Stan, I have always loaded 2 1/2" shells with a much larger shot load than 1/2 ounce. I have my specs posted in my load book, specs that exceed NSSA maximums by quite a bit. I use old style AA hulls and sometimes green ribbed Remingtons that have been fired at least two times to increase capacity. I use wads that intrude the least in the shell. I like the orange PC or Remington wads. The point is that I could do the same with 3" shells now that I have a MEC 600 Jr set up to load them. The idea that comes to mind is to use a robust .410 gun and cut out the chamber to 3 1/4" or longer as long as the wall thickness at the forcing cone is sufficient. I have some Briley tubes that may have long forcing cones suitable to bore out to a longer chamber dimension. My point is "Don't stop at 3" chambers. Go for the gold." There must be someone who has a 3 1/4" or 3 1/2" case that fits in a .410 chamber. Don't believe the Old Wive's Tale that long shot columns won't pattern well. You have to try it to know the truth. What is your recommendation for a strong, inexpensive gun to test our theories? How about a Savage-Fox double? Your friend, Bill Murphy
