doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 2" 12ga vs. 2.5" 12ga prices

Whatever the pressure of the shells, at least initially, 2" Brit guns had to pass the same proof pressure as other standard Brit 12's. Eventually, a separate and lower proof category was added for 2" guns. I seem to recall that might have been as recently as the 50's, but I'm not sure. One reason the 2" guns from Spain are heavier than most Brit 2" guns is that those Spanish guns were CIP standard proof, not at a reduced pressure standard for 2".

These are more difficult to find than good pigeon gun. Good luck and oui, oui...as Lowell Glenthorne used to say.

Had to check my memory, from the above post about proof for 2" guns. "Shooting Sportsman", Nov/Dec 97: Charles Fergus' article entitled "For 2" Cases Only". Fergus had a Midland 2" that was marked as having a 1 3/16 oz proof, which was actually higher than the standard 1 1/8 oz proof for 2 1/2" 12's. Fergus explains that it had to do with the fear of "higher pressures generated by Belgian 2-inch zinc cased cartridges being sold in England at the time." And it was under the 1954 rules of proof that the 2" finally got its own slightly reduced level of proof. Under those rules, 2" guns were proofed for shells with a service pressure of 2 3/4 tons, versus the standard 3 ton service pressure for 2 1/2" guns.

Nice to know the memory worked on that one.

Lagopus is so right, 2-inch gun are not common, even in England. Take that that into account when you're paying a bit more for a box of these shells. I shoot an Engish 16 simply because that rariety drives both the guns and the shells to a bit higher price point than I'm presently comfortable with. With that said, however, I can honestly say that I've never picked up a better handling gun than a classic Britsh 2-inch. For ruffed grouse, I can't imagine a better gun.

Eley, Lylvale Express and I think Gamebore also still make the ammo here but it is not often stocked as routine by gun shops. I make my own using paper case once fired stuff; although plastic can be used I just prefer paper, cut down to 2 inch. 21.5 grains of Vectan AS with a CCI or Win 209 primer, card and felt wad and 7/8th. ounce of shot and a roll turnover. Lagopus.....

Holt's had an H&H Dominion with 2" 12ga barrels and 2 3/4" 20ga barrels that didn't sell in their March auction: http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/asp...049&image=3

Pretty steep estimate for a Dominion with a stock extension, but I bet a 5 pound 5 ounce 12 bore would really be something.

I have a Watson Bros that I shoot 2" shells in produced my RST. I thought this gun to be a 2inch cambered gun, but when I measure the chambers this morning the chambers are 2 1/4 inch in length. How long are the chambers on a 2" gun? 1 7/8?

Take one of fired 2" cartridges and measure it's length. that should correspond to chamber length of true 2" gun.

I seem to recall reading that the British "Nominal" 2" chambered guns actually have 2�" chambers, just as the "Nominal" 2�" chambered guns normally have chambers of from 2 9/16" - 2 5/8" (65-67mm).

My recall on 2" chamber length is the same as Miller's.