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Congratulations. You now own one of the most popular shotguns found around the world and used by more law-enforcement agencies than any other. That alone should be testament enough as to whether or not you have made the proper choice. I know the shotgun personally and can HIGHLY recommend it. As for your question about the differences between 2 3/4 and 3 inch shells, you can read the exact ingredients on the boxes they come in. It amounts to slightly more powder and shot in the larger capacity shell, resulting in a bit more range, more shot in the pattern, and....more punch to the shoulder when you shoot the magnum loads. The gun is more than capable of handling all of that. With time and experience, you will be too. Good shootin'.

Back in the olden days when everythign was blackpowder some 12 guages could only take 2 1/2 inch shells or 2 5/8ths, but most of those are antiques now. Anyways, people always wanted more performance more performance, so gun companies started coming out with 2 3/4ths shells probably 100 years ago.

2 3/4ths quickly became the standard shell lenght, and made all those other old ones go extinct.

Well then later people wanted even more performance, (Especailly when they were being forced to use steel shot for waterfowl not lead, wich was like having one arm tied behind your back)

So ammo makers started putting in more gunpowder, or better more modern gunpowder so the 2 3/4th shells had more power.

Problem was, someguys with shotguns made in the 1890's were putting in those shells and they were blowing their old guns apart.

So gun makers started to say 'only use magnums in approved shotguns' and then started to stamp 'magnum' on the barrel of new shotguns (or on replacment barrels for those upgrading)

So a magnum shell is a slightly more powerful 2 3/4th shell that might damage a 100 year old gun.

Well, people wanted even more power...but didn't want to switch to the big and heavy 10 gauge shotgus, so gun makers and ammo makers got together and developed 3 inch shells, at magnum loading level.

But then people wanted even more, so 3 1/2 inch shells were invented.

a gun marked 3 1/2 can shoot 3 1/2 inch shells, 3 inch shells, 2 3/4th magnum shells,and 2 3/4th regular shells (and 2 3/8ths and 2 1/2 shells if you can find them)

a gun marked 3 1/2 can shoot 6 different shells

1. ANY 3 1/2 inch shells (marked magnum or not),

2. ANY 3 inch shells (marked magnum or not)

3. 2 3/4th magnum shells,

4. 2 3/4th regular shells

5. 2 3/8ths shells (if you can find them)

6. 2 1/2 inch shells (if you can find them)

a gun marked 3inch can shoot 5 different shells

1. ANY 3 inch shells, (marked magnum or not)

2. 2 3/4th magnum shells,

3. 2 3/4th regular shells

4. 2 3/8ths shells (if you can find them)

5. 2 1/2 inch shells (if you can find them)

a gun marked 2 3/4inch MAGNUM can shoot 4 different shells

1. 2 3/4th magnum shells,

2. 2 3/4th regular shells

3. 2 3/8ths shells (if you can find them)

4. 2 1/2 inch shells (if you can find them)

a gun marked 2 3/4th inch can shoot 3 different shells

1. 2 3/4th regular shells

2. 2 3/8ths shells (if you can find them)

3. 2 1/2 inch shells (if you can find them)

it MAYBE can shoot 2 3/4th shells, but it may also ruin the gun. Further, it may not be safe for steel shot either, so stick to lead or if you are hunting waterfowl use bismuth or tungstun, they are more expensive but they are soft metal

of course a real old shotgun that has no markings at all might be a 2 1/2 or a 2 3/8ths. If it has no markings or if it is marked 2 1/2 or 2 3/8ths NEVER use steel shot, and you should have it inspected by a gunsmith before firing. A lot of guns that are so old that they are chambered in 2 3/8ths shells didn't have very good barrels that have gotten worse with age. These barrels were often made by wrapping wire around a stick about the size of a broom handle, then throwing iton a fire until it started to melt and then hammer it. These old barrels may well unwind on you if you try and shoot them now, as the binding continues to get weaker with age

Congratulations on your new good purchase. Yes, as most everyone has stated, you can shoot the 3" shell out of there. Usually - at least the way I have seen them sold - is labeled " 3" Magnum Shell". So I always assumed that the 3" shell WAS the magnum shell. But maybe there are 3" shells that are not magnums. I've never seen a 2 3/4" "magnum" load, so, it must be the 3" shell. I know they kick pretty good Tom, so hold that baby steady.

You can shoot both without changing anything. A shotgun "magnum" shell usually has more shot than standard. The 3 inch gives you more too. With new ammo these days it's more complicated...with steel shot, etc You can usually get up to 2 oz. of shot in say a 3 " mag Turkey load. A 2 3/4 cheap load may go down to about 7/8 oz of shot. Email me if youd like more info

The 870 handles Magnums just fine. They're just more powerful, but the same size. People use them with 00 and 000 buck for larger game and blowing up watermelons.

You sure can.... Look here at this web page. Its chuck Hawks shotgun page. There is a lot of interesting and informative shotgun articles....

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2c.shotguns.htm

Yes.