I love a man with a plan, several of them in fact. And with such nice looking guns to play with.
Stan, I agree that due to circumstances the 3" 12 has a place since we can't use lead. But the 3" shell was invented before the need for steel came along. It was meant to replace the need for a 10. Gun makers sell versatility like shell length or screw in chokes so one gun or one gauge can do it all.
I also know you shoot a lot of 3" .410, where I shoot a lot of 2 1/2". Understanding the difference is 20-30% at best, not the 50% the increase in payload suggest. Pellets just wont distribute perfectly. I have to limit range more than you do. But in a .410 what does that mean in range? Five yards or eight yards max. On my best day a .410 is a 30-33 yards option, using 1/2 ounce, in a full choke, my average day 23-28 yards. I don't think I'd get more than a couple more yards with a 3".
