12 gauge 3" shell introduction.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Paper Shotshell Lengths


From the 1890s into the early 1920s, these longer shotshells didn't carry a heavier payload than one could get in a 2 3/4 inch 12-gauge shell, just more/better wadding, which many serious Pigeon shooters believed to be an advantage. The maximum smokeless powder loads offered in the 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge shell and the 2 1/2 inch 20-gauge shell were a bit lighter than those offered in 2 3/4 inch and longer shells.

Just curious if there is any actual evidence the "more/better" wadding measureably improved patterns in the longer shells?