1902 DH Damascus chamber/shell size

[DaneRAtkinson]

I am sure this question gets asked and answered all the time so I apologize...

Are they 2 1/2? Can I shoot 2 3/4? FPS? What's your opinion on RST shells? Thanks.

P.S. One guy told me if I put a 3 inch shell and it fits, then I can shoot 2 3/4? Assuming because it would resemble a shot/open 2 3/4 casing.

[Mark Ouellette]

A longer shell in a shorter chamber creates slightly more pressure but in some case it can create a lot more recoil! I had this in a 20 gauge Lefever with 2 3/4" low pressure 7/8 oz handloads in a shorter chamber. Ouch :crying:

RST? Fantastic low pressure ammunition!

[DaneRAtkinson]

A longer shell in a shorter chamber creates slightly more pressure but in some case it can create a lot more recoil! I had this in a 20 gauge Lefever with 2 3/4" low pressure 7/8 oz handloads in a shorter chamber. Ouch :crying:

RST? Fantastic low pressure ammunition!

So do you suggest 2 1/2s? What was the chamber size for this year?

[Rick Losey]

I am sure this question gets asked and answered all the time so I apologize...

Are they 2 1/2? Can I shoot 2 3/4? FPS? What's your opinion on RST shells? Thanks.

P.S. One guy told me if I put a 3 inch shell and it fits, then I can shoot 2 3/4? Assuming because it would resemble a shot/open 2 3/4 casing.


the way to know the chamber length is to get them measured with the right tool-

there is always the possibility that one guy is the exception to the rule (Darwin's rule in this case) :whistle:

the odds are they are 2 1/2 - get the RST's in any case, they are great shells - and the lighter recoil will be better for that over 100 year old wood.

[Bill Murphy]

Measure it. It is the only way to know what chamber length you have. What frame size is your gun?

[DaneRAtkinson]

Measure it. It is the only way to know what chamber length you have. What frame size is your gun?

Frame size = 2 (12 gauge)

[Dean Romig]

Chamber length at that time could have been either 2 9/16" or 2 5/8" - I've seen both in 12 gauge guns of that period. I have a DH made in 1898 with 2 9/16" chambers that I have shot a lot of 2 3/4" shells with. It beat up my shoulder pretty good so now I shoot RST 2 1/2" Lites and all is well.

[Dave Noreen]

Most Parker Bros. 12-gauge guns from the mid-1890s on left Meriden with 2 5/8 inch chambers and were intended for use with 12-gauge 2 3/4 inch or shorter paper shells. A few 12-gauge guns were ordered for the longer shells, which came with more and better wadding, 2 7/8, 3 or even 3 1/4 inch.

[Joe Wood]

Odds are the chambers are 2 5/8" and as mentioned above Parker later on began suggesting using 2 3/4" shells. The theory was that if the hull opened partially in the forcing cone then a better gas seal would be made as the wads transitioned from the hull into the bore. I shoot thousands of 2 3/4" hulls each year in my Parker's and in shorter 2 1/2" English guns and have never had any difficulty or pressure problems. Nor have I noticed increased recoil. Out of respect for the gun avoid using high velocity factory rounds.