12-ga shell length, what the...

[miko]

I have no prior experience with shotguns whatsoever besides a few practice shots with a loaner. I did read some theory.

I just bought myself a Mossberg 590 and a couple of boxes of Federal Low-Recoil 00 Buckshot as a defensive load - the only brand they had at the moment in that size.
I also got some cheap birdshot for practice (Estate?).

When I tried loading, I could not fit 8 shells into the tube. The 8th shell would protrude just a tiny bit beyong the spring thingies holding the shells in.

Upon close examination, I discovered that the Federal shells are about 1/16 of an inch longer than nominal 2 3/4 inches. The birdshot shells are the right size.

Can you comment on that? How common is such variation in size? Is it different from brand to brand? From lot to lot? Should I measure the shells I buy?

What ammo would you recommend for defense, practice and so on?
Anything else I should know about owning a shotgun?


[EDIT]Specifically, what defensive ammo (00-Buck or whatever you use) does measure 2 3/4 inch?[/EDIT]

miko

 

[Third_Rail]

Can you comment on that? How common is such variation in size? Is it different from brand to brand? From lot to lot? Should I measure the shells I buy?

Very.
Yes.
Not that I've seen.
If you want to know how many fit in the magtube, yes.

 

[JohnBT]

I thought the length of a shotshell was the length AFTER it was fired. Are those 2.75" shells really longer than 2.75" before they're fired?

Are you certain they aren't 3" shells?

John

 

[3 gun]

As I understand it, the shell length is after firing. You will find a range of sizes before firing and this can change the number of rounds you can load in the mag. 3" shells will drop you mag cap by 1. The longest unfired 2 3/4" round I've found is the S&B load with the rolled crimp. The shortest is a Winchester load that can and will slip off the carrier of a Mossberg 500. I believe that load was recalled because it was a low recoil load meant for LE use. Also you may find that 8 round load is 7 in the mag plus 1 chambered.

 

[miko]

I see. I measured wrong.

The Estate shell measures 2 1/4" before firing - not 2 3/4"
The Federal shell measures about 1/16 longer than that before firing

It makes perfect sense that the nominal length is the one after firing - now that I think of it.

The Mossberg 590 I have is a 9 round model - 8+1

I have no intention to keep a round chambered and in any case, I want all 8 in the tube if I can help it - so I will look for the suitable rounds.

Thanks, guys.
miko

 

[Glock_10mm]

Just dont use magnums if your gun is not a magnum.

Also make sure your gun can accept the load lengths you are chambering, they have loads up to 3 1/2 inches.

 

[Dacoda]

...and this brings me to my question. Ealier today a friend of mine asked me (Cause he thinks I know everything about Firearms(couldn't be further from the truth)) if his shotgun, that's labeled 3 & 3.5 inch, will accept 2 3/4 inch shells. So that got me thinking. I don't see why it WOULDN'T... but better to come here and ask, then tell him "Sure, it'll shoot 'em"

So, Question is, if a shotgun is chambered for 3 and 3.5 inch shells, will it also shoot (without a problem) 2 3/4 inch shells?

Thanks.

 

[camacho]

What ammo would you recommend for defense, practice and so on?

This is an interesting reading on the subject of home defense and shotguns.
http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

 

[atlctyslkr]

I have heard of people having issues with cycling when shorter than acceptable shells are used. (Using 2 3/4 in a 3 1/2). I'm not a shotgun expert. I don't own any Magnum chambered shotguns. I did put a box of 2 1/2 British through my Wingmaster once just plinking around and it did fine.

 

[Dave McCracken]

2 3/4" shells will work well in a gun with a 2 3/4,3 or 3 1/2" Chamber. The opposite is not true.

The length indicated is that of the fired case, not the unfired round.

HTH....

 

[Dacoda]

Dave, the shotgun I'm talking about says nothing about 2 3/4 though. Only 3 and 3 1/2.

Should it still be ok?

 

[oletymer]

Sorry Dave but the people on this thread should not be allowed to own a gun.
These are the dumbest people I have seen here in a long time.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Oletymer, that's not appropriate. There are no dumb questions.

Dacoda: The shotgun will safely fire any shell of the appropriate gauge, in any length up to and including the markings. The gun marked 3" and 3 1/2" will accept and fire 2 3/4" shells just fine.

 

[Dacoda]

Snake Eyes, I just found out today that the gun in question was a Mossberg Semi Auto. I thought for some reason he was talking about a break-action or a pump. I could have sworn he meant an older gun.

Which, I could see a gun marked for 3" - 3.5" having trouble cycling the next round in a semi auto, when firing a 2 3/4" shell. But he failed to mention that part.

As far as the stupid question comment, oletymer, That isn't very High Road. Seeing how I've never actually SEEN a shotgun without a 2 3/4" marking doesn't make me "stupid", just means I need to get out more.

But thanks for the replies anyway

 

[NineseveN]

Dacoda, you'll be fine with 2 3/4" shells in a 3"-3 1/2" chamber, the reverse is not true.

Edit: just read that it's a semi-auto...I'll let the experts decide if that changes things, I'm not familiar with the auto-feeders in the shotgun realm. Might give you come problems on extraction or ejecting maybe?

Sorry Dave but the people on this thread should not be allowed to own a gun.
These are the dumbest people I have seen here in a long time.

Dude, what is with you? I think you need to take a step back and adjust your attitude according to the desired conduct on ths site. You've managed to be caustic and insulting on nearly every post I've read of yours. Calling people idiots, jumping up and down and throwing tantrums over people using the term "shottie" instead of shotgun etc...seriously, if this place is not your speed, by all means, move along and do everyone a favor, yourself included.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=195501
In that thread you took the time to gripe that someone was using "baby talk" about a shotgun but never bothered to impart your vast and superior wisdom on the poster and answer his question.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=196304
Same thing in that thread, except you did actaully take time to add somehting of value to the post.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=197221

You get what you pay for. Chinese guns are for cheap idiots.

Now that's a gem right there.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=198936

Shotties, Remys, are you a kindergarten teacher? Talk like a man.

BozemanMT seems to have ruffled your feathers in that one.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2469866#post2469866
Again wth the "shotty" rant while not bothering to contribute anything of value.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211640
This one wasn't so bad, but it wasn't great either.

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[Mainsail]

My 590A1 is currently loaded with 7 2¾” and one 3” in the tube, chamber empty.