Short Chambered 12's.

[Autumn Daze]

Hey Pete...................Fat chance..........

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Hey Pete...................Fat chance..........

Alright be that way, I'll just kick your butt with my reloads, prolly hurt less than getting beat with your own shells

[Autumn Daze]

We will see my friend.....We will see.....

[Bruce Day]

Mr Dudley, I should apologize. You asked the simple question of where could you get 2 1/2 " cartridges and I responded with all sorts of pressure and measurements and all sorts of stuff that you had not asked. The simple and direct answer needed only one word, RST, and that was what I should have said and let it go at that. Your question struck an interest of mine and I ran off with it.
Bruce Day

[B. Dudley]

By all means Bruce, that is ok. Your information is well received. It is a topic that I do not know that much about.
Yeah, my initial question was where to get 2.5" shells, but also if there is any legitimate concern with putting 2.75" shells through it.
I usually just use the Walmart Federals or Remington Gun Club loads for clay shooting.

Another question that comes to mind is if 2.75" hulls could be reloaded into 2.5" Could they be trimmed and crimped down to 2.5"?
Clearly if I buy a flat of RST shells, I would just reload them once I start doing so, but it is a thought that comes to mind.

I did measure some of my once fired 2.75" shells that I was saving for my first reloading experience and I did find variation ranging from 2-3/4" down to 2-5/8" actual measurements.

[Bruce Day]

I have several Parkers that have 2 1/2" nominal length chambers and have shot 1 oz Rem Gun Club shells through them. All of mine in that category are damascus or Bernard guns. I have had trouble with the steel base of the Feds expanding and sticking in the chamber after reloading several times. This is despite re sizing in the collet of a MEC 650. I have not experienced that with Rems. My favorite hulls to reload are the Rem STS hulls.

Some people have trimmed spent hulls to shorter lengths. They have devised a razor blade trimmer jig.

Some brand shells are longer than others, all of them stating 2 3/4 on the box.

Wal Mart stocks a lot of 1 1/8 oz 3 1/4 dram 12 ga shells. I think the recoil is uncomfortable with them and the chamber pressures must be at or close to the SAAMI ( Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institite) limit. They are not the shell loads that I would buy for my guns and my shoulder, although some may like them. I have looked at manufacturers websites and picked out cartridges that seem appropriate for my guns, then I call my local locally owned sporting goods store and order a case or several. My local store ( Olathe KS Gun Shop, where Mike Jensen sells all those Parkers) has been very helpful to take phone orders. Perhaps you have somebody like that there and you can buy case lots. On the other hand I have a very good friend with lots of high grade and valuable PArkers and I know he buys Wal Mart shells because of th e price.


I trust this is helpful and I hope I don't come off as some sort of know it all.

[Leighton Stallones]

Rio and Kemen 2 3/4 x 1 oz are both about 7200psi and the B&P 2000 competition are even lower at 6600 psi. Both are about 2 5/8 inches . I shoot them in all of my "short" chambered guns.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

I have several Parkers that have 2 1/2" nominal length chambers and have shot 1 oz Rem Gun Club shells through them. All of mine in that category are damascus or Bernard guns. I have had trouble with the steel base of the Feds expanding and sticking in the chamber after reloading several times. This is despite re sizing in the collet of a MEC 650. I have not experienced that with Rems. My favorite hulls to reload are the Rem STS hulls.

Bruce your problem with reloaded shells sticking is because the MEC 650 does not have a resizing collet. Your reloads were/are not resized using a 650, you have to have a stand alone MEC Super Sizer, or older MEC case conditioner or resize them on separate 600JR or the like first.

Brian here is the link to a video I put up on Youtube regarding the reloading for 2 7/8" 10ga. You can see a homemade shell trimmer in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXs4Eg__BE

I also want to say running off a bit on any subject can bring up other interesting and sometimes important points of view or information. Nobody is forced to keep reading. I see no harm no foul. Carry on.

[Bruce Day]

Those fingers that grasp and squeeze around the base of the shell don't resize? No, they are not a sizing ring like on the MEC 600jr, but aren't they supposed to resize the shell base? No problems with anything other than Feds.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

Those fingers that grasp and squeeze around the base of the shell don't resize? No, they are not a sizing ring like on the MEC 600jr, but aren't they supposed to resize the shell base? No problems with anything other than Feds.

Bruce if your reloader has fingers that squeeze the shell like a stand alone Super Sizer you do not have a MEC 650, that would be the MEC Grabber or possibly the more expensive MEC 9000. (The 650, Grabber and 9000 are progressive reloaders) The 650 does not resize, the Grabber and 9000 do. You can adjust those fingers to squeeze a little more tightly and that should solve the issue with the feds.

Underneath the fingers is a lock nut. Loosen it and then turn the finger assembly to tighten or loosen the amount of resizing it applys, I can't recall if you turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to tighten it. I think it's clockwise. Try it and turn it an 1/8 of a turn, you'll feel more resistance if it is applying more pressure to the shell. PS. if not sure call MEC customer service, they are fantastic and they will walk you through it.