Mossberg 500 Question, Advice Please...

S

Sigbill

Inactive
I have a Mossberg 500 12-guage shotgun, chambered for 2-3/4, and 3" shells. I had a 'brain-cramp' :o, and inadvertently purchased a box of shells (#2-shot) that are 3-1/2"... Here is My Question. I can Individually load them, and they seem to "Fit" in the Chamber. Would I be able to use-them-up this way ???
Thanks in advance for Your Input... :)
 
No, It won't work! The chamber must be long enough for the shell to be able to open the crimp when fired. A 3 1/2 inch shell will fit in a 3 inch chamber but there won't be room for the crimp to fully open when the shell is fired. Find someone that would trade you for something that works in your gun, and chalk it up to your shotgun education.
 
No, they are dangerous to shoot in your gun ..../ and maybe disastrous !!

The measurement on the box - is the fired length ( so that's why you think they fit into your gun ). Please do not fire those shells in a 3" chambered gun ...
 
Massively excessive chamber pressure will be present.. both from the longer shell with heavier payload of shot as well possible higher grain/dram weight of powder along with smaller opening of shell due to smaller chamber/forcing cone.

Brent
 
All The Above -- Do NOT Shoot These!

Bring 'em back for a credit and get something else -- not the store's fault. Sell em' to a table at a gunshow for half price at the start of some hunting season. Donate them to a gunclub/NRA Dinner to raffle off/give away as a prize and mention your name...
Gehr
 
Sigbill,
The process you described works when using 3 inch shells in a barrel marked for 3 inch shells installed an action originally designed for 2 3/4-inch shells. This situation is quite common since some manufacturers no longer make 2 3/4-inch replacement barrels for the shorter actions. The shell is being used in an appropriate chamber, but may not cycle in the short action.

With 3 1/2-inch shells in a 3-inch chamber it's a totally different story, you have two problems: First, the 3-inch chamber is too short to safely use a 3 1/2-inch shell. And, then there's the problem of over pressure. For 2 3/4 and 3-inch shells the SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) is 11.5-KSI. For the 3 1/2-inch guns the MAP has been increased more than 20%, to 14.0-KSI.

Be safe!
 
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