Chamber length?
 

I have a 1879 10 gauge lifter (Parker Bros.). I want to know the chamber length so I stuck a piece of metal down the breach & felt for the ridge & measured it, 2 11/16 inches. Could this be right? It seems kind of short. I plan on buying shells from RST made for the older guns & want to make sure they will fit.

that would be correct for a British 10 of that period, I expect you improvised chamber gauge could be a little off, in a Parker 2 7/8 would be the norm.

That early it most likely was chambered for the 2 5/8 inch 10-gauge brass shells. From the 1880 UMC catalogue --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psf1b8b662.png

Note they offered brass shells No. 10, to 2 5/8 inches, for .12, .15 or .16 1/2 each depending on primer, while brass No. 10, extra long, to 3 inches, were .15, .18, or .19 1/2 each.

From the 1887 UMC catalogue --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps746d500a.png

The 10-gauge 2 5/8 inch brass shell was pretty much the "standard" 10-gauge shell during the 1880s but with factory loaded paper shells and smokeless powder loaded shells coming on strong in the 1890s, the 2 7/8 inch seemed to win out as the "standard" 10-gauge length for loaded shells. But 2 5/8 inch NPEs both brass and paper were offered well into the 1900s. Rem - UMC was still offering brass 10-gauge 2 5/8 inch NPEs after The Great War.

Thanks guys. I sent an email to RST Shells & maybe they have 2 5/8 .

Heard back from Julie at RST Shells. She suggested I get a more knowledgeable person measure the chamber & that it most likely is 2 5/8" . They'll be starting a production run of that size soon if that's the size I need.

Why don't you take it over to G&H in NJ and have them check the chambers professionally. Charge will be minimal if any. Then you'll know what the truth is.

I've heard too many horror stories about New Yorkers traveling to NJ & getting their lawfully owned guns confiscated. Even deer hunting bolt action rifles. The guys I'm meeting up with this Friday will have some sample shells for me to try on for size.

Remember that shell length is the length of a fired cartridge, not an unfired one. For example, an unfired 3" shell will fit easily in a 2 3/4" chambered gun

right - except for brass hulls of course

the only way to get the right answer is with a correct chamber gauge

So what you're saying is that even an unfired shell measuring 2 5/8' is too long for a 2 5/8" chamber? How much of the shell is used in the crimping?