Getting old sucks! I have been invited to go Spring turkey hunting with a friend of mine so we met at the range today to pattern a couple of shotguns prior to opening day. I selected a Beretta AL391 Urika 12 gage with a full choke and a Mossberg 500A 12 gage with a modified choke to test. I had purchased some 3 1/2" Federal 2 oz. 4 shot for the Beretta and I had some Remington 2 3/4" 1 1/4 oz. 5 shot for the Mossberg. I had purchased this Beretta about 10 years ago but had never gotten around to firing it until today. I had also purchased another A391 3.5 Xtrema in camouflage at the same time but had recently passed it down to my nephew since it was just taking up safe space. For some reason I had it in my mind that both these guns took 3 1/2" shells. Well, after the first shot I thought there was something wrong with this gun as the shell didn't eject. I finally managed to get the empty shell out and noticed it was too long to fit through the ejection slot. I then checked the barrel and found it was for 2 3/4" and 3" shells only. I couldn't believe how hard this gun kicked with that 3 1/2" shell. At 25 yds it tore up the turkey target and the stand holding the target. I was surprised the shell would have fit in this gun since it was rated for the smaller shells. I tried the Remington shells and they still shot a tighter pattern form the Beretta than they did from Mossberg so I plan on using it on Monday. I don't see where it did any damage to the gun so hopefully the only thing hurt was my shoulder.
Dumbest Thing I've Done Lately
- Thread starter PCCUSNRET
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MilliradianDOT
Member
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- Jun 26, 2011
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There were kids where I went to high school who did that sort of thing all the time and on purpose! Granted they mostly all had 870s but they didn't seem to mind. I always thought it was stupid but like you said, no damage to report. Maybe shell length is all a marketing ploy! Just kidding, glad to see you and the weapon are okay.
oneounceload
member
Shell length is the FIRED length, so a 3.5 unfired will fit in the chamber of a 3" gun. However, when the crimp opens up into the forcing cone, the pressures will spike over max and could have resulted in a nasty KABOOM.
bigdaa
member
Have you repented your sin?
If yes, then go forth and ballisticly sin no more.
If yes, then go forth and ballisticly sin no more.
Yeah, I figure I should qualify for some kind of idiot award for this stunt. It did leave a nice black and blue mark so I'll be reminded of what I did for at least a few days. My buddy was watching me when I fired the gun and said it looked like it knocked me back almost a foot when it fired. Not proud of this but I'll chalk it up as another learning experience. I've been shooting shotguns for over 45 years and can't recall ever doing anything this dumb. It reminded me of the first time I shot a 12 gage shotgun (without adult supervision). I was about 11 or 12 and I didn't know that you were supposed to hold the gun tight against your shoulder and it knocked the dog stuff out of me.
wleggart
Member
not to steal the thread
guess what? You CAN fire a 7mm-08 in you .308. Yes, and I did it more than one time. I was very perplexed by the keyholes and scattered holes in the 2' x 2' target at 100 yards. Thank God it was not my time. I says lots for the Mark X mauser actions!
guess what? You CAN fire a 7mm-08 in you .308. Yes, and I did it more than one time. I was very perplexed by the keyholes and scattered holes in the 2' x 2' target at 100 yards. Thank God it was not my time. I says lots for the Mark X mauser actions!
Virginian
Member
3-1/2" in 3" is worse than 3" in 2-3/4" because the allowable pressure is much greater for the 3-1/2" loads. Good thing the gun makers know we do stuff like that.
bigdaa
member
We have all messed up to one extent or another.
I had never fired a double action auto and couldn't understand the long trigger travel when it went off in front of my face while I was looking at it. The bullet went up and to the extreme left, fast!
That was in the 70's.........................
I had never fired a double action auto and couldn't understand the long trigger travel when it went off in front of my face while I was looking at it. The bullet went up and to the extreme left, fast!
That was in the 70's.........................
45bthompson
Member
One day in Afghanistan I noticed a .50 bmg round fits almost perfectly in a 12 gauge shotgun. No I did not "see what would happen" it went as far as rigging the trigger up to 550 cord with about 5 privates hiding behind an up armored HUMVEE before it was stopped by someone with more rank and common sense.
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