oo_buck Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 I know currently that 12ga shotguns come in 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/2" chambers.... Didn't there used to be a slightly shorter chamber? If so, can you still buy shells for them? A friend inherited an old Belgian Browning A5, that his grandfather used to have to trim down 2 3/4" shells for ......... Am I thinking right here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gfourhunter Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... there is. i think and i may be wrong but it is a 2 1/2 in. have seen guns that take shorter loads but have not seen shells. i would say reload them. AJ should know more. hes the man with the plan!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... I "inherited" about 15 boxes of 2 1/2 inch 12 ga shells that were in the old ranch house when I took over my current deer lease. They are some European brand that I'm not familiar with. I guess they were left there by some previous quail hunters. I'll probably get around to shooting them up at clays eventually. Don't know of any US manufacturers that currently offer shells shorter than 2 3/4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... Some of the very old Browning A5 semi auto guns and some of the early Winchester Model 12 pump guns had 2 9/16" chambers. Most gunsmiths will convert them to handle standard 2 3/4" loads. To get ammo today for the short chamber, they pretty much has to be European manufactured. The short chamber is still popular in Europe but not here. Kent/Gamebore English Field loads are available, as are Eley shells. Check out Able Ammo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oo_buck Posted December 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... Thanks guys..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... Wow... never knew that, learn something new everyday! The only odd ball size shotgun shell I've heard of is the older 2 7/8" for the 10ga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... The .410 bore shotgun also uses either 2 1/2" or 3" ammo. Standard skeet target loads (Win AA or Rem STS) are 2 1/2" in the little gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... 00 Buck---Am I reading this wrong but I think you are saying that a friend has a Browning that will only shoot 2 1/2" shells? You can't "trim down " a 2 3/4" shell to fit. If that barrel has not been reamed out to 2 3/4"----Don't shot anything thru it. The barrel can split or blow up in your face. That's what I read or am I all wet on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... AJ------This is an Auto. I know the barrel can be reamed out for 2 3/4" shell but wouldn't you also have to change the ejector clip position also. Sorry for this but the way I read the post it sounded like the barrel wan never reamed out. There is no way I know of to "trim down" a shotshell. This just sounds like a dangerous situation. That barrel needs to be looked at by a gunsmith befrore anything is shot thru it. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... CB, The gun can safely shoot 2 1/2" ammo. It has a 2 9/16" chamber. You can still buy factory ammo made to this spec. I don't see why you could not trim down a 2 3/4" parallel walled hull (like Federal GM) and load with appropriate components. It would take some specialized items like shotcups or felt wads and mylar wraps. But safe data is available. Good point Bob, I know what you are getting at. With an older 870 that was made pre ~198? time frame, unless your receiver was a MAGNUM, you can only shoot 2 3/4" ammo even though the barrel can handle the longer shells. The reason is the ejector needs to be moved back by a gunsmith. I don't know if the A5 has to have the same modification done, I would imagine so. That's why I said take it to a gunsmith for conversion from 2 9/16" to 2 3/4". I see gunsmiths charge quite a bit more for the work on an A5 vs 870, so it may be some fairly detailed work. Gander Mountain charges $160 to do this job on an A5. One thing to remember is this will alter the gun from original. That can have drastic impacts on the value of a gun even though it makes it more useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oo_buck Posted December 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... The guy who used to own the gun is no longer living.... When he was alive, and could no longer find the 2 1/2" shells, he would un-crimp the 2 3/4" shells and cut a little of the length off of them, then re-crimp them.... The guy who now owns it, doesn't want to have to mess with that. So basically, he can either buy 2 1/2"s or rechamber the gun...... Sorry if I was unclear earlier. THANKS guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted December 22, 2005 Report Share Posted December 22, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... Thanks, I found this topic interesting, always like new stuff on guns. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 Re: 12 ga Question.... OK---AJ--I'll buy the reloading of Federal's gold medal after you have trimmed 1/4" off the hull. The reload with whatever wad, powder, etc per a manual. I won't take a load shell, open the crimp, cut off 1/4" & then recrimp. It would add all kinds of wad pressure & who know what else. Sorry to jump up & down---but I didn't want someone tampering with shells or heaven forbid shooting a longer shell in the gun. VERY BAD things will happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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