16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Eagle, Mi

Alright now I am comfused with the new 16 I have . Old Elsie that I want to digest 2 1/2 inch shells only.

I looked at the Fiocchi GT shells at the local store as these are only sub 8000 PSI rated and when I measured the shells they are about 2 1/4 inch long however the box said they are 2 3/4 inch shells??

what am I missing??? Are 2 3/4 inch shells measured hull length before loading, and finished length is 2 1/4??

I have never had to think about this before with the old 870 pump , hell just buy shells and shoot

Yes, the length is of an opened, fired shell, or new unloaded uncrimped shell.

Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Eagle, Mi

So am I to assume that a 2 1/2 " shell will be 2" when finished???
Wow, kind of like building a house cause a 2x4 is not a 2x4 anymore, However they START OUT THAT WAY !!!! Rolling Eyes

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Lumpy,

Get used to it. Very Happy

Not everyone knows that "two by four's" are actually 1 1/2" x 3 1/2".

And they never were....

Jeff

*Last edited by brdhnt on Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:41 am; edited 1 time in total*

Lumpy,

As stated, the length of the case is for a fired or unloaded case, not the length of a loaded round. Several suppliers offer 2 1/2" cases and MEC has an adapter for loading 2 1/2" cases on a standard machine.

One of the problems with the 16 is that it was the last to be standardized with a 2 3/4" chamber length so many of the pre-war guns had 2 1/2 or 2 9/16" chambers.

Good Shooting!

TMB
________
SHIP SALE

Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Eagle, Mi

well my 1920 lc smith falls into the lot of " hell I can't buy any shells off the shelves" theme.
That is why I plan on getting into reloading them and don't want to buy a rerloader that won't do the trick.

I read the reloading for dummies thread and saw the debate on lee and mec. well I thought I would just "get into " reloading using the lee and then upgrade later, well I called lee to see if the unit would do a 2 1/2 inch shell and they said no . so it is off to the mec Jr. for me with the 1/2inch converter plate . Just hate paying all the extras for what should be standard, (Bushing and such).

Now I need to either wait for Graf and Sons to get some hulls or find a different supplier.

LUmpy

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

When I went from the MEC Sizemaster to the Grabber. I called MEC and asked if I could load 2-9/16" shells on the Grabber. They said no. I bought it anyways, made a few adjustments, and it loads 2-9/16" hulls all day long.
I didn't use the short kit with the Sizemaster either. Just adjusted it down.

I think Dave made a wise move. There seems to be plenty of adjustment room on the progressive machines. Even for 2 1/2" shells you are only talking 1/4" inch.
You can always buy 2 3/4" shells and cut them down also if shells are hard to find. If you try the progressive w/ 2 1/2" let all know the results.