Shooting 2-3/4" in a 3" chamber

brasscollector

New member
I recently acquired an H&R topper in 12ga / 3". I have been told by a friend that it is not wise to shoot 2-3/4" shells in a 3" chamber. He said if the chamber was ramped like a forcing cone it would be safe. However, if there was a ridge/ledge that the chamber was designed ONLY for 3" shells and mine has a ridge. I'm sure there is someone here who knows about this and can straighten me out. Thanks.
 
Shoot away and stop listening to this "friend"

The chamber length is the MAXIMUM length you can use - 2-1/2, 2-9/16, 2-3/4 are all safe to use in a 3" gun
 
There's sure a lot of silly "experts" around.
Just don't do it the other way.
Some 2-3/4 chambers will accommodate 3" shells before they're fired, but not afterwards.
Just something to be aware of.
 
Here I am crying wolf.. I could've grabbed a decent flashlight the first time and seen that the 'ridge' I was looking at was in fact just a forcing cone..DUH. Pretty sharp ramp, I was expecting something more gradual. Case closed, thanks.
 
Some shotguns have very long forcing cones, but then those guns cost a lot more.

Your H&R Topper will do everything you want except doubles.

At the public range every Thursday there is a guy with a H&R single shooting, he turns those clay targets into dust.
 
Some 2-3/4 chambers will accommodate 3" shells before they're fired, but not afterwards.
ALL will do that; OP, remember the shell length is the FIRED length of a hull. Put a longer shell in and you risk serious pressure spike which can be dangerous.
 
Don't argue, just smile !!!

I'm sure there is someone here who knows about this and can straighten me out. Thanks.
It's not you that needs straightening out, it's your buddy. I sometimes think that here is a book out there on fictitious information about firearms. ... :eek:

On most barrels that I have seen, it clearly states that it will shoot 2-3/4 "and"3". .... :cool:

Be Safe !!!
 
FITASC is correct about the standard length being called off the hulls(Fired shells). If you stand a bunch of different manufactured shells (Unfired) next to each other, they are usually all kinds of lengths. Some of the older 2 3/4" inch chambers are a little on the short side. I could never shoot 2 3/4 buckshot in my old H&R single I use for slugs. The buck hulls are a little longer and the end kind of welds the plastic in the forcing cone. It does not damage it, but they will usually not eject. I shoot 2 1/2" slugs through my 3" .410 all the time. I have never even seen a 2 3/4" .410 shotgun.
 
If the fictitious firearms manual existed my friend would most likely have a copy. The reason I originally asked was due to the fact the my Mossberg 500 said 2-3/4" or 3" shells on the barrel whereas the topper just said 3". I am mainly looking to shoot 2-3/4" shells if possible as I wasn't looking forward to a steady diet of 3"s in a single-shot ;)
 
It's like a .357 Magnum revolver, you can shoot a couple of .38 caliber rounds in it, as well as the .357, but you can't shoot .357s in a .38. Not more than once, anyway. If you still want to try it, don't use your writing hand to shoot with.
 
Sounds as if your "buddy" wants to see you beaten down shooting those three inch magnums.
Just as dufus has said no fun shooting those Toppers with 3 inch shells.
 
I tried 3" in the Topper some, but the 2 3/4 are not a problem unless you are gonna shoot more than say 40-50 rounds in an outing.

I think the damnn thing recoils with 3" rounds more than my 460 does, but I have never shot it (the 460) more than 10-12 shots in an outing. The Topper does not last anywhere near that long.....say four to five 3" is my limit.

I will play with some buddies once in a while with a full warning to hang on.:D
 
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