Never quite understood the chambering on a double barrel

[Minator]

I know on a pump shotgun it has to stick with measurements due to the size of the ejection port and etc.. But what about a double barrel does it matter what size shells you use.

I ask because ive been looking at a walnut stock 18" barreled side by side shotgun with the double trigger (not the generic single trigger ive seen lately) in my local shop to take hog hunting, only reason I havent picked it up yet is it costs around $475 so I have to save for awhile. If someone picks this up before me, is there any other manufacterer that sales descent quality double trigger side by side shotguns for around or below $475 with an 18" barrel (I know I can have it cut down but around here I ve heard its about a 3 week wait at the shops with smiths).

 

[Hoppy590]

stoeger makes some good guns, and pretty cheap too
http://www.stoegerindustries.com/firearms/coach.tpl

 

[LaEscopeta]

As I understand it, the chambering restriction on double barrels (or any break open shotgun) relates to the distance from the breach face to the beginning of the forcing cone. Shell crimps open up when fired, making the shell longer; compare the length of an unfired to a fired shell. The chamber needs to be long enough for the shell to completely un-crimp, without being restricted by the forcing cone. With many guns, you can chamber a longer shell they it was designed for, but when fired the forcing cone does not allow the shell to open completely. This may increase deformation of shot (not helpful but not a real bad thing) and will likely raise chamber pressure. Raised chamber pressure will likely reduce the life of the gun (a bad thing) and there is a slight change (particularly on an old, poorly maintained, damaged or cheaply made gun) it will blow up. Not likely to happen but definitely a bad thing if it does. You can fire shorter shell than the maximum length stamped on a barrel, but you are asking for trouble by trying longer ones.

 

[ArmedBear]

Stoeger is a good choice, and well under $475, even in the "Supreme" version. They're popular with Cowboy Action shooters, so that says good things about their durability.

Their barrels are 20", but anything shorter wouldn't balance well anyway. They have 3" chambers. I can't imagine you'd want to shoot anything bigger from one.

The forcing cone and the thickness of the chamber determine what shell length a gun will shoot. Don't put a 3.5" shell in a 3" barrel, but a 2 3/4" or even a shorter shell like an Aguila Mini will be fine.

 

[sargenv]

The chamber length in the doubles is kind of like being able to fire a 38 in a 357 magnum, 44 spl, in a 44 magnum. Shorter shells are ok, Longer shells are not reccomended. Usually anything sold here is chambered for at least 2 3/4" and a lot of times at least 3". There are some older guns chambered for shorter shells. I think 16 guage shells were once 2 5/8" and that can get you into trouble since they only manufacture 2 3/4" shells these days. What everyone else has been saying is true, shorter shells good, long shells in a short chamber, bad. I'm curious what confused the original poster or if this was it.

Vince

 

[TMM]

you can shoot shells the size marked on the gun and anything smaller.
ex.: gun is marked 3". you can shoot 3", 2 3/4", or the aguila minishells which are about 1.5" long...

~tmm

 

[Minator]

I'm curious what confused the original poster or if this was it.

What confused me was most of the side by sides that I had looked at only had 12 gauge markings nothing else, I dont know if it it was because they were older or were poorly manufactered or if I didnt see it.

BTW thx for all the responses.

 

[ArmedBear]

Ah.

The 3" shell hasn't been around forever. What there is to be concerned about is, neither has the 2 3/4". Those old guns might be made to shoot 2 1/2" paper shells.

I'd steer away from such a gun as a hunting shotgun. It's a curio at this point. I know a guy who shoots them, and much older ones, too. But he handloads paper shells with vegetable fiber wads and black powder. That's WAY too much of a PITA unless you're primarily a gun collector and tinkerer, as opposed to a hunter.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If the shotgun you are looking at is not clearly marked with a manufacturer's name and other information and with its chamber length, proof marks etc., I would advise passing it by and not buying it. It's too risky to buy the proverbial pig in a poke of a shotgun and start burning modern smokeless powder loads through it, it might literally blow up in your face.

The chamber length is important because it is the uncrimped length of the shell that matters. In other words, a shotgun shell is a good bit shorter when it is ready to be fird than after it is fired. A 3" shell will easily fit into a 2.75" chamber when it is unfired, but when you shoot it in a too-short chamber the crimped part of the shell unfurls out into the forcing cone of the barrel rather than having enough room in the chamber to unfold completely. Having the mouth of the hull occupying part of the forcing cone effectively reduces the diameter of the forcing cone and therefore increases the pressure of the burning powder inside the hull as it tries to force the wad and shot column through the now smaller diameter forcing cone that is partially obstructed with the hull mouth. NOT a good thing to do...

Find a currently manufactured double, or a good solid older gun with a good reputation like a Stevens 311. Whatever you get, observe the chamber markings closely and use the appropriate sized shell as marked, or shorter shells only. Good hunting and stay safe,

lpl/nc

 

[azflyman]

I'd steer away from such a gun as a hunting shotgun. It's a curio at this point. I know a guy who shoots them, and much older ones, too. But he handloads paper shells with vegetable fiber wads and black powder. That's WAY too much of a PITA unless you're primarily a gun collector and tinkerer, as opposed to a hunter.

There are 2 1/2 shells available if you know where to look. You can get hulls from Graf's without problem. The 2 1/2 Cheddites are less than the 2 3/4's.

http://www.grafs.com/shotshell/415

Nothing like a fine English gun chambered in 2 1/2". Shoots like a 20ga but patterns better. At 6.5lbs I can carry mine all day without problem and it does not kick hardly at all. It is no different reloading 2 1/2 shell vs 2 3/4 vs 3". You just have a slightly different setup on the MEC.

Can I walk into Wally World and get a box of shells? Not now, now ever. Is having a quich gun that points like your finger worth it? You bet. Best shooting decision I ever made.

az

 

[Texfire]

I'd second the call for a Stoeger Coach Gun. I've got the supreme model with internal chokes. The fit and finish are very nice, the 20" barrels are very handy and point well, double triggers are standard, it can take 3" shells if I wanted to, and you can easily get it for under $400. If you're not into the traditional look you can get a similar model with synthetic stock and stainless barrels/receiver.

Tex