what's gonna happen if 2-3/4" shell use in 3" shotgun
- Thread starter loonie
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You can use a 2 3/4", 3", or 3 1/2" in a 3 1/2" chamber.
You can only use a 2 3/4" shell in a 2 3/4" chamber. Guns with a 2 3/4" chamber are cheaper because there's less demand - you're limited as to how much reach-out-and-touch-somebody you can use.
2 3/4" shells are cheaper for obvious reasons.
I have a 3 1/2" gun and use 2 3/4 for practice, 3" for duck, and 3 1/2" for goose.
You can only use a 2 3/4" shell in a 2 3/4" chamber. Guns with a 2 3/4" chamber are cheaper because there's less demand - you're limited as to how much reach-out-and-touch-somebody you can use.
2 3/4" shells are cheaper for obvious reasons.
I have a 3 1/2" gun and use 2 3/4 for practice, 3" for duck, and 3 1/2" for goose.
justashooter
member
instructor was right about not using 3 in a 2 3/4. if you do, the rolled or star crimp at end of case will unfold and have nowhere to go in the short chamber. it will obstruct the bore and cause the wad to hang up, increasing pressure dramatically. possible catastrophic result. much too close to the shooter's face to find out.
arcticap
Member
Yes, within its lethal range limitations! 
Read some of sm's posts. I recently read one where he was talking about guns with 100,000-300,000 rounds downrange.
ETA:
Here is the post, turns out that he was talking about autoloaders, but it is still the smae type of deal. Just about any quality shotgun will last as long as you need it to, with proper maintenance of course.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=214048&highlight=tribute
ETA:
Here is the post, turns out that he was talking about autoloaders, but it is still the smae type of deal. Just about any quality shotgun will last as long as you need it to, with proper maintenance of course.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=214048&highlight=tribute
shotgun can be used as similar as a reliable .22 handgun? that's pretty goodI don't believe that is a true statement. I believe it is the law of supply and demand. Once upon a time there was only 2 3/4" chamber length. There are more 2 3/4's than anything else. I also bet the same holds true for price increase in 3 and 3 1/2" shells. I would bet if you took a poll and asked those who do have a 3 1/2" chamber gun which shells they shoot it would be 90% 2 3/4" shells due to cost and recoil. I have a 3" gun, it gets shot once a year and probably less than 100 rounds. My other shotguns in 2 1/2 and 2 3/4" get much much more use.
What one can use and what one needs are usually two different animals. Focus on getting a shotgun that fits you and don't focus on cartridge length. Having a maggie numb is nice but shot placement will get you more.
az
I think the demand is in the marketing.
I have used 3 inch 12 gauges. but for 90 % of my shooting a 2 3/4 is just fine and I would not buy a 3 inch just for the 10 percent if I did not have to.
Remember that the 3 1/2 inch 870 is primarily a water fowl gun and is heavy and not as smooth in the hands as a regular. With the advent of hevi shot and the like, 2 3/4 inch shells are just as good for 90 % maybe more of your shooting.
I have seen a couple of 1100 auto's that supposedly had a half million rounds thru them and they are considered fragile compared to an 870.....
I have used 3 inch 12 gauges. but for 90 % of my shooting a 2 3/4 is just fine and I would not buy a 3 inch just for the 10 percent if I did not have to.
Remember that the 3 1/2 inch 870 is primarily a water fowl gun and is heavy and not as smooth in the hands as a regular. With the advent of hevi shot and the like, 2 3/4 inch shells are just as good for 90 % maybe more of your shooting.
I have seen a couple of 1100 auto's that supposedly had a half million rounds thru them and they are considered fragile compared to an 870.....
DeftwillP had it right..."not enough shells in the world to wear out and 870"
Any well-made shotgun will most likely even outlast our grandchildren. Brother has an 1100 Remmy autoloader he bought in 1969 or so, and IIRC, the only thing he has done to it, other than a normal cleaning after use, is to replace the "O-Ring"...several times since 1969.
Any well-made shotgun will most likely even outlast our grandchildren. Brother has an 1100 Remmy autoloader he bought in 1969 or so, and IIRC, the only thing he has done to it, other than a normal cleaning after use, is to replace the "O-Ring"...several times since 1969.
3" is entirely sufficient for most purposes, and useful for all.
New non-toxic heavier-than-lead ammo makes 3.5" unnecessary. It was developed for use with steel shot, which is lighter and takes more room.
3.5" buckshot rounds would kick so badly that they're not desirable for defense. Might as well use a single shot!
Anyway, there is another thing that can happen...
Some 3" or 3.5" semiautos won't feed 2.75" shells reliably, or at all, because they require a heavier load to cycle the semiauto action. Or they may require a manual adjustment. There are some new guns that self-adjust from light 2.75" all the way to heavy 3.5", like the Beretta Extrema 2, but they are the exception, not the norm.
New non-toxic heavier-than-lead ammo makes 3.5" unnecessary. It was developed for use with steel shot, which is lighter and takes more room.
3.5" buckshot rounds would kick so badly that they're not desirable for defense. Might as well use a single shot!
Anyway, there is another thing that can happen...
Some 3" or 3.5" semiautos won't feed 2.75" shells reliably, or at all, because they require a heavier load to cycle the semiauto action. Or they may require a manual adjustment. There are some new guns that self-adjust from light 2.75" all the way to heavy 3.5", like the Beretta Extrema 2, but they are the exception, not the norm.
sargenv
Member
What some people are doing in the 3-gun world is to drill out the gas ports of the longer action guns so that they are more reliable with the lighter loaded 2 3/4" shells on the market. Bigger gun with lighter shells translates to less felt recoil and a faster followup shot. I own a 3" Gold Hunter that I use for waterfowl hunting with steel, upland game with lead and 3 gun competition also with lead. Usually the same loads as I use for upland game. My Gold will cycle everything from the light 7/8 ounce stuff up to the heaviest 3" magnum lead or steel loads.
I don't know how well it will do with the special Bismuth or tungsten loads since that stuff is just too expensive for this waterfowler. I used the Kent Steel last season with good results. They launch 1 1/8 ounces of steel to 1550 fps. Plenty of punch for ducks and geese.
Drilling out the gas ports is a trick people have been using in 3 gun to make reliability better for at least the last few years. They have been doing it even to older 1100's designed for lead shot to utilize the market of cheap one ounce loads available in 2 3/4". I'm keeping my Gold stock in that regard since it feeds anything already, but it is an option to think about for reliability for the longer action gas operated guns.
Vince
ID_shooting
Member
"I would bet if you took a poll and asked those who do have a 3 1/2" chamber gun which shells they shoot it would be 90% 2 3/4" shells due to cost and recoil."
My 870 super mag gets a diet of 40% 3 inch, 35% 3.5 inch, and 25% 2 3/4 inch.
I use 3 inch when I can shoot lead in upland hunting, I use 3.5 when waterfouling or in areas where I have to use non-toxic on upland game. The 2 3/4 are really only for messing around on clays or the wife wants to shoot it.
I choose the super mag purely for the versatality, same reason I shoot 30-06. No matter where I go, I know I can find ammo that will work in it.
My 870 super mag gets a diet of 40% 3 inch, 35% 3.5 inch, and 25% 2 3/4 inch.
I use 3 inch when I can shoot lead in upland hunting, I use 3.5 when waterfouling or in areas where I have to use non-toxic on upland game. The 2 3/4 are really only for messing around on clays or the wife wants to shoot it.
I choose the super mag purely for the versatality, same reason I shoot 30-06. No matter where I go, I know I can find ammo that will work in it.
ID_shooting
Member
A number of things, pheasant, quail, grouse, dove, rabbit.
Some say it is over kill, but I match shot size to the game. I like having the faster shot and higher shot volume over 2 3/4.
Some say it is over kill, but I match shot size to the game. I like having the faster shot and higher shot volume over 2 3/4.
qwik, there are some significant downsides to 3.5" guns.
They're generally too heavy.
The amount of shot at some point exceeds what a 12 Gauge barrel can pattern well; if you want more, get a 10 Gauge instead of longer 10 Gauge shells.
Guns like the 870, well-balanced, relatively light, cheap, and reliable, become less so when you get a 3.5" chamber. Case in point: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=215150
That stuff doesn't happen with a regular 870 Magnum, which is cheaper, simpler, smoother, and better balanced.
You don't get something for nothing; I'd rather have a better shotgun than a longer shell. But then again, I actually want to USE the shotgun.
They're generally too heavy.
The amount of shot at some point exceeds what a 12 Gauge barrel can pattern well; if you want more, get a 10 Gauge instead of longer 10 Gauge shells.
Guns like the 870, well-balanced, relatively light, cheap, and reliable, become less so when you get a 3.5" chamber. Case in point: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=215150
That stuff doesn't happen with a regular 870 Magnum, which is cheaper, simpler, smoother, and better balanced.
You don't get something for nothing; I'd rather have a better shotgun than a longer shell. But then again, I actually want to USE the shotgun.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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Those doves must shrink quite a bit by the time they make it down here to Utah on their southward trek. 2 3/4 light loads will take them just fine once they cross the border.
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