Is there such a thing as magnum 2 3/4 shells?

[repo]

Is there such a thing as magnum 2 3/4" 12 gauge shells? Or does magnum simply mean 3"?

And how does it relate to the height of the brass? I have some target birdshot with low brass, some Wolf rifled slugs with normal brass height, and some Remington 00 buckshot with really high brass. The Remington kicks a lot harder than the other stuff. All are 2 3/4".

The barrel on my 870 is marked "2-3/4 or shorter". Is it safe to shoot all 2 3/4" out of it, no matter the power?

 

[gennro]

I own some federal 1oz slugs in 2 3/4 that are magnum about 1660fps. These hurt to shoot.

 

[RNB65]

"Magnum" is just a marketing term to boost sales. If your gun is marked for 2 3/4" shells, it will safely shoot any 2 3/4" shells.

 

[huntsman]

Baby Magnum 2-3/4" 1-1/2 oz

 

[NCsmitty]

There are some 2 3/4" 12ga shells that carry the "magnum" designation and carry a heavy dram equivalent powder load.

Is it safe to shoot all 2 3/4" out of it, no matter the power?

Basically yes, if your shotgun is designed to handle steel shot too.



NCsmitty

 

[Dr.Rob]

Max dram is a "maximum equivalent powder" charge. You can increase the weight of the shot or slug but at some point you've reached the end of what is safe.

"Magnum" used to mean 3 inch, until the 3.5 inch shell was introduced. These are built tougher than a 2&3/4 inch gun.

Home reloaders don't tend to push shotshells like they do rifle cartidges. In fact I'd suggest the opposite: that some of today's reduced/managed recoil shells came out of a neat idea on someone's reloading bench.

 

[kozak6]

Magnum just means a heavier payload, and often at the expense of velocity.

Heavier loads tend to have high brass, but not all of them. It's an artifact left over from black powder cartridges. It's not necessary with a modern plastic hull, but it's convenient for quickly sorting shells by look and and by touch.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Is there such a thing as magnum 2 3/4" 12 gauge shells? ........The barrel on my 870 is marked "2-3/4 or shorter". Is it safe to shoot all 2 3/4" out of it, no matter the power?

Yes, you can shoot 2 3/4" of any factory-flavor that you wish - including magnums and Max Drams Equiv.- all day long (that is, if your body can take it).

 

[rcmodel]

Baby Magnum 2-3/4" 1-1/2 oz

Baby Magnum?

How about we just call it a Standard Magnum.

That was the only length Magnum shell there was for a lot of years.

And probably all that was ever needed, until steel shot laws came along.

rc

 

[MCgunner]

Baby Magnum 2-3/4" 1-1/2 oz

Used to be a right popular load in BB for geese during the lead shot days, pre-steel. It's a term not much used anymore for 2 3/4" loads.

 

[Burt Blade]

I do not recommend shooting "magnum" or max dram loads out of old guns from the BP/smokeless tranasition era. If you have such a gun, get it evaluated by a knowledgeable gunsmith before feeding it modern max loads.

If the old gun has damascus barrels, probably best not to shoot modern ammunition in it, not even light target loads.

 

[VA27]

For a lot of years my favorite load was the 2 3/4 magnum No. 1 Buck load. Certain death on varmints of all sorts. Alas, it is no longer made.

 

[rcmodel]

probably best not to shoot modern ammunition in it, not even light target loads.

A little known fact is that many light target loads run higher max chamber pressure then heavy Magnum loads.

Light target loads use cheaper fast burning powder in smaller doses to bump the speed up to normal velocity.

Heavier hunting loads run about the same velocity, but use more expensive slower burning powder to get there.
So the peak pressure is lower, and spread over a longer duration.

rc

 

[oldwheelieguy]

I have some #4 1 1/2 oz. lead magnum 2 3/4 inch from the early 70's. so yes there is a 2 3/4 magnum. They kicked like hell. (we used them for geese and they worked great!!!).

 

[Owen Sparks]

"Magnum" was a marketing buzz word used in the late 1970's and early 80's in the wake of the Dirty Harry movies sort of like the term "tactical" is used now. Magnum 2 3/4" shells usually have more pellets or a heavier payload than standard shells but at lower velocity in order to stay within pressure limitations. It is a marketing gimmik.