I recently got my first English sxs, a hundred year old 2 1/2". Spent the first 60 years of my life KNOWING you can't shoot 3" in a 2 3/4" gun, etc. I researched the topic for a couple months. Gogh Thomas and Sherman Bell both say, with proper pressure loads, you may be o.k. That said, I'm reloading and buying 2 1/2" for my gun. First reason, it is fun to have something new and totally different, second reason it seems prudent to me.

That said, there is a portion of this topic I've never seen addressed. Does anyone know, if you do shoot 2 3/4" in a 2 1/2" gun, does it affect patterning? Any additional pressure would be generated by forcing the payload into a more restricted area. My flawed logic tells me that would deform shot, and possibly cause the pellets to "bounce" through the forcing cone.

Steve

"Every one must believe in something, I believe I'll go hunting today."