I have been pondering something about 3" shells for quite some time. Maybe someone here can enlighten me by providing an answer, or at least some food for thought.
Many decry a 3" 28 gauge shell as ridiculous, unneeded. Others say that about a 3" 20 gauge, and even the lowly 3" .410. Trying to stretch a "lesser" gauge and make it into a bigger one, they say. The arguments are mainly that the shorter the shot column in the bore the better it will pattern. And, "If you want to shoot a XX gauge load in a XX gauge (you fill in the blanks), just go to the bigger gauge to begin with". I'm not belittling any of these ideas, but.................consider that the 3" 12 gauge shell is almost universally accepted for waterfowl. I'm not saying everyone feels it is necessary, or needed but that it is accepted as not being "over the top" like a 3" 20 or a 3" 28 is. Why is this? Cannot the same argument be applied......... that if you want to shoot a 10 ga. load in a 12 ga. gun, why not use a 10 ga. and gain the extra benefit form the shorter shot column that the 10 gives? Heck, even the 3 1/2" 12 ga. load sells millions a year. But, no one starts threads about how ridiculous a 3" or a 3 1/2" 12 ga, load is, just the smaller bores.
Is there a mathematical reason for this? Miller, help me out here. Or, is it prejudice against change, and specifically change in small bores?
SRH
