Mossberg 500 Question, Advice Please...

Sigbill · May 12, 2011, 10:01 AM

I have a Mossberg 500 12-guage shotgun, chambered for 2-3/4, and 3" shells. I had a 'brain-cramp'

, and inadvertently purchased a box of shells (#2-shot) that are 3-1/2"... Here is My Question. I can Individually load them, and they seem to "Fit" in the Chamber. Would I be able to use-them-up this way ???
Thanks in advance for Your Input...

oregunner · May 12, 2011, 10:27 AM

No, It won't work! The chamber must be long enough for the shell to be able to open the crimp when fired. A 3 1/2 inch shell will fit in a 3 inch chamber but there won't be room for the crimp to fully open when the shell is fired. Find someone that would trade you for something that works in your gun, and chalk it up to your shotgun education.

Dave McC · May 12, 2011, 10:36 AM

NOT a good idea. Trade them off or return them to where you bought them.

BigJimP · May 12, 2011, 10:51 AM

No, they are dangerous to shoot in your gun ..../ and maybe disastrous !!

The measurement on the box - is the fired length ( so that's why you think they fit into your gun ). Please do not fire those shells in a 3" chambered gun ...

hogdogs · May 12, 2011, 11:36 AM

Massively excessive chamber pressure will be present.. both from the longer shell with heavier payload of shot as well possible higher grain/dram weight of powder along with smaller opening of shell due to smaller chamber/forcing cone.

Brent

Gehrhard · May 22, 2011, 11:50 AM

Bring 'em back for a credit and get something else -- not the store's fault. Sell em' to a table at a gunshow for half price at the start of some hunting season. Donate them to a gunclub/NRA Dinner to raffle off/give away as a prize and mention your name...
Gehr

zippy13 · May 22, 2011, 01:27 PM

Sigbill,
The process you described works when using 3 inch shells in a barrel marked for 3 inch shells installed an action originally designed for 2 3/4-inch shells. This situation is quite common since some manufacturers no longer make 2 3/4-inch replacement barrels for the shorter actions. The shell is being used in an appropriate chamber, but may not cycle in the short action.

With 3 1/2-inch shells in a 3-inch chamber it's a totally different story, you have two problems: First, the 3-inch chamber is too short to safely use a 3 1/2-inch shell. And, then there's the problem of over pressure. For 2 3/4 and 3-inch shells the SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) is 11.5-KSI. For the 3 1/2-inch guns the MAP has been increased more than 20%, to 14.0-KSI.

Be safe!

the rifleer · May 22, 2011, 05:23 PM

Just find someone at the range with a 3 1/2'' gun and trade them a box

May 12, 2011, 10:01 AM	#1
Sigbill Junior Member Join Date: October 18, 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 8	Mossberg 500 Question, Advice Please... I have a Mossberg 500 12-guage shotgun, chambered for 2-3/4, and 3" shells. I had a 'brain-cramp' , and inadvertently purchased a box of shells (#2-shot) that are 3-1/2"... Here is My Question. I can Individually load them, and they seem to "Fit" in the Chamber. Would I be able to use-them-up this way ??? Thanks in advance for Your Input...

May 22, 2011, 11:50 AM	#6
Gehrhard Junior member Join Date: July 15, 2009 Location: East of the Missississippippi Posts: 675	All The Above -- Do NOT Shoot These! Bring 'em back for a credit and get something else -- not the store's fault. Sell em' to a table at a gunshow for half price at the start of some hunting season. Donate them to a gunclub/NRA Dinner to raffle off/give away as a prize and mention your name... Gehr

May 22, 2011, 05:23 PM	#8
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Just find someone at the range with a 3 1/2'' gun and trade them a box __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

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May 12, 2011, 10:27 AM	#2
oregunner Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: Oregon, of course Posts: 136	No, It won't work! The chamber must be long enough for the shell to be able to open the crimp when fired. A 3 1/2 inch shell will fit in a 3 inch chamber but there won't be room for the crimp to fully open when the shell is fired. Find someone that would trade you for something that works in your gun, and chalk it up to your shotgun education.

May 12, 2011, 10:36 AM	#3
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	NOT a good idea. Trade them off or return them to where you bought them.

May 12, 2011, 10:51 AM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No, they are dangerous to shoot in your gun ..../ and maybe disastrous !! The measurement on the box - is the fired length ( so that's why you think they fit into your gun ). Please do not fire those shells in a 3" chambered gun ...

May 12, 2011, 11:36 AM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Massively excessive chamber pressure will be present.. both from the longer shell with heavier payload of shot as well possible higher grain/dram weight of powder along with smaller opening of shell due to smaller chamber/forcing cone. Brent

May 22, 2011, 01:27 PM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Sigbill, The process you described works when using 3 inch shells in a barrel marked for 3 inch shells installed an action originally designed for 2 3/4-inch shells. This situation is quite common since some manufacturers no longer make 2 3/4-inch replacement barrels for the shorter actions. The shell is being used in an appropriate chamber, but may not cycle in the short action. With 3 1/2-inch shells in a 3-inch chamber it's a totally different story, you have two problems: First, the 3-inch chamber is too short to safely use a 3 1/2-inch shell. And, then there's the problem of over pressure. For 2 3/4 and 3-inch shells the SAAMI maximum average pressure (MAP) is 11.5-KSI. For the 3 1/2-inch guns the MAP has been increased more than 20%, to 14.0-KSI. Be safe!