Roman Candles
Submitted by Bruce Buck on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 11:45am.
I was recently in South Dakota testing a new 3-1/2”-chambered autoloader. It will be in an upcoming Gun Review column in Shooting Sportsman, but for now I’d like to chat about the 3-1/2” shell itself.
The 3-1/2” 12-gauge shell can carry about the same payload as today’s 10-gauge loads, but the 12-gauge guns are often lighter. Let’s say that your 3-1/2” 12-gauge field gun weighs an even 7 pounds. A 2-3/4” 1-1/8-oz 1,145-fps 2-3/4-dram target load would have 20.6 foot-pounds of recoil. A typical 3-1/4-dram 1-1/4-oz lead field load at 1,220 fps (my favorite pheasant load with lead No. 5s) would have 30.0 foot-pounds of recoil. Certainly manageable for a dozen or so shots a day.
But when you try Federal’s 3-1/2” 2-oz lead turkey load at 1,300 fps in a 7-pound gun, it will have 91.0 foot-pounds of recoil! Aarrgghh! That’s three times the recoil of a substantial pheasant load. Turkey hunters must be tough, or something else . . . .
Where the 3-1/2” shell might make more sense is when shooting steel. New steel shells are a whole lot better than they were 20 years ago, but Sir Isaac N. still rules. To match lead’s killing power, steel has to 1) have big pellets (about two sizes larger than the correctly sized lead pellet) and 2) be as fast as possible to retain energy. To keep things equal, you must have the same number of the larger steel pellets. You need lots of room to get all that shot into a hull, and the 3-1/2” shell accommodates.
Federal’s Black Cloud FS Steel lineup is a good example of what hull length can do for you. The company’s 3-1/2”shell fires 1-1/2 oz of steel at 1,500 fps. Its 3” shell fires 1-1/4 oz at 1,450 fps, while the 2-3/4” hull is 1 oz at 1,500. For every hull size you go up, you get to add 1/4 oz of steel shot, or about 31 No. 2 steel pellets. More is better.
Unless the “more” is recoil. While the steel loads don’t quite match the whopping 90 foot-pounds of recoil of the lead turkey loads, a 3-1/2” shell launching 1-1/2 oz of steel at 1,500 fps will add about 75.3 foot-pounds of misery to your shoulder.
Any of you using 3-1/2” loads right now? Are they worth it?
It hurts just thinking about it. Boots off. Beer open.
Choosing the right Shell for Pheasant Hunting
Mr Bruce,
I had the pleasure to meet and visit with you on the plane ride to your hunt in South Dakota. Bye the way, my first hunt was one to remember. The birds were plentiful and the accommodations were great. I was very impressed, and a little overwhelmed, with all the information you gave me and have since really enjoyed reading your articles.
A group of friends and I are planning a local hunt here in Indiana later this month. I believe that most will be shooting a 12ga. I have read several articles regarding which shells are best for pheasant hunting and you get alot of different opinions. I understand that everyone's preferences may differ but I noticed that you noted your favorite pheasant load was lead No. 5s. Could you please give me your suggestion on what shells you would recommend for this hunt?
Again, it was my pleasure visiting with you and look forward to reading more of you reviews.
Jimmy Gore
3.5"?
Bruce,
I'm not mad enough at anything to shoot a 3.5" shell at it. That is what hevi shot is for......
See you at Shot Show, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!,
Will Fennell
www.willfennellsportingpursuits.blogspot.com
3 1/2 inch 12 gauge loads
Bruce,
Thanks for taking the time to go outside of the envelope and dig into the issue of these loads. Whether one is going to use them or not, a little educational information is always good.
One of the issues with these loads you didn't mention here is the noise level -- and man are they ever LOUD! I'm one of the owners of a very nice duck club, where the shooting is good for those who do their homework and spend time on field craft. We have 21 total owners for 1200 acres of marsh, and one of the owners decided a few years ago that he and his son would shoot these 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch Steel Roman candles, feeling it would give them the added yardage that others were getting from Hevi-Shot.
To make a long story short, the other owners voted to outlaw these loads in our marsh. Way to much noise, which seemed to have a negative effect on birds wanting to stay or come into the marsh. Six of these shells going off in short order can be heard a long ways off -- and it's very disturbing to the ducks.
I have never shot them, nor do I plan to. A friend who works for Remington had to field test them for 2 years, and he told me he never wants to shoot them again. There's far better ways to accomplish what these loads say they will do.
Again, glad to hear you are putting together an article about them. Good information is always a plus, even on things one doesn't use or shoot.
Bruce, I forgot to sign the
Bruce,
I forgot to sign the last post.
Gary Cappelletti.
1+ to Jeff's
1+ to Jeff's comments.
Please be more selective in the gun reviews .
Regards
HM
Gun Weight for 10 Gauge Load
I quick look at Browning's site shows a Gold 10 weighing 9 lb 9 oz. Seems as if a 3-1/2-inch 12 should weigh close to a 10 gauge super magnum, if the 2 oz loads will be fired in it.
I have an Xtrema, but it has never even seen a 3-inch load. It has fired many bunker loads, which it cycled well. We tried a few 3-3/4 DE 1-1/4-oz Federal field loads (lead), and the recoil was smooth, like a push. Surprised everyone who tried it. It seemed to be somehow tuned, as if the moving parts were timed to take the sting out of that load. The muzzle goes up more than for target loads; a follow up shot would require getting back into position.
I think the kick from a 2-oz load in a 7-lb gun would put the shooter pretty far out of position for a quick follow-up. I can imagine my finger refusing to fire a second shot.
31/2
I concur with Jeff. Can't wait for the review on tactical shotguns in grouse coverts. And what are we paying you for? I know everybody has to have as job. Is the editor asleep again? We have a unique magazine. It brings us great pleasure to read and share. If we catch grief for what we enjoy reading and living, so what. We carry no malice. We have a great magazine and great writers. Let's stay in our place.
Sincerely
Thomas B. Lester,Jr.
Roman Canoodles
Bruce,
Please oh please do NOT give us a review in Shooting Sportsman of another autoloader, much less a 3 1/2" gun! I'm still getting over the review of Remington's CSItqrs, or whatever it was. We can read reviews of these things in many other mainstream magazines. Shooting Sportsman is the only american magazine that caters to fine guns. How about a review of a nice Bertuzzi round body boxlock, an A.A. Brown & Son Beretta 687 upgrade, or even an overview of inexpensive new side by sides? This is stuff we need and can not get anywhere else. Look at it this way. There are only 6 issues a year - one issue is taken up with new guns introduced at the SHOT show (this should not count as a gun review), a second review is a new CSMC gun (this is okay), a third review is a used gun (again, kind of okay) and that leaves only 3 reviews a year for all of the fine guns out there. If you would like I could send you a list of at least 20 interesting guns to review, none of which would be an autoloader! Oh, and I could care less about ammunition the size of a cigar.
Jeff Wiemann
I like an auto in flooded
I like an auto in flooded timber (old model SBE, plastic stock) when the gun really goes under water on occasion and when clean up means a strip down and hose down on the porch. A Remington 870 pump is just as good, so is a Benelli pump. Salt water use and dunkings (Texas coastal marsh) is another place simple machines like Benelli SBE's and Remington pumps are just the ticket. On my old 870 I took the wood stock off and drenched it in silicon water proofing inside and out to keep swelling to a minimum. I don't know why anyone would use one upland shooting, though. Among other things it is very bad manners to leave empties scattered around and picking up empties thrown into the next county is irritating and one never gets them all.
JB
Jeffs comment +100
I cant agree with you more Jeff! No need for auto loader reviews. There are plenty of other sites out there for that kind of stuff. Love this site for its great gun selections. Kevin