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2 3/4" or 3" shells??????

auburn_63auburn_63 Member Posts: 24 ✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
I've got a Remington 870 express 12ga, not magnum, that says to only shoot 2 3/4" shells in non-magnum versions. 3" shells chamber fine in it, would it hurt it if I shot 3" shells in it? Anyone done it before?
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Comments

  • duckhunterduckhunter Member Posts: 7,687 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    PLEASE CHECK THE PRINT ON THE BARREL . I THINK IT WILL SAV "3 INCH MAG" ALSO IS THE LETTER "M" IN THE SERIAL NUMBER?? IF SO, SAVE TO SHOOT 3 INCH SHELLS.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • woodsrunnerwoodsrunner Member Posts: 5,378 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Shotgun chambers are measured with the crimp opened. An unfired shell that's too long will still chamber in the short chamber. When you pull the trigger though the pressures will shoot through the roof because the crimped part of the shell has no place to go. If the gun is marked 2-3/4" only it means just that. To do otherwise is to risk blowing the gun up in your face.

    Woods

    rockin_lg_clr.gif
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  • jjmitchell60jjmitchell60 Member Posts: 3,887
    edited November -1
    My winchester 1400 deluxe is marked 2 & 3/4" shells but I chambered a 3' turkey shell by accident one day. I did shoot it and was very relieved when it did no harm. With that said if the ggun says 2 & 3/4" shell do not shoot 3" shells even though they will chamber! As mentioned earlier, serious harm could result from it. It was my own stupidity in not cleaning out my vest that caused me to do it. If I had gotten hurt it would have been my fault. If the gun states 2 &3/4" and 3" shell then by all means use 3" shells but not 3 & 1/2" Mag. shell.
    I do believe that the 870 express should be marked for 3" shells though. I had a 20 ga 870 express that was.
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  • just-shootjust-shoot Member Posts: 233 ✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Remington 870 EXPRESS MAGNUM, and on the side of the barrel is printed *12 GA. 2 3/4" OR 3". So if your barrel only has 2 3/4" printed, I would not try 3" shells.
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  • fort_knoxfort_knox Member Posts: 263 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You can probably "get away with" doing some things you're not supposed to do, but the specifications/warnings are there for a reason.

    A case in point; a childhood shooting friend of mine used to "score" his paper 20 ga./.410 bore shell (I can't remember which it was now) around the circumference with his pocket knife when he wanted a "slug" round.

    It was a single shot shotgun and this worked...at 50 feet or so there was a perfectly round hole in a piece of plywood. He opened the breech and ejected the portion of the shell that had seperated where he had scored it.

    I still don't think it was a smart thing to do even though it worked.
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  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fort_knox
    A case in point; a childhood shooting friend of mine used to "score" his paper 20 ga./.410 bore shell (I can't remember which it was now) around the circumference with his pocket knife when he wanted a "slug" round.

    He opened the breech and ejected the portion of the shell that had seperated where he had scored it.



    Thats what the hunting regulations are refering to when they talk about "cut shells". In Michigan they are a big no-no during bird season.

    As stated above, do not excede the chambers recogmended shell length, 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" are safe in a 3 1/2" chamber, 2 3/4" and 3" are safe in a 3" chamber, and only 2 3/4" is safe in a 2 3/4 chamber.
    (unless you got a bunch of 2 9/16 shells laying around, which are safe in a 2 3/4 chamber but 2 3/4" shells are NOT safe in a 2 9/16" chambered gun)
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • auburn_63auburn_63 Member Posts: 24 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the replys. I've got a friend who has a 870 express magnum. We took both my gun and his gun apart and they look identical. Nothing looks like it's built stronger or larger in the magnum version.
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  • soopsoop Member Posts: 4,633
    edited November -1
    They may look the same to you but the fact remains they are different.Yours is still bored for a 2 3/4 inch shell and your friends is bored for a 3 inch shell.A quarter of an inch difference in the bore may not be visible to you but it does make a difference. Don`t try it.It WILL hurt you.
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  • warcrobwarcrob Member Posts: 358 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Even though the 3" shell chambers, when the crimp opens up as the shot is fire it will not open up comepletely. This will result in a bore obstruction at the start of the barrel or forcing cone. The results can and have been disastrous. I've seen guns with receivers split. I have in my possession an Ithica side by side that was given to me for youth safety classes that someone had done that very thing to.

    If you ain't got a sesne of humor you got no business bein here!
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  • Bushnell BoyBushnell Boy Member Posts: 247 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it is an express it should take three inch shells but like the others said look on the barrel. there will be printing on both sides of the barrel. I have an old 870 wingmaster that will only take 2 &3/4 check the barrel




    In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey

    -Beck (1993)
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