28 gauge 2 7/8" chambers and shells

[Garry L Gordon]

I saw a 28 gauge Parker shotgun advertised recently that was listed to have 2 7/8 inch chambers. I can't find the listing again, but as I recall the gun was made in 1923.

Ironically, I recently also came across a box of 2 7/8" shells. I know there's a great deal of knowledge out there regarding old shells/loads and chamber lengths. Does anyone know when these shells might have been made, and/or when 2 7/8" chambers were offered by Parker Brothers?

[Dave Noreen]

When the 28-gauge was introduced in North America, the "standard" 28-gauge load was 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 14 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 1/2 inch case. A slightly hotter load of 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 16 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 7/8 inch case.

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Around 1931-2, high velocity, progressive burning smokeless powder caught up to the 28-gauge and the 3/4 ounce load, Western Super-X, Peters High-Velocity, etc. were introduced.

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Shortly before WW-II, our ammunition companies began putting up their 28-gauge Skeet Loads in a 2 3/4 inch case, and shortly after the war the 2 1/2 and 2 7/8 inch cases disappeared and all 28-gauge loads came in a 2 3/4 inch case.

[charlie cleveland]

there now makeing 3 inch loads in the 28 ga....charlie

[Dave Noreen]

Around 1960-61 the Olin brothers began stuffing a full ounce in the 2 3/4 inch 28-gauge case --

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As far as I know Remington & Peters didn't join in on this, and Federal introduced a 7/8 ounce load.

[CraigThompson]

Thirty years ago a fellow I worked with sold me 5 or 6 boxes of 28 gauge 2 3/4” 7/8 ounce shells all 6’s and 7 1/2’s if memory serves . And of course they long since been shot up . Seems to me the ones I had were REM or Peters .

[Garry L Gordon]

Great information! Many thanks to my colleagues.

Now, does anyone know when Parker Brothers started making 2 7/8" chambered 28s? I'm away from my library and so don't have access to TPS.

Thanks again.

(Dave, you are a treasure trove of in-depth information!!)

[Dave Noreen]

Chas. Askins was writing about his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge chambered for 2 7/8 inch shells in his 1910 book The American Shotgun. Ole Chas. said he was handloading 2 1/8 drams and 3/4 ounce of shot!!

FWIW the May 1900 UMC catalog only shows 2 1/2 inch 28-gauge cases but the April 1901 UMC catalog includes the 2 7/8 inch case.

[Garry L Gordon]

Askins (both of them) sure liked them heavy and hot.

Thanks again, Dave, for this information!

[Dean Romig]

Chas. Askins was writing about his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge chambered for 2 7/8 inch shells in his 1910 book The American Shotgun. Ole Chas. said he was handloading 2 1/8 drams and 3/4 ounce of shot!!

FWIW the May 1900 UMC catalog only shows 2 1/2 inch 28-gauge cases but the April 1901 UMC catalog includes the 2 7/8 inch case.

Dave, do you know if the 2 7/8” shell was designed for use in 2 3/4” chambers holding to the practice of shells being 1/8” longer than the chambers in order to ensure a better gas seal?





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[Dave Noreen]

The Remington era specification sheets on pages 164 to 167 of The Parker Story show that for the little guns, 28-gauge and .410-bore, the chamber was held 1/16 inch short -- 2 13/16 inch chamber for the 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge shell and 2 15/16 inch chamber for the 3-inch .410-bore shell.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Dave.





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