Food for thought
 

Many of us have read that 12-gauge guns made for 2-3/4" paper shells were chambered to 2-5/8" for a better gas seal/transition of wads from shell to bore. And of course we're aware of Sherman Bell's testing of 2-3/4" shells in short chambers. OK, check out this 1904 advert. The new 12 ga Marlin is chambered for 2-5/8" and 2-3/4" shells. Great!

So, can we infer that any 12-gauge American guns made for the early 2-5/8" paper shells were chambered to 2-1/2"?

Also, 12-gauge 2-5/8" smokeless shells were made at least into the 40's by Peters and possibly others. And why was that? What guns were they intended for? :corn:

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...pshvxoxcjt.jpg

I'll bet Researcher can shed some light on these questions.

So then, what length shells was my 12 Ga. DH with Titanic barrels chambered at 2 9/16" made for?

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble."

dean the fellow who made the chamber length in your gun that day was dreaming of a 16 ga thus the 2 9/16 inch chambers...charlie

Correct me if I'm wrong Frank but the way I read that ad is that the Marlin is chambered for 2 3/4 so 2 5/8 can also be shot in it. Neat ad. Thanks.

On the small end they may have limited it to 2 5/8" because it is a pump. It may not cycle well with 2 1/2" shells.

Daryl, that's the way I read it too. My questions have to do with American factory 2-5/8" paper shells. If factory practice was to cut 2-5/8" chambers for 2-3/4" shells, then why would the factories be marketing 2-5/8" paper shells? For a 2-1/2" chamber? Were any American 12-gauge guns made with 2-1/2" chambers?

No mention of the load length in the 1905 Marlin Model 19 ad

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../409786665.jpg

Back again 1913 Model 28 Marlin Repeating Shotgun

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../410244852.jpg

Stevens No. 200 20g "for any length of shell" in 1913
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL6212020.PDF

Drew and Frank (and Dave who will probably chime in)- you guys absolutely kill me with these old ads. Thank you for the good views and information.

Good question Frank. Hopefully our info Guru Dave N. will have some input on this shell length issue.

1897 Sears listing for hulls lists none in 2 1/2" (tough to read the fine print though)
http://books.google.com/books?id=CSV...C&pg=PA546&lpg

Same with 1895 Montgomery Ward except 2 1/2" brass shells
http://books.google.com/books?id=zWe...AC&pg=PA474&vq