Fired Length of Commercial Shotshells

[Bruce Day]

Most of the 20's were fired through either a 1904 CHE Damascus 26"or a 1910 DHE Titanic 24", both barrels unaltered since made and presumably original chamber length. I tried to measure the chambers with rolled paper, somewhat imprecise, but I know they are just over 2 1/2". While they shoot nicely with RST 3/4oz loads, which I will shoot if I have new ones ( I can't reload 3/4oz worth a darn) I shoot about any 7/8oz load through them instead. Dunkle was whacking pheasants with the D 24" with Fed #6 loads and the Feds tend to be a little longer than others.

Note that Rem STS loads are just over 2 1/2 " so if you have 2 1/2" chambers, add 1/8" for the Parker intended better sealing, and you are about at 20ga STS length.

You know me, I don't get excited about these load issues and shoot about any reasonable load I want through any of my guns. I don't think people ought to start boring out chambers or barrels, I like wall thickness in my guns. I saw a Parker 20ga barrel burst midbarrel ; the wall thickness was .008 and it had been sold as having unknown but good wall thickness. There was no obstruction, just paper thin walls but they sure looked shiny and pretty inside, like they had just been honed.