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Old March 30, 2011, 11:57 AM   #1
SCBondsman
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Shot Shell Sizes

I was going through some ammo from this past hunting season.

I got to comparing the size of mixed loads.

One that got my attention was a box of Rio Royal Steel 36 #2's. They are labeled as 2 3/4's. I put it next to a Win 2 3/4 #1 Buck, Fed 2 3/4 #8 and a Rio Game Load 32 #8. The Rio Royal notably larger.

Here's a picture of them:




Please let me know if you can open the link.
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Old March 30, 2011, 12:33 PM   #2
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There is no link there, just a red x where the images would be.
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Old March 30, 2011, 12:49 PM   #3
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http://cid-d53089cd93fe1e76.office.l...Shotshells.jpg
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Old March 30, 2011, 02:36 PM   #4
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I can't see the photo either ....but if they're labeled as 2 3/4" - then 2 3/4" is the fired length of the hull / not the overall length when they're crimped.

I'm not really surprised that there is a little difference in the unfired lengths of some different brands of shells / but you might have a 3" shell in there / that got mixed in too - so double check them !

The overall fired length of a shell / has little or nothing to do with what kind of shot size is in the shell / or how many ounces of shot is in the shell...

Be careful on box labels ....there isn't a "standard" for the industry ...and sometimes people misread Dram Equivalent "DR Eq" as length ... Dr Eq is an approximation of the velocity of the shell ...and 2 3/4 is a common Dr Eq...

Just make sure the fired length of a hull - does not exceed the length of the chamber on your gun and you're ok.
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Old March 30, 2011, 02:40 PM   #5
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Ok, I can see a small image of the photo ....but can't get any details ...but the one on the left is significantly bigger ( maybe dangerously so ) ...??

Since we can't see the photo very well .....can you measure the shells ...and tell us what their unfired lengths are ??
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Old March 30, 2011, 03:13 PM   #6
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That big blue shell looks to me to be a mis marked 3" shell. Crimped it measures 2-9/16". Assuming that the crimp unfolds to a length of 7/16", as does a Winchester AA light recoil hull, that is exactly 3". Also, catch the height of the brass head!
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Old March 30, 2011, 03:24 PM   #7
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Is the Rio royal Steel shell rolled crimp or is it a folded crimp. The folded crimp will take up more length to make and the shell will be shorter unfired. The roll crimp has a over shot wad or cover and the crimp is just the end of the shell rolled over holding the overshot wad in place. The overshot wad is a very thin card.
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Old March 30, 2011, 06:12 PM   #8
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Jag - I thought that as well until I went and looked on Rio's site - they are star crimped and labeled as 2-3/4
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Old March 30, 2011, 09:04 PM   #9
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The sizes listed on shotgun shells are the length AFTER they are fired. different companies use different methods of crimping them and slightly different lengths before firing are common.
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Old March 30, 2011, 09:11 PM   #10
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I'm with TheKlawMan, with that monster brass, it's likely a mislabeled shell.
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Old March 30, 2011, 11:22 PM   #11
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Follow this link to Rio. http://www.rioammo.com/Gsteel.html You say the big stick is a Rio Royal BlueSteel 36 #2 and per that is a 3" shell, as compared with the Rio Steel BlueSteel 36 #2 and that is 2-3/4". I would call Rio to be sure what that is.
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Old March 31, 2011, 09:10 AM   #12
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They are all labled 2 3/4" 70mm.

The black Royal Steel 36 IS a rolled crimp over a plastic shot card.

BigJimP, that's what I was looking for! I just didn't know how to ask the question.

I'm starting to really like Rio's shot shells. The big black steel one just made me think 3" mis-labled as a 2 3/4". The brass does add to the effect.

As far as I know, no one mfg's 3" upland bird loads... I'm sure it could be done at home.
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Old March 31, 2011, 10:31 AM   #13
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The black Royal Steel 36 IS a rolled crimp over a plastic shot card.

Mystery solved.
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Old April 1, 2011, 12:42 PM   #14
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Printed right on it is 12 - 70 mm.
70 mm IS 2 3/4"
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Old April 1, 2011, 02:34 PM   #15
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I put the calipers on two Remington shells a very old Kleanbore Express, rolled crimp, that is 2.465 inches long. A later Power Piston Express folded crimp, that is 2.360 inches long.

A Federal HiPower at 2.465" rolled crimp
A Remington Arrow at 2.545" rolled crimp loding 3 1/2Dr 1 1/8 oz shot
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Old April 1, 2011, 03:06 PM   #16
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Correct, T.R. Wyatt, but that is after firing.

As BigJimP and jaguarxk120 have shown, an live round IS NOT 2 3/4-70mm.
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Old April 2, 2011, 05:09 AM   #17
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Long Tom

Are you putting those rounds through that Long Tom and is that safe?
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Old April 4, 2011, 11:01 AM   #18
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The light loads, yes. Heaviest thing I have shot out of it was a 1 1/8oz #6shell. Notice I said "shell", singular. It wasn't fun.

The steel shot and buck shot, HECK NO! Saftey first and secondly, I like my shoulder in it's current location...

My gun collection is definatley shotgun heavy. I've got auto's, o/u's, pumps, single shot, side-bys...
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Old April 4, 2011, 07:14 PM   #19
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Quote:
I put the calipers on two Remington shells a very old Kleanbore Express, rolled crimp, that is 2.465 inches long. A later Power Piston Express folded crimp, that is 2.360 inches long.
I just compared a NSI #4 buck to a Win 00 buck. The NSI with it's roll crimp is an eighth of an inch taller than the Win.
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