2 1/2" chambers on a 1927 Trojan 20ga?

[Steve Campbell]

Well, I just chambered a 2 3/4" shell in there and it slid right in all the way, without any force, and pulled right back out easily, so I'm guessing it must be set for 2 3/4" after all?
I'm guessing it wouldn't have gone in far enough to close the action if it were 2 1/2"?
Wish the barrels were marked or ? like modern guns are, but looks like it must be 2 3/4".
thank you for your help. Much appreciated.

[Woodcock survey]

Originally Posted by Steve Campbell

Well, I just chambered a 2 3/4" shell in there and it slid right in all the way, without any force, and pulled right back out easily, so I'm guessing it must be set for 2 3/4" after all?
I'm guessing it wouldn't have gone in far enough to close the action if it were 2 1/2"?
Wish the barrels were marked or ? like modern guns are, but looks like it must be 2 3/4".
thank you for your help. Much appreciated.

Got me to thinking, a shells length is measured open or fired and 20 ga. gun clubs are 2 3/8 loaded and 2 5/8 fired.the only way to know chamber length is to measure it. A machinists rule put in to the forcing cones beginning and marked will give an accurate idea. The cones taper will fool you using a fired shell you will not feel it.
There are plenty of people here, including myself who shoot slightly short chambers with no problems other than case mouth fray.