3" is better than 2 3/4" for all uses.

[firestar]

I can see no reason why 2 3/4" chamber are still being made in pump or semi autos anymore. The 3" is superior for many reasons even if you never use the 3" shells.

Defensive SGs should always be chambered in 3" due to the variety of ammo available and reliability. I had a 2 3/4" Ithaca that jammed while firing Brennike (sp) shells because they were slightly longer than normal and wouldn't clear the chamber.

 

[jmbg29]

Given the wide variety of things that I have killed with my 2 3/4" 12, I see no reason for the 3". But if you like 'em, I say Rock On!

I've been using mine for more than 25 years, and I can count the problems that I have had with it on one hand. Then again, it's a Belgian made Browning A-5 (1956) vintage.

Good enough for JMB, is good enough for jmbg29.

 

[Badger Arms]

Another vote for 2 3/4"

The 3" and 3 1/2" Magnums were designed mostly for use with less-dense steel shot. Lead shot, buckshot, slugs, etc. are essentially equal in the short loadings. Steel shot needs that extra room. When you cut a lead shotshell open, a good amount of space is wadding. I use 2 3/4" for everything, including home defense with 12 pellet Buckshot.

To poke holes in your theory, why aren't all shotguns made in 12 guage then? Who needs 410, 20ga, 16ga, etc? Why not make all shotguns in 10ga? It's better, right? Why not make all 12ga shotguns in 3 1/2" Magnum? You can shoot 2 3/4" in them too. The fact is that you can make shotguns lighter, use a shorter action, and have a shorter slide stroke with the shorter shells. Guns like the 870 and Mossberg 500 don't really gain anything, but guns like the Browning Auto and the Ithaca 37 do to some degree.

Funny you should start this thread, though, as I cannot think of a single manual action shotgun that is 2 3/4" only... can you? Ithacas are all 3" now as are Remington, Mossberg, Browning, Winchester, FN (Winchester renamed), etc. I do know that the Remington 1100 is still offered only in 2 3/4" as a weight concern.

 

[Marshall]

I vote for both but, only use 3" for waterfowl or Deer slugs.
2 3/4" loads handle the rest for me.

 

[PJR]

With the exception of the Remington 1100 which is a designed to be a target gun, it seems most makers agree with you. I can't think of any other semis or pumps that are 2-3/4" only.

That said, I never found that much need for 3" shells for anything other than waterfowl.

Paul

 

[Dave McCracken]

If all the geese and other game I've shot with dinky little 2 3/4" shells were lined up,they'd reach from here to Clarksville.

3" shells here are limited to Waterfowl and Turkey loads. Upland birds don't need a teacup full of shot to cleanly and humanely be taken.

HD and all around shotguns should have 3" capability these days just for versatility. But 95% of my shotgunning goes well with the short shells.

 

[HSMITH]

If it were not for steel shot I would shoot 2 3/4" shells EXCLUSIVELY. I do see one reason for the 2 3/4" chambers though, and that is for target shooters. The extra chamber length is not friendly to patterns unless some cone work has been done. The gun balance is also affected quite a bit by the extra reciever and action length.

 

[PJR]

The extra chamber length is not friendly to patterns unless some cone work has been done. The gun balance is also affected quite a bit by the extra reciever and action length.

In my experience shooting a 2-3/4" shell in a 3" chamber doesn't adversely affect patterns. Many Italian target guns come with 3" chambers including high grade Berettas and Perazzis and they pattern very well. There are many factors that have a definite impact on pattern quality. A quarter inch of chamber length isn't one of them and I own guns with both lengths. Krieghoff and Browning OTOH stay with 2-3/4" chambers.

I don't agree that balance is changed quite a bit with 3" shells. In certain cases, most often European sxs, actions are heavier for 3" shells to make proof. The actions aren't longer but are wider. In domestic pump and semis the actions don't get larger until 3.5" shells are required. The actions on a current production 1100 and an 11/87 are identical. The difference between a Beretta target gun with 2-3/4" and 3" chambers is the depth of the chambers and nothing else.

If there was a true advantage to 2-3/4" chambers for all target guns then that's what the big names would use exclusively.

Paul

 

[Soap]

Firestar- So you think I should use 3 inchers in my HD gun? The longest distance in my po' college kid apartment is seven yards.

 

[Badger Arms]

Daniel:

I don't think that was what he was saying. It's nice to have the versatility in an HD gun, not that you'll ever need it. There are dozens of times more home defense loads in 3" than 2 3/4" out there. For your situation, you might need reduced recoil buckshot or even bird shot loads now. When you graduate, I doubt you'd want to sell your gun and buy one capable of shooting the longer shells. I, for one, still use the 2 3/4" exclusively for everything, including home defense.

 

[Sir Galahad]

I like having the 3" option just because I like that in a weapon. But I don't shoot 3". Now, in my .357, I mostly shoot .357, but I like the idea of .38 and being able to shoot those. But if you look through history, most casualties produced by shotguns (and there are LOTS of them) were produced by 2 3/4" shells.

It's kind of like, hey, .454 Casull is a lot more powerful than .44-40 .45 Long Colt. But .45 Long Colt and .44-40 has killed more people, bad and good, than .454 Casull ever will. And .45 Long Colt is making a comeback as a serious defensive cartridge. I'd say the 2 3/4" 12 gauge cartridge is not only a classic, but a standard by which all others are measured. "Two and three-quarters twelve gauge double-ought buck" has come to be a universal phrase for "will drop any man within range". The 2 3/4" is here to stay, just like all other proven calibers/loads.

 

[2nd Amendment]

I'd agree almost everything should be made with 3" chambers. That being said I can't think of many reasons why I'd ever use the 3" shells, it's just nice to have the option.

 

[oldpaladin]

Firestar,
In a word, versatility. In my case, I use 2 3/4" and 3" for both buckshot, slugs, and sabots... When I was a duck and goose hunter, I only had the 2 3/4" capability. A Winchester Model 12, or a Remington 870, either one, brought home the meat for the table... I must confess, the thought of using Remington's new Hevi-shot for an extra 15 yards or so, with a 3" load, does sound attractive... As it is, I'll have to probalby wait to get a bird gun... Maybe next year... Then, I'll make it a 3" gun, and never have to worry about finding ammo...

Carter, oldpaladin, out...

 

[sm]

I respect your opinion.

I currently do not own anything with 3" chambers. From my experience, extensive time with a pattern board, competition, and hunting...I actually prefer 2 3/4 .

I have used the 3 1/2" and see its purpose and effectiveness --again using a pattern board, and game[read waterfowl]. Plus I just had to experience "a friggin train wreck" once in my life with a spl 3 1/2 slug loading...

Granted I have spotted a good used 870 with 2 3/4 chambers, when avail, will get... .

"Matter of bore not choke" -Brister

"I believe the measure of the performance best seen by a pattern board, than the length of a shell."--re1973

IMO.

I'll let the smith's'and techinical persons get into all the forcing cone, chamber length angles...etc. They can also explain all the stuff on the muzzle /choke end.

Sure makes the 2/34 chamber only guns ...a great value...being all 'antiquated, inefficient, and useless".

Neat little dealie about payload to bore size, reason why a 28 ga IS so efficient...like 10 bores...or my skeet load of extra hard #8's are deadly on doves(12 or 28 ga).

 

[optimator]

3" mag for turkey hunting. 2 3/4 for just about everything elase.

 

[Soap]

Badger Arms- Now that I reread the post, I did miss his point! I use 2.75" for everything as well. Right now, I stoke my HD shotty with 2.75" Federal Tactical #4 Buck or 2.75" 7.5 shot field loads.

Firestar- I missed your point!