2 1/2" shells

dilly

dilly

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I have never seen anyone shooting 2 1/2" shells in 12 guage. I am about to buy a Tobin SxS that is chambered at 2 1/2" and was considering having it reamed out to 2 3/4".

My questions are: Does anybody know if or where one could get 2 1/2" shells (gun will be used mainly for grouse and woodcock hunting) and, are they expensive? ( I suspect they are)
 
Thanks John, I never considered cutting the hull down...but what becomes of the wad?
The Tobin isn't really a valuable collector gun...just sentimental to me. Kinda cool too because it was made in Woodstock Canada.
 
www.ballisticproducts.com has information , wads and a devise to cut cases to the proper length. I believe they can be reloaded on any shotshell press, only you may have to start the crimp with a hand tool and maybe put a spacer under the crimping position or make a roll crimp. The above company has a distributer in Alberta.
 
dilly said:
I have never seen anyone shooting 2 1/2" shells in 12 guage. I am about to buy a Tobin SxS that is chambered at 2 1/2" and was considering having it reamed out to 2 3/4".

My questions are: Does anybody know if or where one could get 2 1/2" shells (gun will be used mainly for grouse and woodcock hunting) and, are they expensive? ( I suspect they are)[/QUOTE


Firing a 2 3/4 shell in a 2 1/2 gun is not a chamber/ forcing cone problem. The problem is that the 2 3/4 is loaded to a higher pressure than the 2 1/2 shells. Reaming out to 2 3/4 and then using that ammo will not help keep pressures to the designed pressure level.

You would be much better off to hand load some 2 3/4 shells to 2 1/2 pressures. It has been proven many times with pressure testing equipment that the extra 1/4 of shell length, in it's self, does not substantially increase pressure.

At least that is how I understand it.
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2 1/2 inch shells

Kent Cartridge Co, handles these traditional loads for a wee bit more than standard 2 3/4" stuff. I keep #6 and #7 1/2 in 12 and 16 gauge on hand if you need a few boxes. Central Alberta is my location if it helps you out as I dont put them in the mail. David.
 
jeepingpw said:
Yep, used to get 2 1/2" .410 shells in Kelowna. Great for the kids .410, were English shells, but can't find them anymore
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2 1/2" shells are avail almost anywhere for the 410. Both Walmart and C-Tire here carry them.....2.5" 12 gauge is a different story...
 
Ardent said:
Ellwood Epps carries the Gamebore line of classic shotshell loads, and they make a nice 2 1/2" load in 12g designed for old gun pressures. I'd keep it as a 2 1/2", saves the collector value, and much more unique. :) Fortunately they are inexpensive too. :)
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Who is this Ellwood Epps can I find them at Ellwood Epps.com?

I would love to find some 20 guage 2&1/2 for my m12!

Bob
 
In the U.S., try Old Western Scrounger, they often have Brass 12 ga shells, last bunch I got were made in Brazil and used Boxer Large Rifle primers.
 
12 ga. 2 1/2" are very easy to reload with a few small hand tools, which you can fashion yourself, the one thing you need to buy is the roll crimp attachment for your drill/drill press.(it is avail. from Ball. prod.) You are better off to reload with old style wads for a better fit ie: card wads, and felt. possibly the WAA12R might fit! I reload and use 12 ga. 2 1/2" in smokeless and black powder and reload both with out a reloading machine.
 
Any of the larger retailers in your area that carry Kent should be able to order in Gamebore for you. Gamebore's "Pure Gold" line comes in 12 ga. 2-1/2" in English size 6 and 7 in 28 gram. (1 oz.) and size 6 in 30 gram (1-1/16oz.) and 32 gram (1-1/8oz.) loads.

They are available with both plastic & fibre wads, and 28 gram and 30 gram loads are also available with a paper case, fibre wad only.

Gamebore's "Traditional Game" loads are available in 2-1/2" lengths ( 65mm) in 16, 20, 28 & 410 ga. Gamebore also produces a 2" ( 50mm ) - 12ga. - 24 gram ( 7/8oz.) load in their "Super Game" line.
 
bobbyjack said:
Who is this Ellwood Epps can I find them at Ellwood Epps.com?

I would love to find some 20 guage 2&1/2 for my m12!

Bob
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Ellwood Epps http://www.ellwoodepps.com is a large retailer in Orillia Ont. usually if he doesn't have it , it doesnt exist. But you should be able to order them through Kent. I use the 2-1/2s In my old Henway sxs works great on pheasants.
 
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Dilly: As Bearman mentioned, 2 1/2-inch shotshell hulls, trimmers to convert longer hulls and other shotgunning aids, are available through Ballistics' Products. The Canadian distributor is Wil Bilozir, who's site can be found by going to BP's main site. I have dealt with both Ballistics' Products in the US, as well as with Wil. Never had any problems.
Personally, I would NOT recut your Tobin's chambers to 2 3/4-inch. These interesting and collectable guns should not be butchered. As a matter of interest, the classic English game gun is generally found chambered in 2 1/2-inch guise; usually loaded with 1 1/8-ounce shot. A near-perfect combination for pheasant, grouse and quail.
As some of the true shotgunning aficionados on this forum can tell you, compared to today's crop of plastic auto-loading shotshell shuckers, shooting and especially hunting with one of these classic old side-by-side guns is a sublime experience. Alex M.
 
Thanks for all the insight boys! I picked up two boxes yesterday at Epps. I had to get one box in paper...they smell sooo goood. I got a box of plastic ones too and am gonna try to shim up my MEC Jr to relaod them. I am reconsidering the chamber length change...but the chokes are getting opened for sure from full and IM to skeet and IC.

Does anybody think that a claybuster wad, meant to hold 1 1/8 oz of shot, when trimmed to hold 1 oz (thus making it shorter) would be ok to load in a 2 1/2" shell (with a 1 oz shot load)?

And, has anyone tried chamber mates in a SxS? I would like to shoot 2 3/4" shells in 20ga in this gun for skeet...
 
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