3" Shells in a 2 3/4" Chamber?

Question

I have a gun with a 2 3/4" chamber....and i shot a 3" shell through my 20 gauge autoloader, i know it probably wont feed a 3" shell up to the chamber from the magazine, but will it hurt it if i just fire one 3" through the chamber, as like a single shot. or no......i ask this because they dont make 2 3/4" turkey loads for a 20 gauge, and i have no other option

Answer 1

the 3" measurement and the 2 3/4ths measurement are based on the shot shell after it has been fired and the crimp has opened up...



So you can load 3" shells in the magazine tube, and then pump them and it will fit just fine...but it will be hard to get out.



Also note, generally 2 3/4th guns are older and not made as strong. 3" chambered guns are newer and stronger, so the factory will load 3"ers more powerfully...enough so that YOU CAN BLOW UP YOUR GUN AND LOOSE SOME FINGERS AND MAYBE GO BLIND AND SCAR YOUR FACE UP NICE- note, this is a worst case scenario, and most guns are strong enough to handle a couple dozen of the more powerful 3 inch shells before coming apart, but I just value my eyeballs very highly, and my fingers too.



plus, the auto will have too much power and it will screw up the internal mechanisms and not feed the next shell right, aside from the fact that the old shell will still be stuck in there.



Note: TURKEYS CAN'T READ. they will be just as dead if you shoot them with a box of shells that doesn't say turkey on it. What do you think turkey hunters used before turkey hunting got so popular that specialty shells were used?



Get the biggest size lead pellets you can find in 2 3/4ths, and realize that you won't be able to shoot at birds quite as far away as the guys with 12 guage 3 1/2 inch shells



here are some good ones

Remington Express Long Range SP204, 20 Gauge, 2 3/4", 1 oz, 1220 fps, #4 Lead Shot, 25 Rd/bx

Federal Premium Game Shok High Brass H2044, 20 Gauge, 2 3/4", 1 oz, 1220 fps, #4 Lead Shot, 25 Rd/bx

Winchester Super X High Brass Game Load X204, 20 Gauge, 2 3/4", 1 oz, 1220 fps, #4 Lead Shot, 25 Rd/bx



OH LOOK AT THIS 20 GAUGE 2 3/4th TURKEY LOAD! I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT DIDN'T EXIST YET TYPING "20 guage turkey 2 3/4" INTO GOOGLE FOUND IT!



NOW IF YOU FIND TURKEYS CRAFTY ENOUGH TO READ THE SHELL BOX THEY WILL DIE!!!!!



http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0009601275

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=99451

Answer 2

Just switching the barrel won't be the right fix either. NEVER fire any ammo out of a firearm that it isn't specifically rated for. Use some 2 3/4" #4 pheasant loads. Just make sure they pattern good, and you're good to go. Or get a gun with a longer chamber. Like a nice cheap New England Pardner.



Edit: I just looked, and there are a select few 2 3/4" 20ga turkey loads. Hevi-Shot for instance makes one.

Answer 3

The 3'' will get stuck in the magazine tube. But they now have some shotguns that shoot 2 3/4 all the way to 3 1/2 if you want to buy a new gun for turkey hunting.

Answer 4

Don't fire 3" shot shells in a 2 /34" chambered barrel! A shot shell is measured in length when open. A 3" shell will fit, but when opening the shell opens up into the forcing cone, creating an obstruction, be it a minor one. This will place excessive pressure on the barrel at that point, weakening it to the point it may blow apart.

Answer 5

i have seen a person shoot a 12ga 3" shell from a 2 -3/4" chamber. nothing really terrible happened to the person or the gun that we could tell. the shell was hard to extract . no telling what happened internaly to his gun. it was a stevens pump shotgun.



*and by no means am i encouraging you to go ahead and try this. just letting you know what i have personaly whitnessed in regards to your question.

Answer 6

3 in dont fit so that the bolt closes completely, if the shell ruptures in open air, you will be the injured turkey, no feathers needed, get the right size shells or a different gun, one mishap that could have been prevented is too many when the thing goes off in your face

Answer 7

Shouldn't hurt it, I knew an ole boy who shot a Browning auto for 25 years before he asked me what was wrong with it and he was shooting 3" shells the whole time in a 2 3/4'' inch auto for all those years now he uses 2 3/4 and it shoots like its supposed to.

Answer 8

not such a good idea..the forcing cone will likely explode and rec your gun personally would shoot a 12 gauge with a 3" shell..

Answer 9

Very Bad Idea.* Do Not Do It.* Use two and three quarter only.*

Answer 10

It is bad for the gun an you risk blow black since it really cant cycle properly. You can just get another barrel and be good to go.....

Answer 11

What....buy some 20ga.... #4 buckshot..... that will do what you need.....