Chambers

[dob]

Is there a reason why all shotguns aren't made with 3" chambers as standard?you could then use anything from a 2" to a 3" cartridge.

I am sure there is a reason but I don't know what it is,

Cheers

[TONY R]

They quite often are these days, its more or less since Steel came in 15 or so years ago when it all started being nearly all 3 inch.

This is on typical OUs autos pumps etc, dedicated cly guns and game guns still tend to be 70mm though.

3 inch is an advantage on space for steel but both 70mm and 76mm both run the same presures so its physical volume only to be gained, your looking at about 4 gram more shot charge extra on a crimped load between 70mm and a 76mm gun.

RToing either will increase the capacity but to run a heavy steel load in a 76mm and still stay within safe sami limits it will be pretty pedestrian in nature compared to a typical 76mm steel load.

You dont loose out by much with a 70mm and the 70mm RTOed loads will match the 3 inch near enough in the field.

Obviously this is re those who reload, factory ammo offers less options to the 70mm user shot sizes much over 4s are hard to find in 70mm so for geese its reloading that gives the 70mm user his best option.

[Guest cookoff013]

Some guns are 70mm only because they are designed to shoot just clays!

[SxS]

One argument would be that if you know you're not going to shoot 3" then it's better to have a shorter chamber (appropriate to the cart you want to shoot) in order have a smooth transition from cartridge to bore.

 

Would expect that a short cartridge in a long chamber is going to see the shot want to expand outward, and the wad less effective, in the empty chamber space and then need re constricting in a way that wouldn't happen if you matched cartridge to chamber length.

 

Does it bother me enough to not buy a 3" chambered gun or to always match lengths? Hell no.