Loading 2 1/2'' shells in 3'' chamber

Okay to put shorter shell in longer chamber but definitely dont go the other way. A shell that is longer than the chamber may cause dangerous pressure build up causing catastrophic failure.
 
Then why do guys say they put 3 inch shells in 2-3/4 inch chambered guns.
I believe the manufacturer says to use 3 inch or less in guns chambered for 3 inch.
Same as for 3.5 inch chambered guns use ammo 3.5 inches or less etc, etc...
Read the books before someone gets hurt.
Rob
 
That was the problem.
You let that POL expire...
Anyone who let it lapse had to take the course and pay the monies.
And I will apologize for the possibility of the hijacking of the thread.
My comments have little if any thing to do with the question of 2-1/2 inch shells in a 3 inch chambered gun.
Rob

I worded it wrong in my earlier post. What I meant to say was I got my pal before my pol expired but was told I had to take the course. Or yes, I could have challenged it and just took the tests but my wife wanted to get her pal so I took the course with her. But there was nothing in place at the time I got mine saying it could be grandfathered in. Not saying though that there wasn't something earlier to that effect.
 
It is not ok to shoot 2 3/4 in a 2 1/2" chambered gun. Or at least is not prudent. Many people have done so without their gun blowing up but adding 1000 psi to the chamber pressure is something a conscientious person would avoid. These are older guns and often not nitro proofed so I would not risk my health and the safety of those around me by doing impromptu destructive testing just because I thought it would be probably be alright. Maybe 1/2 or more of my guns have 2 1/2 inch chambers. 2 1/2 is all I shoot through them and that is with BP-equivalent-pressure loads.
 
Then why do guys say they put 3 inch shells in 2-3/4 inch chambered guns.
I believe the manufacturer says to use 3 inch or less in guns chambered for 3 inch.
Same as for 3.5 inch chambered guns use ammo 3.5 inches or less etc, etc...
Read the books before someone gets hurt.
Rob


God takes care of drunks and fools.

A 3" shell will chamber and fire just fine in a 2 3/4" chamber. But when the crimp opens out and partially obstructs the forcing cone, pressures spike. Modern guns are very strong, but this is abuse of the gun and dangerous.

My original post explained how to cut the crimp off the 3" shell so it fits the chamber after it is fired. No pressure spike.

If I had an old 2 1/2" gun, I would do the same trick to cut the crimp of 2/3/4" target loads. (Less than full pressure ammo)
 
Then why do guys say they put 3 inch shells in 2-3/4 inch chambered guns.
I believe the manufacturer says to use 3 inch or less in guns chambered for 3 inch.
Same as for 3.5 inch chambered guns use ammo 3.5 inches or less etc, etc...
Read the books before someone gets hurt.
Rob

A 3" shell will chamber in a 2 3/4" chambers gun because the full length of 3" cartridge unfired is 2 3/4". A 2 3/4" shot gun shell measures 2 1/4" to 2.5 " in length depending whether it has a rolled crimp such as on a slug or a folded 6 or 8 point crimp such as found over shot. When a 2 3/4" shell is fired the total unfolded length will not exceed 2 3/4 ". A 3" shell will chamber in a 2 3/4" rated chamber but if fired its folded crimp will extend to 3 " and into the forcing cone of the 2 3/4" chambered gun, greatly increasing pressures and most likely splitting open the chamber area.
The forcing cones on most production shotguns are very abrupt, usually 1/2" in length, some older higher grade guns and many modern high grade clay target shotguns will have lengthened forcing cones to about 2" to help pattern performance and slight recoil reduction may also be noticed.

Some older shotguns have 2.5" chambers so one has to be careful with older shotguns as the 2 3/4" shells will chamber in them. Hope this helps folks understand things a bit better.
 
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That is the way it worked out for me as well. The OP's question is well covered in the text.

I worded it wrong in my earlier post. What I meant to say was I got my pal before my pol expired but was told I had to take the course. Or yes, I could have challenged it and just took the tests but my wife wanted to get her pal so I took the course with her. But there was nothing in place at the time I got mine saying it could be grandfathered in. Not saying though that there wasn't something earlier to that effect.
 
Well, he could have been grandfathered to a POL and never bought or was given a new gun.
Then when they decided to do away with the POL they yet again grandfathered those individuals to to PAL.
Iirc, but have been wrong once or twice before.
Rob

RIGHT. After my FAC I got a POL. In September 2015 POL was replaced with PAL without Firearms course.
 
RIGHT. After my FAC I got a POL. In September 2015 POL was replaced with PAL without Firearms course.

Yes, I just checked on the firearms site and up to Sept. 2015 your pol was converted to a pal without having to take the course. Seems like there was conflicting information at one time depending on who one talked to. At the time my pol was going to expire, 2008, I spoke to someone at the firearms center and was told I had to take the course or challenge it. Guess I should have checked online instead of talking to someone.
 
Well that is interesting. Could have saved myself some serious BS.

Yes, I just checked on the firearms site and up to Sept. 2015 your pol was converted to a pal without having to take the course. Seems like there was conflicting information at one time depending on who one talked to. At the time my pol was going to expire, 2008, I spoke to someone at the firearms center and was told I had to take the course or challenge it. Guess I should have checked online instead of talking to someone.
 
No. It is dangerous to do so. It can cause issues with the barrel. Use only shells rated for the chamber size

I know this has been beaten to death but it's remarkable to me how often people who clearly know nothing post evidence of it on a forum that is populated by people who likely DO know something. It's just usually about Damascus barrels or recoil. LOL

About half my SxS are 2 1/2" chambered guns, the rest are 2 3/4". For simplicity sake I mostly buy 2 1/2" shells. No difference whatsoever in feel or lethality. Those clays die a certain death regardless of which length of shell I'm using. Hahaha!
 
I got my FAC 1978 first yr implemented when it changed to a pal took the challenge exam never had a Pol . As for the question at hand ? I would be embarrassed to ask a question that is so basic as far a firearm knowledge do some research . Also would be even more emmmbarresed with posting an answer without doing some reasesrch.
 
The courses have a lot of info for someone new to the shooting sports to absorb. Perfect retention is not going to happen though it hopefully also teaches people where to find the things they don't know afterwards.

Always better to ask than to guess where safety is concerned.
As for people who don't know but feel they have to jump in anyway..... Hopefully they are outnumbered and can be lost in the mix or maybe even learn some themselves.
 
Yes i agree. It is ok.. It would take thousands of rounds to see any deformation to the cone in the barrel. If tou shot 2-1/2. Only for years. Then shot full size shell. Yes clean well first... Wadding needs room to fully open
 
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