shotgun chamber size

[stumper]

I have noticed that most trap or sporting clays guns are chambered for 2 3/4" only and many hunting guns mainly the over/unders i have been looking at are 2 3/4 or 3". Are the trap guns getting a better pattern that way and if you are only going to use 2 3/4" shells is it better to have a 2 3/4" chamber in a hunting gun. Thanks for any imput- Stumper

[cjwink]

3 inch chambering wasn't not around all that long ago.. The 3" and 3 1/2 inch popularity are a product of the Non Toxic shot laws for waterfowl. The theory was steel is less dense than lead so you have to compesate by going to larger shot.. Then you reduce your pellet count so the only way to get more pellet count is to increase the lenght of the shell..

I have about 6 O/U ranging from the 410 to a 12 guage.. My 12 is chambered for 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2, but I rarely use 3 1/2... For clay shooting I use the 28 or the 410.. Hunting I use the 12 or 20..

Each gun will pattern a little different with each load..

[Rammer]

They make sporting clays/trap guns 2 3/4" only so they have to sell the owner another gun if he/she wants to shoot magnum loads.