with Dwayne on this one. :D Been shootin a 10 for 15 years now. I use a Browning Gold 10 and the BPS 10. I used and still have a Ithica MAG-10. The Brownings shoot, pattern, perform flawless. I used my Gold 10 on everything. From geese to teal. I do not use factory choke tubes. I prefer after market. For ducks, I will step down to #4. For geese, BB or BBB. I suggest people pattern their gun. I shot mine until I found(what I think) is the perfect combo. Also, I am 6'8" with very long arms. I feel the Browning 10's fit better than todays 12's. Except for my Beretta A-303's.

[Paul Cupka]

mdgoosekiller,

I am not going to touch on the "which is better" in a contest beteween the 12ga 3.5 and the big 10. It's different strokes for different folks. First off you need to find a pole that suits you. I am talking about fit. If a gun doesn't fit you well it doesn't matter what gauge it is. I will also say that IMO you have a great deal of variety in the 12- 2 3/4 - 3.5. From duck to geese to shooting clays in the off season you have many choices. And you will have no problem finding shot. I myself have a Browning 12 that shoots em all, but only shoot 3.5 in the late goose season, and I don't think that the 3.5 is a must have. The shot you shoot and the patterns you are putting out of it will outweigh it all in the long run. Good luck in your decision!

[John Beckwith]

DeWayne has first hand experience in the superior ballistics that the 10 gauge possesses. He sees me shoot my Gold Hunter and BPS 10 gauges nearly every day of the season. Now if I could only afford Hevi-shot.

[BaRtMaN]

If you shoot factory ammo it is clearly a wash but, if you load your own 10ga. ammo it is far superior ballisticlly. I had a 10ga. and didnt like it I sold it and bought a 3.5 SBE. The 3.5" 12ga. is far more versitile but, if you have an unlimited budget then you can never have enough guns. smile.gif

[WABBIT-SLAYER]

If you are hunting over decoys,and shooting at birds within accepted ranges(35-40)yards,there is no reason to use anything bigger than a 12 ga. 3-inch mag. If you put the pattern on the bird you will kill it. A bigger gun will not make up for poor shooting skills. Just my 2 cents worth.

[JEDJR]

Another vote for the 10 Gauge. I have had my SP-10 for the last 3 years, and would not trade it for any gun out there.
More down range energy and a few more pellets dont hurt my shooting either... ;) :D

[Brett Beinke]

Having owned and shooting both for years yes there most defintely is a difference between the 10's performance and the 12's especially when shooting steel shot. However, with Hevy Shot as well as other new shells hitting the market this year a 12 in a 3 inch is more than enough gun to handle the biggest of honkers. If you only want to shoot steel I would go 10 all the way for geese and ducks. A few years ago, before Hevy shot I used the 10 for everything and found it much less expensive than the 12 as what I hit dropped and I would shoot fewer shells to fill the bag, ducks or geese. Now with Hevy Shot a 12 will do the job on any watefowl out there and matched with a good aftermarket choke, it will perform very well atlonger distances.

[fish1]

I own 2-- 3 1/2" 12 ga. guns and there great for ducks, but My mag-10 or bps 10 ga. get the job done due to shorter shot string and better patterning.

JMHO

Bill