[redlevel42]

I am certainly not an expert on Winchester shotguns, and I'll gladly defer to someone who is . . . . . . . however, if your gun is indeed a Model 1912, as opposed to a Model 12, you might be correct about the need for 2.5 inch shells. I owned a Model 1912 16 gauge, and it wouldn't reliably handle 2 3/4 inch shells. It would fail to eject them. I don't know exactly what the date for the change from 2 9/16 to 2 3/4 was, but I think most of the guns marked Model 1912 were before the change.

I certainly wouldn't feel too badly under-gunned with a shotgun loaded with 2.5 inch #8 birdshot in a ten yard home defense situation. In fact, given a choice, I would take the 20 gauge birdshot over a .32 Keltec, or a .380 Whatever, and would feel just about as well armed as I would with a good 4" .38 special. I would rather have a 12 gauge with #1 Buckshot, or a .45 250 grain swc, but most threats can be handled very well with your gun and 20 gauge birdshot.

There are instances of every load failing at one time or another. A shotgun loaded with birdshot at 10 yards is a formidable weapon.