| The least of the penalties you will pay for exploring these exciting new levels of chamber presure will include enhanced recoil to: (A) loosen your dental tillings; and, (B) develop a life-long flinch.
Deformed pellets, perhaps 30% or 40% of the load, created by the "bottle neck" effect are cartwheeling off somewhere in space, as much of a threat to your dog, as to the departing target.
Repeated use of adult ammunition in adolescent chambers will permanently damage a gun without corresponding benefit to the shooter.
Murphy’s Law Repealed Brownells, Inc. publishes a copyrighted guideline for gunsmiths entitled: MEASURING & RECHAMBERING SHOTGUN CHAMBERS that defines the problem. The following is quoted with permission:
Prior to around 1900, shotgun chamber lengths varied considerably from manufacturer to manufacturer, often resulting in odd fractions. After 1900, shotguns have been produced in the following common chamber lengths:
Gauge | From 1900 to 1920 | From 1920 to Mid-1930’s | 10 | 2-7/8", 3-1/2" | 3-1/2" | 12 | 2", 2-1/2", 2-5/8", 2-3/4", 3" | 2-3/4", 3", 3-1/2" | 16 | 2-9/16", 2-3/4" | 2-3/4" | 20 | 2-1/2", 2-9/16", 2-3/4", 3" | 2-3/4", 3" | 28 | 2-3/4", 2-7/8" | 2-3/4" | .410 | 2", 2-1/2", 3" | 3" |
The Shotgun Shell In Relation To Chamber Length An unfired 20 gauge 3" shell measures 2.68" in length, which allows it to easily enter the 20 gauge 2-3/4" chamber (2.75").
However, when the 3" shell is fired the case unfolds to its full 3" length. The extra .25" of case body enters the forcing cone creating a `bottle neck’ effect through which the shot and wad must pass.
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