Winchester didn't introduce the Super-X type shell, Western Cartridge Co. did, a decade befor the Olins bought the defunct Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Then through the 1930s the Winchester Cartridge line evolved to essentially equal the Western line -- Super-Speed the equal of the Super-X, Ranger the equal of the Xpert, etc. as the older Leader and Repeater disappeared. Shell length doesn't/didn't have anything to do with pressure or really anything to do with load up until the early 1920s when the Super-X type shells loaded with progressive burning powders came along. Back in the early days American 12-gauge paper shells were offered in 2 5/8, 2 3/4, 2 7/8, 3 and 3 1/4 inch lengths; 16-gauge paper shells were offered in 2 9/16, 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3-inch lengths; and 20-gauge shells were offered in 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 2 7/8, and 3-inch lengths. These longer shells did not carry a heavier payload, they carried more and better wadding for a better gas seal, which many competitive shooters believed to be desireable. These pages are from 1915-16 Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogue. The 3 1/4 inch shells had disappeared by then.
While the 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge shell and the 2 1/2 inch 20-gauge shell were considered "standard" by the loading companies, several popular loadings were only offered in the 2 3/4 inch case (or longer). Note the loads marked with *
When Remington Arms Co. introduced their John M. Browning designed Remington Autoloading Gun in 1905, it was made for 2 3/4 inch shells right from the beginning. Same with their John D. Pedersen designed Remington Repeating Shotgun in 1908.
The NID 20-gauge chambers were 2 3/4 inch from the get go. The Ithaca NID 16-gauge chambers weren't changed from 2 9/16 inch to 2 3/4 inch, according to the Ithaca catalogues, until 1934.
When Western Cartridge Co. introduced the Super-X in 1922, the 12- and 20-gauge Super-X was put up in a 2 3/4 inch case. The next year when the 16-gauge Super-X came out it was in the old "standard" 2 9/16 inch case. Then in 1931, Remington Arms Co., Inc. introduced their Model 11 and The Sportsman in 16-gauge and they were chambered for a 2 3/4 inch shell. While the regular Remington Nitro Express 16-gauge shell, like the Western Super-X, was put up in a 2 9/16 inch shell carrying a load of 3 drams equiv. behind 1 1/8 ounce of shot, they added a Remington Auto-Express 2 3/4 inch 16-gauge shell carrying a load of 3 1/4 drams equiv. and 1 1/8 ounces of shot.
