20 ga. Chamber length

[Kensal Rise]

More than one factor effects the felt recoil of a gun. Chamber length is one of them. In relation to the cartridge length, of course. If the mouth of a case restricts the passage of the charge into the forcing cone and barrel proper, it will contribute to felt recoil. But not by much.

Other factors include the LOADING. Which, in the case of most commercial ammunition is fairly "stiff." Each firm has its own idea of a good 20-bore load.

Gun weight is another factor. So is stock configuration. Buttstock "plate" or pad. Shooting style, etc.

However, I've fired thousands upon thousands of handloaded 3/4 oz. 20-bore loads in 2 3/4-inch cases/2 1/2 -inch chambers with perfect comfort and results. But that's just me...

[Drew Hause]

Bruce has previously made the point that some factory 20g cases are shorter than 2 3/4"

Estate (Federal) 2 5/8"; Fiocchi 2 11/16"; Nobel Sport 2 3/4"; Winchester 2 5/8"; Winchester Universal 2 9/16"; Remington Gun Club 2 11/16"



If the case mouth looks like the one on left, it's a problem in YOUR gun



A summary of “Long Shells in Short Chambers”, by Sherman Bell with technical assistance from Tom Armbrust in “Finding Out for Myself” Part V, Double Gun Journal, Winter 2001 is about 1/3 way down here. This was a PRESSURE, not RECOIL study
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...vwLYc-kGA/edit

[James L. Martin]

Here are 2 20ga hulls , a Fed top gun at .610 and a new style Win AA at .608 .I load the AA hulls with 7/8 oz for hunting in my 2 1/2 chamber Parkers and LC Smith. The AA hulls with a polywad works great for those full choke guns.