Iver Johnson's 12 gauge Champion

If you have a fired 3" shell, stuff it full of wadding or tissue to keep the crimp folded out full length and see if it will chamber completely without pressing the end of the crimp back in even ever so slightly. If there seems to be any interference, don't do it.
 
The barrel is stamped with "bore" and the diameter of the muzzle is 0.75".

A)so what kind of choke does this shotgun have?
B)modified,improved or full?
C)I am guessing less than modified right?
D)Also if I want to fire slug shells which chokes can safely accept them?.

Thanks.
 
Most if not all Champions were "farm" guns and choke meant that they were full choke. These chokes were swaged in and not normally bored. They were often opened quickly with heavy buck shot or slug loads. There were no early Champions chambered in 3" Mag. Yours is an old model. I have never seen an actual Champion chambered in 3". You can safely fire foster style slugs in your shotgun.

cheers Darryl
 
It was made late 1920's to early 1930's it is not chambered for 3 inch, don't try it. If it doesn't say 2 3/4 in. any where on the barrel it MAY be chambered for 2 1/2 in. 12 gauge. Have it checked by a gunsmith for chamber length, it is not what will fit into the chamber ,it is the pressures that develop when the crimp has no where to go except into the barrel when it expands. Early 12 gauge was rolled crimped and this made a shorter fired case, the fold crimp shells are 1/4 inch longer and obstruct the throat of the barrel increasing pressures. Have it checked.
 
BEARMAN said:
It was made late 1920's to early 1930's it is not chambered for 3 inch, don't try it. If it doesn't say 2 3/4 in. any where on the barrel it MAY be chambered for 2 1/2 in. 12 gauge. Have it checked by a gunsmith for chamber length, it is not what will fit into the chamber ,it is the pressures that develop when the crimp has no where to go except into the barrel when it expands. Early 12 gauge was rolled crimped and this made a shorter fired case, the fold crimp shells are 1/4 inch longer and obstruct the throat of the barrel increasing pressures. Have it checked.
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Thanks for the detailed info,if I find it is chambered for only 2 1/2 in. 12 gauge shells does my local Canadian Tire or Wal* Mart sell that size?.
 
The gun smith that checks the chamber can usually rechamber for 2 3/4 in. but unless the gun was your grandfathers and you wanted to shoot it , it will cost more than the gun is worth, which my guess is about $50 to $100 . You could use old 12 gauge roll crimped ammo . Canadian tire doesn't sell 2 1/2 in. ammo , but it can be hand loaded . There is specialty ammo available in 2 in and 2 1/2in. but you would have to hunt around to find it.
 
If you have a shot gun with a known 2 3/4 or 3 inch chamber, you can turn a wood bowl that fits the chamber
, instert in to the known shot guns and mark the depth no the wood - 2 3/4" or what ever the chamber is on that marked gun, then insert in your old shot gun and you can see what it is, will be 2 1/2, or 2 5/8 or is your lucky 2 3/4"
use a tapered piece in the choke end and you can use the same method, wood lathe is handy for this , I have made lots of these.
Marshall- Sask.
 
sidney said:
Thanks for the detailed info,if I find it is chambered for only 2 1/2 in. 12 gauge shells does my local Canadian Tire or Wal* Mart sell that size?.
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There's actually two considerations that you'll want to take into account - the shell length (both before and after firing) and the barrel pressures. Black powder, the gunpowder that was used in the era of 2 - 2 1/2" shells, was a slower burning material than modern nitro powders. You'd be well advised to look for a source of 2 1/2" black powder ammo. A second alternative, if you can find them, are nitro powder shells in 2 1/2" that are designed to approximate the muzzle velocity of the black powder originals.

The nitro copies are more popular because of the reduced urgency to clean guns promptly after using it. Black powder is highly corrosive. Guns that have fired black powder should be cleaned the same day (with generous amounts of boiling water, believe it or not).

I don't know who might sell black powder shells on the east coast but, if you call around, I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction. I've heard a rumour that Kent can bring in nitro-based low pressure loads in 2 1/2" on a special order basis, but I don't know if this is true. "Fassteel" here on CGN can tell you for certain.

I wouldn't want to leave you with the impression that shooting these old guns is inherently dangerous. However, using the wrong ammo can lead to damage to the firearm as well as personal injury to the shooter. Feed 'er the ammo she was designed for and your risk will be no greater than with any other firearm (this is all assuming the gun is in shootable condition to begin with).

SS
 
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