Sterlingworth 2 3/4 inch chambers

[Magwa45]

I was able to get the chambers measured on my 12 ga. Sterlingworth and they are 2 3/4 inches. Beforehand I bought a couple boxes of RST 2 1/2 inch shells. They also manufacture 2 3/4 inch shells, so I will go with that after shooting up what I have on hand. I assume that the 2 3/4 inch shells might give a better pattern or is that a false assumption? Does it make much of a difference if you shoot 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 inch shells out of a gun with 2 3/4 inch chambers?

Don

[Twice Barrel]

Don it makes no difference shooting 2 1/2 inch shells in a 2 3/4 inch chamber. As far as performance goes a 3 dram, 1 1/8th ounce shot charge will perform as well if shot from a 2 1/2 inch case as it will from a 2 3/4 inch case. The only drawback with the 2 1/2 inch hull is finding components to reload 2 1/2 inch hulls with more shot than about 1 1/8th ounce. As far as patterning goes each gun has it's own likes and dislike, you are just going to have to pattern the rounds to see which round your particular gun patterns best for your inteded use.

[lee r moege]

Strangely enough my 2 3/4" A grade patterns better with 2 1/2" RST copper #6 than it will with the same thing in the longer case. I found this to also be true with #7 1/2 lead. I am wondering if the short shell in the longer chambers doesn't react like a longer forcing cone. Both are 1 oz. loads which of course was/is the old standard for British game guns. I haven't tried this in 20ga. yet as I only have one 2 3/4" gun the rest are 2 1/2". I am set up to load from 2" to 3 1/2" in 12 ga. and 2 1/2" to 3" 20 gage and plan to do some experimenting over the winter. Happy Foxing!!! Lee.

[Twice Barrel]

Strangely enough my 2 3/4" A grade patterns better with 2 1/2" RST copper #6 than it will with the same thing in the longer case. I found this to also be true with #7 1/2 lead. I am wondering if the short shell in the longer chambers doesn't react like a longer forcing cone.

Lee I have heard that the 2 1/2 inch shell pattern better than a 2 3/4 in shell from a gun with a 2 3/4 inch chamber before. I think you are on to something with the notion that the longer chamber acts as a lengthened forcing cone. It is well known that some makers held their chambers as much as 1/8th inch shorter under the belief that there was a better gas seal when using fiber wads. I can understand that line of thinking but it no longer holds true since the development and wide spread use of the one piece wad with it's superior gas sealing design.