customer firing 3-1/2's in old H&R

[bluebayou]

Older guy came in wanting 3-1/2 turkey loads to kill nutrias.  I asked what he was shooting.  He has an old H&R from 60's.  Says that it is safe to shoot 3-1/2's because "they fit".  I couldn't convince him otherwise, and I started to piss him off, so I backed down. 

We didn't have any.  I sold him #4 Remington Express 2-3/4. 

Surely, I am right?  He must be jamming these things into forcing cone.

Right?  Were they just straight bored from the chamber or do they have forcing cone and a proper chamber?

[stimpylu32]

You did good BB , just because THEY FIT doesn't get it , there is a good chance that you may have saved him from getting hurt , I don't know of any shotgun that has a strait bored chamber , all of them have a forcing cone of one sort or another .

Not only did you probably save him from himself but you may have also saved the company and yourself from the lawsuite that came after he got hurt -- " The guy that sold them to me should have known better " thing .

Just take heed from the words of Ron White " You can't fix stupid "

stimpy

[FASTMIKE0721]

I WILL SAY THIS:

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I SHOT A 3 IN REMINGTON SLUGGER I BELIEVE, THROUGH AN OLDER
12 GAUGE SINGLESHOT. WHEN EJECTED THE SHELL I THOUGHT TO MYSELF D**N THAT HURT, SO I CHECK CASING AND IT WAS 3 INCH MAG. I THEN SAID OHHHH S**T AND LOOKED AT CHAMBER AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS STAMPED "2-3/4". I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY THINKING TO MYSELF "YOU AINT SUPPOSED TO BEABLE TO DO THAT".  I LET SOMEONE ELSE SET OUT MY AMMO AND DIDNT GIVE IT A 2ND THOUGHT. I BET I WILL NEXT TIME..

                                                                  MIKE 

[benignant]

I have a 2004 NEF Pardner 12 gauge stamped for 3" shells that will chamber a 3 1/2" shell just fine. Ejects unfired 3 1/2"s fine too. I ain't stupid enough to find out how it shoots 'em and ejects empties...

[Mack in N.C.]

i belive i am correct in this without measuring some shells i have but a 3 inch shell is not 3 inches untill it is fired...and though i dont own a 3  1/2 inch gun i would bet that it is not 3 1/2 when loaded,,its 3 1/2 when fired.. .....it should be shorter loaded.....that is why they will load.....mack

[gary bartlow]

WOW I would think that if it's old enought it only has a 2 3/4" chamber ! !  I have found that most  guns shamped 2 3/4" will chamber and shoot 3" shells (mostly by accident) ,but i can't inadgine a 3 1/2" fitting.

[gary bartlow]

i belive i am correct in this without measuring some shells i have but a 3 inch shell is not 3 inches untill it is fired...and though i dont own a 3  1/2 inch gun i would bet that it is not 3 1/2 when loaded,,its 3 1/2 when fired.. .....it should be shorter loaded.....that is why they will load.....mack

The 3" should be LONGER than 3" when fired.Same with the 3 1/2.

[hillbill]

if im not mistaken, what happens when yu shoot a shell longer than the chamber is cut for, when the crimp folds out upon fireing there isnt enuf room for it and it [the crimp] partially obstructs the forceing cone raising pressures beyond what the gun is rated for? with slugs that are sometimes loaded with a card wad over them or a roll crimp there is probably no obstruction but just more pressure from the heavier load than the gun is built for.is this the way yuall understand it?the shoot it cuz it fits method is not necesarily the best.

[Mack in N.C.]

3" are not 3" loaded...they are 3 " after firing..........you need to put a caliper on your shells........i have always been told by my gunsmith is that the longer cartridge fits is because it is unfired....it will be too lonng and not open up all the way in the wrong chamber..........i just measured 2   3 " magnum 12 ga shells and they were from 2.5 to 2.6 inches long............not 3!!!!....measured a 20 ga 3 " mag and it was 2.5 inches long ///.....20 ga 2 3/4 shell was 2.32 inches long............the length of a shotgun shell is the length after it is fired!................mack

[PHATINJUN]

My bad. Kurt