chamber lengths

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

OK, even though it is not in line with this thread, I mentioned a gun in my last post. Sure enough, my 12 gauge 28" IC and MOD Repro is not marked Steel Shot Special and has a standard 12 gauge serial number with no SSS added. Apparently my gun and those like it are a non-catalogued special gun (not special ordered) made for people who wanted an open bored gun with longer than 26" barrels. I don't know whether they were made in one batch or with random serial numbers. I do know that they are very scarce and fill a void in catalog offerings.

Bill, your 12ga. DHE Repro w/28” bbls., choked IC/M was a standard offering. Several years ago shooting in our Central Wisconsin Winter Skeet League I was part of a 5-man squad, four on our squad were shooting all non-SSS marked 12ga. Repros w/28” bbls., factory choked IC/M and I was shooting a Sporting Clays Classic. They maybe scarce, but they’re plentiful around here — and I’ve seen several others listed through the years.

[Bill Murphy]

Look at the little "+" sign next to the description in the factory folder. "+" indicates Steel Shot Special. The 12 gauge 28" IC and MOD non SSS is not a catalog item.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Look at the little "+" sign next to the description in the factory folder. "+" indicates Steel Shot Special. The 12 gauge 28" IC and MOD non SSS is not a catalog item.

Look at the 2nd row down from the top, two rows above the specs for the Steel Shot Special. What does it say were the standard chokings available for these standard cataloged 12ga. Repros with 28” barrels?

[Bill Murphy]

Sorry, I missed that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I wonder why such a good option is so scarce? I wonder why it is not listed as an option in 20 or 28?

[David C Porter]

Think about when the repo's were made. Barrel lenght is like an old suit. Don't throw it away because what's not in style today, may be in style tomorrow. Early barrel lenghts were long, mid century short barrels, & now everyone wants long barrels. I can remenber in the 60's plus everyone wanted 26" barrels & paid a premium for those guns, with 28" & 30" being less popular, except 30" with the trap shooters.

[William Woods]

Originally Posted by David C Porter

Think about when the repo's were made. Barrel lenght is like an old suit. Don't throw it away because what's not in style today, may be in style tomorrow. Early barrel lenghts were long, mid century short barrels, & now everyone wants long barrels. I can remenber in the 60's plus everyone wanted 26" barrels & paid a premium for those guns, with 28" & 30" being less popular, except 30" with the trap shooters.

That was my time Mr. Porter. No one in our area wanted long barreled guns due to the area we hunted. Long barrels would hang up on tree limbs and bushes when trying to swing on a flushing quail. I imagine grouse hunters felt the same.

I bought a new Remington 1100 that came with a 28" barrel and immediately took it to a gun dealer and traded that barrel for a 26" barrel and paid extra to do so.

I can remember reading an article in a gun/hunting magazine where the author stated that barrel length need be no longer than 26", chokes were the only thing that mattered, even for waterfowl.

[BRDHNTR]

26 inch barrels are all that I need for bird hunting and skeet. I only shoot 28 inch barrels for trap. But to my mind, 26 inches rules.