While the progressive burning powder, high velocity, loads in 12- and 20-gauge were introduced, circa 1922, put up in 2 3/4 inch cases, but just a bit later that year or early 1923 when the 16-gauge progressive burning powder loads were introduced they were put up in 2 9/16 inch cases.
The 2 3/4 inch 16-gauge shell really began to get some traction when Remington Arms Co., Inc. introduced their Model 11 and "Sportsman" autoloaders in 16-gauge in 1931, chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells. While Remington's regular Nitro Express 16-gauge progressive burning powder load was put up in a 2 9/16 inch hull with a load of 3 drams equiv. pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot, for their new 16-gauge autoloaders they introduced the slightly faster Auto-Express with a 3 1/4 drams equiv. charge pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot --
