From the 1890s up to about 1905, one could get loads up to 3 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot in the 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge paper shells. Over the next three or four years our manufacturers phased the 1 1/4 ounce loads out in the 2 5/8 inch length and through the teens, twenties and thirties the maximum payloads offered in the 12-gauge 2 5/8 inch paper shells was 1 1/8 ounce. One had to go to the 2 3/4 inch or longer shells for 1 1/4 ounce loads. Ususally the loads marketted as "Trap Loads" were put up in 2 3/4 inch cases and even though many 1 1/8 ounce "Trap Loads" were offered, 1 1/4 ounce loads were allowed up to April 1940. Want to lean into a hundred of these --
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We have found A.H. Fox Gun Co. chambers as tight as .788" at the break between the chamber and forcing cone. Fox wanted to be sure that shell was firmly aligned with the bore.
