3" shells in 2 3/4 chamber?
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wichita Kansas USA
Posts: 699

i have a browning 525 sporting clay gun and i would like to use it for waterfowl. problem is it is marked as a 2 3/4 chamber. i have read that it is no big deal to use 3" shells in these but i question that. is this foolish advice? (to use 3" shells in a 2 3/4 chamber if an expanded shell fits in the chamber)
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 104

i have read that it is no big deal to use 3" shells in these but i question that. is this foolish advice?
Last edited by CalHunter; 02-19-2015 at 11:27 AM. Reason: Rules 2, 8, 12--Warning
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
#5

When I was younger and working in a gunshop, we had a few come in that someone tried that in. Watch a bugs bunny cartoon, and when the firearm banana peels, you will have a clear understanding of what WILL happen if you pull this Darwin move.
#6

RG, that sounds more like an obstucted barrel than a shell that was too long for the chamber. In a situation where the shell is too long the chamber preasure increases and it the gun lets go it will be likely at some place in the action, not at the end of the barrel because the obstruction is at the chamber not the end of the barrel. The incident I saw happen was in a 2 3/4 inch A5 clone made by Springfield Armory. The guy didn't realize he had a 3 inch shell in his pocket and he loaded it with the 2 3/4 shells he also had in the same pocket. It did not damage the gun fortunately , the shell which was too long for the action to eject was jammed in the action and it did not open all the way when fired, everything went out through a opening about half of what it should have been, and the plactic showed signg of too much presure. Trying to shoot a 3" shell in a 2 3/4 inch chamber, if done intentionally is flat out stupidity, especially because the obstruction is right at the shooters face. There is a reason 3" shotguns have 3" chambers.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 12-07-2014 at 10:58 AM.
#7

Oldtimr, I was just using that as a graphic example. They blew anywhere from 3" to 15 from the chamber. Have seen 7mm magnums blown at 15" because of an obstruction. Another was a pair of 30 30's that were a hot load. One was 1 1/2 inches from the chamber the other looked as if someone took a bandsaw and went from the muzzle to 6 inches from the chamber. A 12 guage damask fired a smokeless load and it banana peeled starting at the top a couple inches in front of the chamber. Buddy a long time ago tried smokeless in his black powder 50 and was in the hospital for a while with patches on both eyes, and a few new scars on his face. Bottom line, if it isn't the proper chamber for the cartridge, don't try to fire it in there.
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ne oklahoma
Posts: 124

You can take the shotgun to a gunsmith who can relieve the metal to accept the 3 inch shell.. however, in my opinion, the manufacture specified 2 3/4 for a reason. It may be fine, but you could lessen the life of the shotgun by overstressing the mechanics.