I have several Parkers that have 2 1/2" nominal length chambers and have shot 1 oz Rem Gun Club shells through them. All of mine in that category are damascus or Bernard guns. I have had trouble with the steel base of the Feds expanding and sticking in the chamber after reloading several times. This is despite re sizing in the collet of a MEC 650. I have not experienced that with Rems. My favorite hulls to reload are the Rem STS hulls.
Some people have trimmed spent hulls to shorter lengths. They have devised a razor blade trimmer jig.
Some brand shells are longer than others, all of them stating 2 3/4 on the box.
Wal Mart stocks a lot of 1 1/8 oz 3 1/4 dram 12 ga shells. I think the recoil is uncomfortable with them and the chamber pressures must be at or close to the SAAMI ( Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institite) limit. They are not the shell loads that I would buy for my guns and my shoulder, although some may like them. I have looked at manufacturers websites and picked out cartridges that seem appropriate for my guns, then I call my local locally owned sporting goods store and order a case or several. My local store ( Olathe KS Gun Shop, where Mike Jensen sells all those Parkers) has been very helpful to take phone orders. Perhaps you have somebody like that there and you can buy case lots. On the other hand I have a very good friend with lots of high grade and valuable PArkers and I know he buys Wal Mart shells because of th e price.
I trust this is helpful and I hope I don't come off as some sort of know it all.
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