Modifying loaded 2 3/4 shells to 2 5/8

[Brian Seibert]

Hello all. New to the site and a 1903 Parker 12 gauge. While the chambers measure 2 5/8 to forcing cone obviously, if an 1/8 of can be trimmed of the ends theoretically very little overpressure should occur. Take a look at the following pics and give me your feedback good or bad.
I test fired in a 2 3/4 chamber and put in parkers 2 5/8 without any impediment.

[Brian Seibert]

I failed to elaborate on technique. Used 3/8 hollow drill bit with a machined centering and shellholder with a bit stop @ 60rpm. Hole plugged with .007 mylar and later used .007 rubberized fiber cloth lightly superglued to keep shoot in. Using low 2 3/4 dram allready made shells and 1oz shot of various sizes.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

That's a lot of work Brian, but if you can't find 2 1/2" shells like RST's the effort may be worth it.

[Brian Seibert]

Thanks Austin.
Cause I machine car parts and am a professional tinkerer of things that trigger my ADHD. I usually cant relax till I have a solution. Actually, did a box of shells in 1/2 hr after tooling was made.

[charlie cleveland]

you really don't have to modify the 2 3/4 inch shells in the 2 5/8 chamber guns...parker made the chambers this way to shoot 2 3/4 inch shells....charlie

[Daniel Carter]

As Charlie says no need. I have shot 2 3\4 for years out of those chambers and the only sign is a slight fray 1/8 inch on the end of the case after the third reload. You have though come up with an ingenious solution.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Brian,

I am doing something similar to what you have done. A buddy of mine gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of reloaded shot shells, has to be over 500 shells, that he was given. The guy that did the loading had died; however he had alzheimers, so no guarantee if there is powder in all of the shells or how much. They are once loaded 12 ga AA compression formed shells. They are supposed to be loaded 1-1/8 oz 8 shot with 19 grains of Red Dot, with Winchester AA wads and Winchester primers. What I am doing is drilling the hole (like you did) with a 3/8 hole drill in the crimp, dumping the shot, opening the crimp further, pulling the wad, then dumping the powder in a different container (making sure it is Red Dot). Then setting up my press to load 17 grains of RD, use a different wad, after dropping 7/8 oz shot I put an over shot card on top of the shot then crimp the shell closed. It ends up similar to what you have done but with no super glue.
When I'm loading short shells normally, I use my band saw to trim the hulls to a shorter length and then finish the way described.

[Brian Seibert]

Jack,
Sounds ambitious and Im with you i only shoot my own reloads. Yes if you use a hollow drill as such used to cut holes in paper it works quite well. Let me know what size the final shell length ends up being.

[Paul Harm]

Just run a dry wall screw into the center of the crimp, pull it out, and the shell will open enough to dump the shot. You can then open it up the rest of the way with a smaller Phillips head screwdriver.

[Paul Harm]

Sherman Bell proved 2 3/4" shells shot even in 2 1/2" chambered guns won't have a raise big enough in pressure to hurt anything. You 1/8" isn't squat or anything to worry about.