Parker Chamber

[Dean Weber]

Richard,

Even though these discussions are a repeat of others over the years, I find them fascinating. To Researcher's point, even documentation/advice on hang tags is very confusing. In my estimation, chamber length, as a safety concern, is overstated.

For example, I just measured a John Dickson 12 ga. with documented/proofed 2.5" chambers. However, my chamber gauge tool measures them a little more than 2 9/16. I also measured a James Woodward 12 ga. which is documented/proofed at 2.5" but I measure them at 2 5/8. These are documented guns from notable gunmakers where both went through proofing houses. Yet, the chambers are definitely not exactly 2.5". Obviously, these were not lengthened to 2 3/4.

Then if you add in the differences in shell length after the shot, we get many different lengths of spent shells, even though they may be marketed as a 2 3/4 length. My point is an AA shell is 2 11/16 long after firing. Should I be concerned about 1 or 2/16's overlap in my expensive Dickson/Woodward guns which were only proofed at 2.5"? The answer is no for me, as I know my barrel condition is good.

My recommendation is to concern yourself with condition of your barrels first and go have fun 2nd. The chamber length in most cases is a distant concern. That does not mean to disregard pressure or velocity in your determination.