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16 guage shotgun 2-3/4" ? or shorter?

Snellstrom
Gents here is my question I am looking at old 16 guage shotguns and I vaguely remember something about a 2-1/2" chamber length, am I remembering this right or losing my marbles? If 16's were chambered that short when did the Winchesters ( Model 12 and 1897 ) start to chamber in the 2-3/4" length?[?]
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello Snellstrom...

    Winchester originally chambered both the Model 1897/97, and Model 1912/12 16 gauge shotguns for a 2-9/16" shell (never 2-1/2). The switch to the 2-3/4" shell length took place circa 1925 - 1927. 2-1/2" shells were the norm for the early 20 gauge Winchester shotguns.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • Herschel
    I don't know if there were 2 1/2" shells made but there were 2 9/16". Brownings chambered for the 2 9/16" could be converted to shoot the 2 3/4" but there was much more work required than just lengthening the chamber. The barrel should be marked with the length of shell it was chambered for. I believe the change to 2 3/4" occured in 1927 or 1928.
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  • Snellstrom
    Hey Bert and Herschel thanks for the good info. I knew 2-1/2" didn't sound right but I also vaguely remembered shorter than 2-3/4". I appreciate the history lesson.[;)]
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  • only winchesters
    Hello Snellstrom: rule of thumb on old Winchesters, (Md 12, 16/20ga, Md 97, 16 ga., Md 20) If there is no chamber length stamped on the barrel, consider it short, until it's checked out. Once they made the conversion, 2 3/4 IN Cham. was well stamped on the barrel, or on some Md 12s by the serial number just 2 3/4 on the receiver. Md 20s were stamped for 3 in. Md 12s started in 1927, Md 97, 1931, the Md 20 made the change after general production for the US stopped. They continued to make them for export and it was 1927/28 time frame. Regards Dave
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  • Pinhead
    I have never seen any 2 1/2" shells myself in this country but in europe you can still buy 2/ 1/2" shells in 12, 16, and 20 gauge and they are not all that uncommon there. I think that some of the specialty houses in this country might have them in 12 gauge, but I haven't seen them advertised in a while.
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