cooey model 840 16 gauge
- Thread starter wonksy
- Start date
- Location
- Not really sure.
You just just try measuring the chamber length with a dowel or something similar. I just measured my 3 inch chamber and its about 3 1/8th in length.
You will be able to feel it hitting a slight ridge.
My guess is no however, it is likely only 2 3/4.
You will be able to feel it hitting a slight ridge.
My guess is no however, it is likely only 2 3/4.
There's probably some goose load somewhere in 16 ga. 3", although I've never seen any in stores.
I've got the exact same gun in 16 ga., too. I learned how to pass shoot ducks with that gun many moons ago. Poor old girl hardly ever gets out of the cabinet these days.
I've got the exact same gun in 16 ga., too. I learned how to pass shoot ducks with that gun many moons ago. Poor old girl hardly ever gets out of the cabinet these days.
It seems to me that I remember reading that they were some 16 gauge 3 inch shells and shotguns made back in the 1930's or 40's.Very few.
To the best of my knowledge all 16 gauge Winchester/Cooey Model 840 shotguns were manufactured for 2 3/4 inch shells.
To the best of my knowledge all 16 gauge Winchester/Cooey Model 840 shotguns were manufactured for 2 3/4 inch shells.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
There is not, and never has been a 3" 16 ga. load. Thank goodness! The 16 is perfectly balanced with 1 oz of lead shot and is best used for upland birds. The European standard chamber length was 65mm or about 2-5/8" up until fairly recently. North american gun makers switched to 2-3/4" about 1940 if I remember correctly.
The common American 1-1/8 oz 2-3/4" loads are heavy hitters on both ends, and are seldom used in Europe where they understand what a well balanced 16 ga is for. I don't think any ammo company is still loading the old 1-1/4 oz magnum any more. They were somewhat useful with large lead shot for geese and ducks but were discontinued when lead was banned for waterfowl hunting. Current 16 ga. steel loads are pretty poor duck ammo. Tungsten matrix or Bismuth will make a 16 into a passable 40 yd. waterfowler, but the bore size does its best patterning with shot smaller than #4. I could be perfectly happy using my 16's with nothing but an ounce of lead 5's or 6's for big wild birds like pheasant or sharptail, and an ounce of 7-1/2's for huns and forest grouse. I also keep a few TM 5's on hand for potting the odd duck or goose, and feel well supplied.
The common American 1-1/8 oz 2-3/4" loads are heavy hitters on both ends, and are seldom used in Europe where they understand what a well balanced 16 ga is for. I don't think any ammo company is still loading the old 1-1/4 oz magnum any more. They were somewhat useful with large lead shot for geese and ducks but were discontinued when lead was banned for waterfowl hunting. Current 16 ga. steel loads are pretty poor duck ammo. Tungsten matrix or Bismuth will make a 16 into a passable 40 yd. waterfowler, but the bore size does its best patterning with shot smaller than #4. I could be perfectly happy using my 16's with nothing but an ounce of lead 5's or 6's for big wild birds like pheasant or sharptail, and an ounce of 7-1/2's for huns and forest grouse. I also keep a few TM 5's on hand for potting the odd duck or goose, and feel well supplied.
In Ronald W.Stadt's book," Winchester Shotguns and Shotshells", he states on page 94 about the 16 gauge Model 21 Winchester,"Some early ones had three inch chambers."
In Ned Schwing's book," Winchester's Finest, The Model 21",on page 67 he shows a close up picture of a Model 21 marked,"Winchester 16 gauge 3in.cham."
In Ned Schwing's book," Winchester's Finest, The Model 21",on page 67 he shows a close up picture of a Model 21 marked,"Winchester 16 gauge 3in.cham."
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Well put Longwalker. The 16 is one of the last shotgun chamberings not to be "improved" with magnumitis. The other is the 28, hopefully they remain as they are for years to come. I shoot Kent TM in my 16's and they perform as well as the old lead 2 3/4" magnum loads from the past. Long live the 16!
cheers Darryl
cheers Darryl
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Hey, 28 ga., I didn't know that about the Winchester M21 3". Do you have any information about anybody actually loading ammo for the long chamber guns? I regularly shoot several 16 ga. guns, and I've been a member of the 16 ga. society for a few years, and belong to their loading group. I thought I was pretty well informed about whatever there was to know about the gauge, I guess I still have a few things to learn!
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I looked it up, and Winchester started making standard 2-3/4" chambers in the 16 ga. model 12 in 1926.
In Mr. Stadt's book on page 91 there is a picture of a factory loaded 16 gauge 3 inch shotshell.The shell is a Winchester Leader.I would assume that the 3 inch 16 gauge in the Model 21 is quite rare.From my understanding it had to be special ordered.
The 16 gauge is a fine gauge and it is good that people like yourself and others in the society are doing so much to help keep the gauge going.
From what I have seen and heard about Winchester its hard to say, "Winchester never made one" .
At one time 28 gauge shells were available in 2 7/8 inch length.All Winchester Model 12 28 gauge shotguns and 28 gauge Winchester Model 37 shotguns are chambered for the longer 2 7/8 inch 28 gauge shell.Not sure about the Winchester 28 gauge Model 21's but I would think that they would have the longer chamber length in the earlier models .Earlier Winchester 28 gauge Model 12's are marked 2 7/8 while later versions are marked 2 3/4.Even if marked 2 3/4 these shotguns have the longer 2 7/8 inch chamber.
On page 39 of Mr. Stadt's book there is a picture of a primed empty 12 gauge 4 inch Leader shell.I thought the 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge shell was something new.
