2 3/4 and 3 inch shells

rstbkt69 · Post by **rstbkt69** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:40 pm

I have an old Zoli o/u. We have discussed it on here before on a subject of "Cheap O/U". It has 2 3/4 on the barrel but I can drop a 3 inch into it just fine. As far as i can tell this same model was available in a 3 inch config. also. Is there some mechanical or safety reason that I can't shoot a 3 inch shell in it? I was thinking that the pressure of a 3 inch shell would be too great but I'm sure some of the 2 3/4 shells can come close to that of a 3 inch. Any thoughts?
Jim

Birdhunter1 · Post by **Birdhunter1** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:38 pm

If the side of the barrel does not say chambered for 3" shells don't try it.

rstbkt69 · Post by **rstbkt69** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:41 pm

thanks

Bowhunter20 · Post by **Bowhunter20** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:23 pm

I agree it might work... but is it work loosing your eye or worse. It might even work good at first but then later on crack or break the barrel.

Gordon Guy · Post by **Gordon Guy** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:14 pm

When you fire a 2 3/4 " shell in your gun the crimp opens up and comes right to the edge of the forcing cone. Allowing your shot charge clear path through. But when you put a 3" shell in a chamber that's designed for 2 3/4" shells the crimp opens up into the forcing cone and constricts the charge even more, raising the pressures to excessive amounts. It may not blow your gun up the first time or 50th but it will cause undo stress and over time it will loosen all the joints of your gun, to include yours. The recoil would be too much for me. But then again I shoot pheasants with a 12 gauge stuffed with RST, low recoil - low velocity, 1oz load of 6's. If I do my part the gun does its part.

Loke · Post by **Loke** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:57 pm

Gordon Guy wrote:When you fire a 2 3/4 " shell in your gun the crimp opens up and comes right to the edge of the forcing cone. Allowing your shot charge clear path through. But when you put a 3" shell in a chamber that's designed for 2 3/4" shells the crimp opens up into the forcing cone and constricts the charge even more, raising the pressures to excessive amounts. It may not blow your gun up the first time or 50th but it will cause undo stress and over time it will loosen all the joints of your gun, to include yours. The recoil would be too much for me. But then again I shoot pheasants with a 12 gauge stuffed with RST, low recoil - low velocity, 1oz load of 6's. If I do my part the gun does its part.

That is what I was going to say.

rstbkt69 · Post by **rstbkt69** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:18 pm

Thanks for the answers. I won't do it. thanks for taking the time to explain it.

highcotton · Post by **highcotton** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:10 pm

Loke wrote:
Gordon Guy wrote:When you fire a 2 3/4 " shell in your gun the crimp opens up and comes right to the edge of the forcing cone. Allowing your shot charge clear path through. But when you put a 3" shell in a chamber that's designed for 2 3/4" shells the crimp opens up into the forcing cone and constricts the charge even more, raising the pressures to excessive amounts. It may not blow your gun up the first time or 50th but it will cause undo stress and over time it will loosen all the joints of your gun, to include yours. The recoil would be too much for me. But then again I shoot pheasants with a 12 gauge stuffed with RST, low recoil - low velocity, 1oz load of 6's. If I do my part the gun does its part.
That is what I was going to say.

Me too

omega58 · Post by **omega58** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:54 am

You can fit a 3 1/2" shell in a 3" gun if you want, but I would not advise doing so.

rstbkt69 · Post by **rstbkt69** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:59 am

Nope don't need to do that. I have a gun that shoots 3 1/2s and another one for up to 3 in. was just curious if this one was mislabeled in some way.
Thanks Jim

omega58 · Post by **omega58** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:17 am

rstbkt69 wrote:Nope don't need to do that. I have a gun that shoots 3 1/2s and another one for up to 3 in. was just curious if this one was mislabeled in some way.
Thanks Jim

BTW - any luck finding chokes? Could you post what the threads look like? There may be some out there, or you could order a Zoli choke from CDNN for $10 and see if you get lucky.

rstbkt69 · Post by **rstbkt69** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:28 am

Didn't find any chokes. I emailed a guy that was looking for some way before I was and he didn't have any luck. I'll just measure these to see what they are and live with what I have. But here is a link to what they look like. Jim
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=128454