Gun or Ammo Problem ?

[Sparky]

Was using an OOOold 20 bore Model 12 shooting at doves a couple weeks back & Remington 2 3/4" shells would NOT eject. They seem to be a smidge over 2.75 inches long. Anyone run into this kind of thing with a "regular" length 20 ga. repeater? I'm wondering if Remington hasn't started making standaed field loads a tad long sinc virtually no makes a non-magnum 20 these days ? Haven't had a chance to check out other brands yet but, this gun has never malfunctioned in the 35+ years I've owned it. (family heirloom etc.) BTW Remington was the only brand shells I had & they were fine in a 3" chambered Benelli pump I switched to.

 

[Dave McCracken]

First, some old 12s were short chambered, the shell at the time was more like 2 9/16". If this one is OLD, a smith should be able you if it is chambered for the archaic cartridge.

Ah, but you say,it hasn't glitched in 35 years. Here's the deal...

There's a bit of individual variance in just how long the shells are, AND even after the switch to 2 3/4", some makers left their chambers a hair short. If the very end of the hull impinges into the forcing cone just a smidge, patterns tighten up.In pre-plastic wad days, this was a very good thing. New shells just a little longer than that may give pressure probs and sometimes extraction ones also.

In this case, I'd use those shells in the Benelli and try other brands. If it continues, a teardown and deep cleaning are in order first.

 

[mnrivrat]

Huuummmm ? Funny you should have that problem with Remington shells . I just recently incountered a box of Remington 3&1/2 inch 12 ga that were over length. They would not eject out of any of three different Mossberg 835's and were longer than 3&1/2 inches when fired.
They were also longer than both Winchester and Federal 3&1/2 inch shells I had available (both Federal & Winchesters ejected just fine) . I think your looking at a shell problem and not a gun problem. Especialy if other brands give you no problem.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I just recently incountered a box of Remington 3&1/2 inch 12 ga that were over length. They would not eject out of any of three different Mossberg 835's and were longer than 3&1/2 inches when fired.

I just noticed that MidwayUSA has the remington 3 1/2" turkey loads on sale. Was planning on getting a couple of boxes to shoot out of my 835.

Has anyone else had any problems with these?

 

[Red Label]

I'm with Dave. Check this thing out for the short chamber. I've got an OOOld 16 ga. model 12 that has the 2 9/16 chamber and before I found out I had used some 2 3/4 in it too. figured it out when they wouldn't eject properly......Just found some of my old info. If your gun was made before 1925 it actually has a 2 1/2 inch chamber!

 

[Preacherman]

Don't forget, too, that any competent gunsmith should be able to bore out the chamber of an older shotgun to 2¾". It won't hurt the shotgun, provided that it's otherwise in good condition, and makes it safe to use with "regular" modern loads. (I wouldn't shoot the "magnum" variety through an old gun, though, on general principles.)

 

[mnrivrat]

35 years of shooting this gun with 2&3/4 inch shells (major manufacturers stop producing the shorter ones about WWII , 50+ years ago) . with no problems .
Remington shells that are over length specs as SAAMI specs on the cartridge is 2.750 "MAXIMUM" not a smidge over ! Short chamber ??? I'm thinking thats possible but unlikely.

 

[Sparky]

Ok guys
My 20 bore does not have a short chamber. I've put a LOT of shells thru it since 1968 & only my long departed grand father & the Good Lord know how many rounds he put thru it from 1925 'til he gave it to me! I maintain the old smoke pole with TLC. The problem is the Remington hulls being too long. I've put Winchester AAs , Federal Game loads , Fiocchi.& Sellier&Beloit (sp?) through it this past week w/o a hitch. A gunsmith buddy is gonna measure the fired Rems to see just how much over spec length they are. Will let y'all know. BTW , these Remington 20s act the same way in the M-12 as 2.75"16ga. shells I fired in a short chambered old Browning A5. They are more than a " smidge" longer

 

[Ed Kay]

Sparky, the problem is not a short chamber. The problem is the longer hulls won't eject due to the mechanism of the gun. When the gun is made to eject a 2 1/2 " hull, a 2 5/8 hull will be 1/8 " too long for the action to pull the shell all the way out, and the ejection port will be too short for the shell to kick out. This is not only on Mod. 12 but on most pump or autos. A single or double break open can handle the longer hulls with no problems. As was mentioned, a little bit of the shell sticking into the end of the forcing cone will cause a tighter patter, but the ejection problem is in the mechanism. I have found long and short hulls in the same box of shells, but usually not enough difference to hurt. Love the Mod. 12and have a couple of them.
Good luck.
Ed