12 gauge 3" shell introduction.

[10 bore]

Originally Posted by brianedward

I was wondering if anyone can tell me when LC and Parker started producing 3 inch chambers in 12 gauge guns? I know LC had the waterfowl configuration from 1924, did they produce them sooner? Was it as simple as a special order and if so would it be noted on the gun or barrel flat? Another question is when did 3" 12 gauge shell 1st come on the market?

Thanks in advance.

I have a 12 ga. VHE 3 frame made in 1906 that was ordered with 3 inch chambers, scott

[Drew Hause]

1890s Live Bird shooters routinely used long shells (with appropriate chambers) for additional wadding

DuPont Trophy Oct 24 & 25 1895
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL2606012.pdf
Capt. John L. Brewer was using a Greener gun of high grade. His shells were the U. M. C. Trap, 3 1/4 inches long, 4 drams of DuPont powder by measure, weighing 36 1/2 grains; one trap wad, two pink felts, 1/4 inch 11-gauge wad and one ordinary 12-gauge pink edge wad over the powder and 1 1/4 ounces of No. 7 chilled shot; the shell had a very hard square crimp.

The ‘machine loaded’ shells and components available in the 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. catalog
http://books.google.com/books?id=zWe...page&q&f=false
12g Winchester “Leader” and “Blue Rival” NPEs are offered in 3-inch length. UMC 12g Green “Trap” NPEs are offered in 2 7/8 and 3-inch lengths.

In 1922, Western Cartridge Co. introduced the 'Super-X' 12 gauge 3 inch shell with 1 3/8 ounces of shot, and the 2 3/4 inch 1 1/4 ounce 3 3/4 dram equiv. load. Peters Cartridge Company's 'High Velocity' and Remington's Kleanbore 'Nitro Express Extra Long Range' loads soon followed.

Interestingly, one Smith Long Range was produced in 1921 and an Eagle grade Long Range in 1922. Advertising started in earnest in 1923, the same year the Super Fox was introduced. Not all Smith Long Range guns had 3" chambers.

'Long Range' 3" guns were nothing new however. 1914 G.E. Lewis ad