Chamber size

[bob lyons]

What is the consensus on having the chambers lengthen to 2-3/4 on an original Parker?

[Dean Romig]

What gauge is your Parker and what is the actual chamber length now?





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[bob lyons]

It is 12 gauge skeet gun posted earlier. I’m sending it back to DelGreco to repair one of the ejectors and was going to have him check the chambers and if they were short 2-9/16 I was thinking on having him lengthen them to 2 3/4.

[Brian Dudley]

There is not really too much of a point in doing it. The short chambers were intended for 2-3/4” shells.

[Dean Romig]

If it’s an original Skeet gun don’t do it!!

I really don’t understand why folks want to lengthen the chambers on any gun - just use the ammo that was intended to be used in it. Why compromise the originality and value of an original gun?!





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[Dave Noreen]

I have tried to make some sense out of the information on Parker Bros. hang tags but I have so few data points it probably isn't meaningful. Generally for 12-gauge guns it appears that if they targeted the gun with 1 1/8 ounce loads they say use 2 5/8 inch shells,

94725

but if they targeted the gun with 1 1/4 ounce loads the tag says use 2 3/4 inch shell.

94726

All data points don't fit this. It is very general.

By Remington era the hang tags are pretty general --

94727

Parker Bros. certainly was no where near as consistent as Remington Arms Co. was with the loads used to target their hammerless double. Always UMC Load No. 8.

[Dean Romig]

I have a 12 gauge DH made in 1898 with 2 9/16” chambers and I shoot 2 3/4” shells in it all day long. And I can not really discern a difference in recoil.
I’ll never have my chambers lengthened and I’ll never change what I shoot in it.

I wonder what kind of ammo and what length ammo was used in these guns before they were ours????





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[Stan Hillis]

It might be worth pointing out that the length of the loaded shell is not the length that matters. It is the length of the fired hull that matters. There is usually a greater difference in the two dimensions on star crimped shells than there is on roll crimped ones, IME.

Also, there is considerable difference between the overall lengths of unfired and fired shells between manufacturers, and loads. IOW, just because the box is marked "2 3/4" in no way means the shell inside opens up to exactly 2 3/4".

[Daniel Carter]

Mr. Hills is right, the variance in hulls is large and very few are a full 2 3/4. Those that are exhibit a very slight fraying at the extreme end of the crimp when fired in a short chamber gun. My experience is that it takes 4-5 firings before this becomes noticeable and in the loadings i use is of no consequence. These guns over their lifetimes have probably been fed every load commercially available with no problem. I cringe to think of the '' baby magnum'' and other abominations that have been through my guns before i acquired them.

[Bruce Hering]

It might be worth pointing out that the length of the loaded shell is not the length that matters. It is the length of the fired hull that matters. There is usually a greater difference in the two dimensions on star crimped shells than there is on roll crimped ones, IME.

Also, there is considerable difference between the overall lengths of unfired and fired shells between manufacturers, and loads. IOW, just because the box is marked "2 3/4" in no way means the shell inside opens up to exactly 2 3/4".

So true. I had a Mod 12 16 ga with the short chamber and ejection port. It would not eject Winchester ammo but would eject the old low brass Remington... Go figure.

[ED J, MORGAN]

The first tag was referring to an unfired shell length , the 2nd, was to a fired shell length. what we call todays shells. go measure an unfired shell it will be shorter than 2 3/4 "

[John Allen]

Bruce,Your model 12 shot the Remingtons because their 16 dove and quail loads actually measure 21/4" unfired and 21/2" fired. They are 21/2" shells even though the box says 23/4". I have shot them in damascus 16 gauge guns for years.

[Frank Srebro]

Bruce,Your model 12 shot the Remingtons because their 16 dove and quail loads actually measure 21/4" unfired and 21/2" fired. They are 21/2" shells even though the box says 23/4". I have shot them in damascus 16 gauge guns for years.

The Remington 16 Game Loads with black-colored hulls typically measure 2.611-15" (2-5/8 inch) when fired. Furthermore in reference to early Model 12's their 6-point crimp somewhat contracts on firing and will usually clear the front of the ejection opening. On the other hand some other shells such as blue-color Fiocchis have full 2-3/4" long hulls and crimps that fully expand. The latter and other similar shells can hang up and cause no end of headaches in Model 12/16-gauge pump guns.

[John Allen]

I just measured the shells again to be sure. Unfired is 21/4" and fired is 21/2". I have seen these fired in short chambered model 12s and A5s. I am sure there are manufacturing tolerances that might cause hang ups. I am just reporting what I have seen.

[Frank Srebro]

Here's a random/once fired 16-gauge Rem Game load hull from my box of empties. Caliper reads 2.615" or a nominal 2-5/8". Note how the crimp slightly contracts which also helps to clear the ejection opening in M12/16-gauge receivers. Both as written here earlier.