Is there a difference between 3" shotgun shells and 3" magnum shotgun shells.

[AAM]

Is there a difference between 3" shotgun shells and 3" magnum shotgun shells.

[357]

probably 100fps and as much money as they can get out of ya.

[Pmacc60]

No magnum means more volume.

[JustTakeMeHunting14]

more powder, harder hitting round.and yes instead of a bang in makes a cha-ching sound

[DakotaMan]

Magnum is a marketing word like "big" or "powerful". It has no specific designation in terms of just how much "bigger" or "more powerful" it is than a "normal" product. Most manufacturers use the term "magnum" to designate their most powerful ammo but that is not always the case. Some 3" shells are in fact more powerful than others but not all of them carry the "magnum" designation.

To get a more factual assessment of the relative "power" of shells, most manufacturers have stated the facts in three categories to help you understand relative power. Take a look at the "dram equivalents" shown on the box. The more dram equivalents, the more power, generally. You also need to consider the "weight" of the shot. 1 1/8 oz of shot will not have as many pellets in the pattern (i.e. kill game at a distance as well) as 1 1/2 oz of shot. Finally, take a look at the "velocity"; the higher the velocity for a given weight of shot, the more powerful the shell. Reading these numbers will fundamentally tell you the relative power and game getting ability of a shell. The most significant numbers are the shot weight and velocity. Most manufacturers use the term "magnum" to designate their most powerful ammo but that is not always the case.

[99explorer]

I think we should add that in the case of pistol and rifle ammunition, the word "Magnum" following the caliber really designates a different caliber that the numbers alone would indicate, as in .44 Special and .44 Magnum.