Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie cleveland
does any body know when the 3 inch magnum shell first come out...i know the first load was with 1 3/8 ounce load. then the 1 5/8 ounce then the 1 7/8 and then a few 2 ounce were loaded...does any body out there know about what years these came about..just wondering...... charlie
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I just finished reading "The Gun and it's Development" by Greener. He discusses 12 gauge guns being chambered in 3" in the chapters relating to pigeon and waterfowl shooting. This would have been around 1900. This book is a very interesting read, it is filled with self promotion by Greener, but does include a wealth of information lost to most modern sportsmen.
As far as the 3" 12 gauge load, Greener does not hold it in high regard. He states that it is prone to being overloaded which will cause the pattern to suffer, which is what can happen today with the heavy loads in 3" and 3 1/2" 12 gauge. Everything else being equal a heavy load will usually pattern better in the next larger gauge, such as a 1 1/2 oz. load in a 12 vs. 10 gauge.
Not sure when the extra heavy loads (over 1 1/2 oz.) came about in the 3" 12, my guess would be they are fairly new loads (last 40 years), but I'm sure someone else here is far more knowledgeable about this topic.
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