Was it a Typo?
Bruce is exactly correct; note the modern AA 20 laying alongside the machinist's scale in the first photo; it measures 2 5/8 inches after being fired. More surprising is the Super X Twenty 1 1/8 ounce maximum load magnum on the opposite side of the scale. The 3.20 on the box is the price paid in Van Horne's Hardware in Fultonville NY in the late 1950's. I don't have a fired 2 magnum, but I have a fired Super X twenty ga 5 from the same place and time surviving in the box of fives. The Super X five measures 2 11/16 minus in the second photo.
Both of these boxes are labeled 2 3/4 Inch, and carry a stern warning not to fire these in guns with chambers shorter than the length on the label.
The third photo shows a 1930's (or perhaps 1940's) vintage Remington Kleanbore Shurshot. It measures 2 5/8 minus
I have only had two Remington Parkers in residence here. Both were traps, and both sets of chambers measured 2 3/4, although they may have been lengthened along the way.
We have heard the story of shells longer than the chamber sealing on the mouth many times. The only publication found to substantiate this was contributed by Ed Muderlak; around 1933, an industry professional fired 3 inch magnums in a 410, and found patterns improved over 2 1/2 shells, although 1/2 inch was burned off the case on each firing.
The Remington shop order to chamber Parkers "2 5/8 inches for 2 3/4 inch shells" is well known. Could it have been a typo intended to say "2 3/4 chambers for 2 5/8 shells? The SAAMI standard (2.75 - .100) seems to support this.
Let's renew the search for a pre 1934 citation of short chambering
Best, Austin
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