Shooting 2-3/4" in a 3" chamber

brasscollector · October 18, 2015, 07:06 AM

I recently acquired an H&R topper in 12ga / 3". I have been told by a friend that it is not wise to shoot 2-3/4" shells in a 3" chamber. He said if the chamber was ramped like a forcing cone it would be safe. However, if there was a ridge/ledge that the chamber was designed ONLY for 3" shells and mine has a ridge. I'm sure there is someone here who knows about this and can straighten me out. Thanks.

Nathan · October 18, 2015, 07:14 AM

Sounds like hogwash to me.

FITASC · October 18, 2015, 07:22 AM

Shoot away and stop listening to this "friend"

The chamber length is the MAXIMUM length you can use - 2-1/2, 2-9/16, 2-3/4 are all safe to use in a 3" gun

jaguarxk120 · October 18, 2015, 07:46 AM

All shotgun chambers have forcing cones!

g.willikers · October 18, 2015, 07:54 AM

There's sure a lot of silly "experts" around.
Just don't do it the other way.
Some 2-3/4 chambers will accommodate 3" shells before they're fired, but not afterwards.
Just something to be aware of.

brasscollector · October 18, 2015, 08:01 AM

Here I am crying wolf.. I could've grabbed a decent flashlight the first time and seen that the 'ridge' I was looking at was in fact just a forcing cone..DUH. Pretty sharp ramp, I was expecting something more gradual. Case closed, thanks.

jaguarxk120 · October 18, 2015, 09:16 AM

Some shotguns have very long forcing cones, but then those guns cost a lot more.

Your H&R Topper will do everything you want except doubles.

At the public range every Thursday there is a guy with a H&R single shooting, he turns those clay targets into dust.

FITASC · October 18, 2015, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Some 2-3/4 chambers will accommodate 3" shells before they're fired, but not afterwards.

ALL will do that; OP, remember the shell length is the FIRED length of a hull. Put a longer shell in and you risk serious pressure spike which can be dangerous.

Pahoo · October 18, 2015, 06:28 PM

Quote:

I'm sure there is someone here who knows about this and can straighten me out. Thanks.

It's not you that needs straightening out, it's your buddy. I sometimes think that here is a book out there on fictitious information about firearms. ...

On most barrels that I have seen, it clearly states that it will shoot 2-3/4 "and"3". ....

Be Safe !!!

FITASC · October 18, 2015, 06:48 PM

Even if it doesn't say "and", you can always use a shorter shell (older guns need checking or course)

Gunplummer · October 18, 2015, 06:58 PM

FITASC is correct about the standard length being called off the hulls(Fired shells). If you stand a bunch of different manufactured shells (Unfired) next to each other, they are usually all kinds of lengths. Some of the older 2 3/4" inch chambers are a little on the short side. I could never shoot 2 3/4 buckshot in my old H&R single I use for slugs. The buck hulls are a little longer and the end kind of welds the plastic in the forcing cone. It does not damage it, but they will usually not eject. I shoot 2 1/2" slugs through my 3" .410 all the time. I have never even seen a 2 3/4" .410 shotgun.

Dufus · October 18, 2015, 11:02 PM

Those Toppers are not very pleasant to shoot with 3" shells.

brasscollector · October 20, 2015, 05:58 PM

If the fictitious firearms manual existed my friend would most likely have a copy. The reason I originally asked was due to the fact the my Mossberg 500 said 2-3/4" or 3" shells on the barrel whereas the topper just said 3". I am mainly looking to shoot 2-3/4" shells if possible as I wasn't looking forward to a steady diet of 3"s in a single-shot

kilimanjaro · October 20, 2015, 06:26 PM

It's like a .357 Magnum revolver, you can shoot a couple of .38 caliber rounds in it, as well as the .357, but you can't shoot .357s in a .38. Not more than once, anyway. If you still want to try it, don't use your writing hand to shoot with.

jaguarxk120 · October 20, 2015, 06:28 PM

Sounds as if your "buddy" wants to see you beaten down shooting those three inch magnums.
Just as dufus has said no fun shooting those Toppers with 3 inch shells.

Arizona Fusilier · October 20, 2015, 07:02 PM

When it comes to guns......it never hurts to ask.

Umm...unless you are asking the OPs buddy.

FITASC · October 20, 2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Just as dufus has said no fun shooting those Toppers with 3 inch shells.

More like no fun shooting with ANY shells.......

Dufus · October 20, 2015, 08:01 PM

I tried 3" in the Topper some, but the 2 3/4 are not a problem unless you are gonna shoot more than say 40-50 rounds in an outing.

I think the damnn thing recoils with 3" rounds more than my 460 does, but I have never shot it (the 460) more than 10-12 shots in an outing. The Topper does not last anywhere near that long.....say four to five 3" is my limit.

I will play with some buddies once in a while with a full warning to hang on.

g.willikers · October 21, 2015, 11:29 AM

That's what those shoulder gel pads are for, the thicker the better.

mehavey · October 21, 2015, 11:45 AM

Shoot it.
Tell your friend (politely) that you got a 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th.... 12th) opinion.

jaguarxk120 · October 21, 2015, 12:33 PM

Better yet ask your friend to show you how to shoot that gun with the three inch magnums. He's the one with ALL the knowledge!

You of course have the target loads in reserve to shoot after he shows you how to shoot a box of the magnum loads.

October 18, 2015, 07:06 AM	#1
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Shooting 2-3/4" in a 3" chamber I recently acquired an H&R topper in 12ga / 3". I have been told by a friend that it is not wise to shoot 2-3/4" shells in a 3" chamber. He said if the chamber was ramped like a forcing cone it would be safe. However, if there was a ridge/ledge that the chamber was designed ONLY for 3" shells and mine has a ridge. I'm sure there is someone here who knows about this and can straighten me out. Thanks.

October 18, 2015, 07:22 AM	#3
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Shoot away and stop listening to this "friend" The chamber length is the MAXIMUM length you can use - 2-1/2, 2-9/16, 2-3/4 are all safe to use in a 3" gun __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

October 18, 2015, 07:54 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	There's sure a lot of silly "experts" around. Just don't do it the other way. Some 2-3/4 chambers will accommodate 3" shells before they're fired, but not afterwards. Just something to be aware of. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 18, 2015, 06:48 PM	#10
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Even if it doesn't say "and", you can always use a shorter shell (older guns need checking or course) __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

October 21, 2015, 11:29 AM	#19
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	That's what those shoulder gel pads are for, the thicker the better. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

October 18, 2015, 07:14 AM	#2
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Sounds like hogwash to me.

October 18, 2015, 07:46 AM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	All shotgun chambers have forcing cones!

October 18, 2015, 08:01 AM	#6
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Here I am crying wolf.. I could've grabbed a decent flashlight the first time and seen that the 'ridge' I was looking at was in fact just a forcing cone..DUH. Pretty sharp ramp, I was expecting something more gradual. Case closed, thanks.

October 18, 2015, 09:16 AM	#7
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Some shotguns have very long forcing cones, but then those guns cost a lot more. Your H&R Topper will do everything you want except doubles. At the public range every Thursday there is a guy with a H&R single shooting, he turns those clay targets into dust.

October 18, 2015, 06:58 PM	#11
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	FITASC is correct about the standard length being called off the hulls(Fired shells). If you stand a bunch of different manufactured shells (Unfired) next to each other, they are usually all kinds of lengths. Some of the older 2 3/4" inch chambers are a little on the short side. I could never shoot 2 3/4 buckshot in my old H&R single I use for slugs. The buck hulls are a little longer and the end kind of welds the plastic in the forcing cone. It does not damage it, but they will usually not eject. I shoot 2 1/2" slugs through my 3" .410 all the time. I have never even seen a 2 3/4" .410 shotgun.

October 18, 2015, 11:02 PM	#12
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	Those Toppers are not very pleasant to shoot with 3" shells.

October 20, 2015, 05:58 PM	#13
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	If the fictitious firearms manual existed my friend would most likely have a copy. The reason I originally asked was due to the fact the my Mossberg 500 said 2-3/4" or 3" shells on the barrel whereas the topper just said 3". I am mainly looking to shoot 2-3/4" shells if possible as I wasn't looking forward to a steady diet of 3"s in a single-shot

October 20, 2015, 06:26 PM	#14
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	It's like a .357 Magnum revolver, you can shoot a couple of .38 caliber rounds in it, as well as the .357, but you can't shoot .357s in a .38. Not more than once, anyway. If you still want to try it, don't use your writing hand to shoot with.

October 20, 2015, 06:28 PM	#15
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Sounds as if your "buddy" wants to see you beaten down shooting those three inch magnums. Just as dufus has said no fun shooting those Toppers with 3 inch shells.

October 20, 2015, 07:02 PM	#16
Arizona Fusilier Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2000 Posts: 1,082	When it comes to guns......it never hurts to ask. Umm...unless you are asking the OPs buddy.

October 20, 2015, 08:01 PM	#18
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	I tried 3" in the Topper some, but the 2 3/4 are not a problem unless you are gonna shoot more than say 40-50 rounds in an outing. I think the damnn thing recoils with 3" rounds more than my 460 does, but I have never shot it (the 460) more than 10-12 shots in an outing. The Topper does not last anywhere near that long.....say four to five 3" is my limit. I will play with some buddies once in a while with a full warning to hang on.

October 21, 2015, 11:45 AM	#20
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	Shoot it. Tell your friend (politely) that you got a 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th.... 12th) opinion.

October 21, 2015, 12:33 PM	#21
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Better yet ask your friend to show you how to shoot that gun with the three inch magnums. He's the one with ALL the knowledge! You of course have the target loads in reserve to shoot after he shows you how to shoot a box of the magnum loads. Last edited by jaguarxk120; October 21, 2015 at 05:58 PM.