Chamber Length?

[Shep]

Why is it when a Parker has 2 5/8" chambers it is said that it is fine to shoot 2 3/4" shells? I have also seen people state 2 7/8" chambers are fine for 3" shells. Any insight will be apreciated.

[Richard Flanders]

Pull out a bunch of 12ga hulls of various brands, paper and plastic and measure how long they actually are. Many will be less than 2-3/4".

[Bill Murphy]

The real reason is that Parker bored guns 1/8" short as a company policy. The secondary reason is that a plastic shell that intrudes into a forcing cone 1/8" does not create any pressure difference over a plastic shell that does not intrude in a forcing cone at all. Shells that are a bit longer than the chamber length are just no problem unless the chambers are very old and square ended for brass shells.

[Larry Angus]

Although my grandfather's Trojan 16 guage has not see extensive use over the past 40 years there have been times of extensive use. Grouse hunting in New York when my brother was stationed at Plattsburg, dove hunting in Florida by me and pheasant hunting by me in California. We have always used off the shelf 2 3/4 shells". I still don't shoot it as much as my modern guns but my gun is 98 years old so I am ordering some RST 2 1/2" quail and pheasant loads just to preserve my family heirloom and preserve the pristine original stock for my grandson. Probably help preserve my 58 year old arthritic shoulder also.

[Richard Flanders]

Bill: I figure that Parker made the chambers 1/8" short so that the fiber and card wads coming out of the paper case mouth would get a bit better gas seal and produce less blowback and chamber fouling if the case mouth was into the forcing cone a bit. Does that make sense??

[Bill Faulk]

Originally Posted by LarryAngus

Although my grandfather's Trojan 16 guage has not see extensive use over the past 40 years there have been times of extensive use. Grouse hunting in New York when my brother was stationed at Plattsburg, dove hunting in Florida by me and pheasant hunting by me in California. We have always used off the shelf 2 3/4 shells". I still don't shoot it as much as my modern guns but my gun is 98 years old so I am ordering some RST 2 1/2" quail and pheasant loads just to preserve my family heirloom and preserve the pristine original stock for my grandson. Probably help preserve my 58 year old arthritic shoulder also.

Larry,I assure a 2 1/2 "..with 7 1/2 shot will knock those pheasants just as dead as any lenth shell or shot load.I used the RST shells first of the month on Pheasants and knocked a few down at 35-40 yards.

[J.B. Books]

I believe from material I have read 2 5/8" 12ga shells were loaded to lower pressures than 2 3/4" shells. I am not sure when 2 5/8" in shells were discontinued. I have a VH from 1927 that was ordered to have 2 5/8" chambers.
The Remington Shur-Shot box below contained roll crimp paper shells and a warning to not use in Dam or Twist or chambers shorter than 2 3/4".

[Shep]

I have a DHE 12g that was made in 1928 on route and the seller says it has 2 1/2" chambers. I find it hard to believe a 1928 DHE would be 2 1/2" when many of the guns 25 years older were 2 3/4". Do you think he miss measured and they are 2 5/8"? If they really are 2 1/2" would it damage the gun to use 2 3/4" 3 dram 1oz 7 1/2 target loads? Thanks!

[ed good]

makes sense in these days of high pressure ammo to shoot shells that when open, are no longer than the chamber. logic says that it reduces pressure and perhaps also recoil, thereby minimizing the possibility of wood cracking and shoulder bruising? like the rabbi said "it dont hoiet".

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by ed good

.....like the rabbi said "it dont hoiet".

Francis! Welcome back!