Would you use them ?
 

I read many different discussions on various forums last night trying to educate myself on whether or not to use 2 3/4" shells in a 2 1/2" chambered 20 Ga gun. I'm still not sure after all the reply's what the correct answer is.

Since this pertains to a 1912 VH 20 Ga with factory 2 1/2" chambers in excellent mechanical condition I would like to get ya'lls opinion. I shoot RST shells in all my 20 Ga guns and Julie gave me the PSI of the shells listed below.


20 Ga. • 2 3/4" • 2 1/2 DE • Vel. 1125 • 7/8 oz. 7000 PSI

20 Ga. • 2 1/2" • Falcon Lite • Vel. 1125 • 7/8 oz. 7200 PSI


I already have 3 cases of the 2 3/4" shells listed but don't have any 2 1/2" shells.

SO ... From your personal experience would it be safe to use the 2 3/4" shells that I have in the VH 20 verses having to buy the 2 1/2" shells ?

Thanks

Karl,

The tests done by Sherman Bell and published in the Double Gun Journal were with a 12 gauge. There was up to 300 psi increase with the 2 3/4" shell in a 2 1/2" chamber. The 2 3/4" shells from RST are 200 psi less than the 2 1/2" shells. If you shoot the 2 3/4" shells you need to see if the ends are fraying. This will be a sign they are too long for the chamber area. Then you probably want to use 2 1/2" cartridges.

Hopefully, Drew will chime in.

Ken

Karl,
The short answer is yes, you should be fine. You did'nt say if you reloaded or not but if you do you can roll your own loads at 7000psi and under with no problem. That's all I shoot are 2 3/4" shells out of my Parkers, Foxes and Lefevers but I do load my own at 3/4oz. @6000psi.

That being said, for years before I knew any better about reduced payloads I ran a steady diet of 7/8 and 1 oz. loads through my short chambered Parkers. Now I am protecting my shoulder and the wood of my guns with what I call velvet hammer loads.

Same for me

Both hulls are listed 2 3/4"..

It won’t make a bit of difference. I’ve used both for many years in both fluid steel and Damascus guns.

What will make a practical difference is the powder and shot load in the cartridge, not the length of the hull.

If it's a hunting gun you can consider lengthening the chambers thus removing all the concerns over pressure as it pertains to shell length that you may have shooting ammunition that your gun was not designed to shoot.

As chambers are lengthened the wall thickness at the juncture of the chamber and forcing cone becomes an issue of primary concern because as the chamber is lengthened you encroach on the tapered or sloped exterrior of the barrel.






.

I crossed this bridge years ago with an old 2 1/2" chambered H&H SLE, that I purchased from Briley's, btw. They said it would not be advisable to lengthen the chambers, but the shoulders could be tapered from the forcing cone to the bore.
So, that is what we did.

With all do respect to Randy NO DON'T DO THIS:nono::nono::nono:
The easy and simple anser is just shoot the 2 1/2 shell the gun was designed for. All I shoot are 2 1/2 from 12 down to 410. Never been a disadvantage.