410 shell size

R

Richard C

Inactive
Greetings, what about using 2 1/2" shells in 3" chamber. My thought is when the crimp opens up it should shield the chamber ledge. What is your thought? What have you done? Thanks Richard

Why would I want to, I have the 2 1/2 shells" and two guns I is chambered for 2 1/2" and the other is 3".
 
There's no problem shooting a 2-1/2" .410 in a 3" chamber. Folks are shooting 2-3/4" 12s in 3" chambers all the time. These days, most field guns are chambered for 3" shells. Your concern about the "chamber ledge" is pretty much moot since the advent of the plastic shot cup. If you are really concerned, talk to a barrel specialist about a forcing cone up-grade. It's pretty common on comp guns.

You know this, but here's a safety note for the newBs that's worth repeating:
DO NOT try to shoot 3" shells in a gun with a shorter chamber.
The shell length should be marked on the barrel.

My experience with the .410 has been pretty much restricted to my skeet guns -- thousands and thousands of 2-1/2" 1/2 oz #9s. I have a single shot .410 in 3" that I haven't used in years. In past threads, I've mentioned that shot shells perform best when the shot column is square (they are as tall as they are wide). This is why 28-ga guns perform so well with 3/4 oz. loads. One reason .410-bore 2-1/2" target loads are a challenge to shoot is they don't have a very efficient shot column. The 3" .410s are worse, probably the least efficient shot shell on the market. They are hardly worth the effort for the additional 1/16 oz. If you want more than 1/2 oz. of shot, now you have an excuse to get a sweet shooting 28 ga gun.
 
You know this, but here's a safety note for the newBs that's worth repeating:
DO NOT try to shoot 3" shells in a gun with a shorter chamber.
The shell length should be marked on the barrel.
Click to expand...

And just to add one thing to Zippy's warning - the shell length is the length of a FIRED SHELL, NOT an unfired one.

Example - an UNFIRED 2-3/4" shell will fit in a gun designed for 2-1/2" shells - DO NOT FIRE IT. The crimp petals will open into the forcing cone area dramatically increasing pressures. On an old gun this could prove very dangerous
 
That is good to hear, that you have done it or don't see it as a problem.

Looking through my stuff last night I find: Winchester 3" and 2 3/4' Both the same size. Also a Remington Peters 3 1/4 that is infact 1/4" taller than the others, these are 12ga just wondered what you thought. Is there such a thing as 12ga 3 1/4" chamber? Printed on the side is: 3 1/4- 1 1/8- 6.
 
Contemporary 12 ga guns come in three standard chamber lengths:
2-3/4" for standard field and target guns,
3" magnums and
3-1/2" super magnums.
Perhaps one of the collectors can give you a reference to guns with 3-1/4" chambers.
Your 3-1/4" 1-1/8-oz #6 shells should be fine in a 3-1/2" chamber. That's an odd load since 1-1/8-oz is the typical load for a 2-3/4" 12 ga shell. Perhaps it's high velocity and the extra capacity is used for additional powder, or it may have been a standard size for black powder 12 ga ammo. How old are the 3-1/4" shells?

Yes, there is some variance in length. As oneounceload mentioned, the standard length is the case length before it's crimped (and after it's fired). Different components and crimping methods result in different lengths of the loaded shells.
 
I suspect that it is 3-1/4 Dram Equivalent, 1-1/8 oz of #6. There is some hull length variances between makers
Click to expand...
Of course… and I was thinking of 3-1/4" shells… duhh… what was I thinking?...do I feel dumb. Not to worry, I've felt dumb before.
Oneounce, we're going to have to start calling you Sherlock Oneounce.

Back to Richard C's question:
As my friend, shotgun guru oneounceload, has astutely pointed out, the 3-1/4 has nothing to do with the shell length. It indicates the black powder equivalent of the powder charge, which is an indicator of the velocity. Somewhere else on the shell box it should say 12-ga 2-3/4" and you can shoot them in any contemporary 12-ga gun.
 
No way of knowing the age of the shell. I've had it for over 30years, but it is plastic can't be too old. Thanks for taking the time. Richard
 
My thought is when the crimp opens up it should shield the chamber ledge.
Click to expand...
FYI, shotgun chambers do not have a "ledge" for headspacing since they headspace on the rim. The chamber transitions directly to the forcing cone, which starts out the same diameter as the chamber and narrows to the bore size. The reason shells longer than the chamber are not to be used even if the shell will chamber is that as the shell crimp opens the shell gets longer. The longer portion of the shell will partially obstruct the bore, causing pressure issues (especially with short forcing cones). Shotgun chambers are cut longer than the cartridge to allow room for the shell crimp to unfold.
 
.410-3"-#7 1/2

My Dad and I killed a truck load of rabbits using .410's and our load was the 3 inch shell w/ #7 1/2 shot, out of full choke field guns. Rem's shot best in all our guns, we thought because of the better wad. We never felt like it was inefficient, and certainly not ineffective. But the 2 1/2" shell left us wanting for more payload and punch.

One problem was that the smallest shot we could find in the short shell was #6, which just did not have enough pellets in it to be an effective killer on rabbits in the brush in front of beagles. Oddly enough, #4 shot was a common load at the stores, which gave really thin patterns.

I do have some AA target loads in 2- 1/2" that are loaded with #8shot, and these seem to do well. Certainly much better than anything w/ larger shot.
 
Zippy, you neglected to mention the 12 bore, 2½" shell that is VERY common in European and in older English shotguns
 
SeekHer, Thanks for the reminder. Yes, there are 2-1/2" chambers and others out there. In an attempt to avoid confusion, I qualified my reply with "contemporary" and "standard" 12 ga lengths -- I think most folks will agree that only 2-3/4, 3 and 3-1/2" fit those qualifications. You're sophisticated enough to know there are more 12 ga lengths available than the three offered by US branded shotguns; but, the typical M-500 or R-870 shooter won't encounter them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top