Shooting 2 1/2" shells in 2 5/8" chambers
 

Any harm in shooting 2 1/2" shells in a top-lever 12 ga. with damascus barrels chambered for 2 5/8" shells?

That should not be a problem at all.

absolutly nothing wrong with it.

There really is not a shell, that I have seen that is actually 2-5/8" long. So most just use 2.5".
Many English guns have true 2.5" chambers.
So shell manufacturers that make short shells just stick to one size for peoples various needs.

Actually, you have asked a question which has been examined in length on this forum and there are things you might like to think about. You can get 2 5/8 shells in brass from Rocky Mountain Brass. They will fit your gun. Many people shoot 2 3/4"shells in 2 5/8" guns and have been doing so for decades. There is a theory that Parker made 2 5/8" chambers to be used with 2 3/4" shells to get a better seal at the chamber mouth. There is also the fact that modern plastic shells are thinner and more, well, plastic than paper and that there is no rise in pressure from using the longer shell. And... well, I could go on. Low pressure loads is the only caviat David

I know that B&P make a low pressure 1180fps 2 5/8 shell i have some and been told that they are ok for the 2 1/2 chambers.

Candyman

If you have 2 5/8" or 2 9/16" chambers you should not give a second thought to shooting 2 3/4" shells OF THE APPROPRIATE CHAMBER PRESSURE FOR THE AGE OF THE GUN YOU ARE SHOOTING AND AFTER HAVING AN EXPERT EXAMINE AND MEASURE THE WALL THICKNESS AND OVERALL CONDITION OF THE BARRELS.

Ya... Thats what I do.....

I have a VH that after i shoot 2 3/4 shells, its harder to open the barrels.. got to kind of smack it open cause there somewhat stuck..
thought the chambers were 2 3/4 but now thinking they may be a little shorter.. (not 2 1/2 though)
I have some RST's in 2 1/2 that i tried this weekend and they didnt make the barrels stick at all so i guess thats what im going to try and shoot more often..
Just got a loader so will load my own using the RST hulls.
Just thought id let you know what effect an 1/8 or a 1/16th longer shell may have.. im sure its not a problem just got to see what fits best.
Gary

Is it possible that the issue is a shell rim thickness problem, not a length problem?