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Can someone point me in the right direction to find data on loading 2 1/2" shells? Your own recipes are welcomed as well.

Most 2 3/4 loads will fit in a roll crimped 2 1/2 inch hull.

I've been loading 12 gauge 2 1/2" shells for a couple years and quite satisfied with the results.

Basically, I used the same recipe for my 12 gauge 2 3/4" loads with 1/2 and 3/4 ounces of lead shot using Alliant Extra Light powder. I've been loading those for 6 years and had them tested by Tom Armbrust back in 2015.

I use 12 gauge 2 1/2" RST hulls (Cheddites I believe), Cheddite primers and CB6100-12 (neon green wads). Probably not necessary but I trim with a scissors about 1/16" off the ends of the petals of those CB wads.

For 1/2 ounce: I started with 14 grains of XL powder with a Circle Fly 0.135" thick card wad in the bottom of the CB wad. Those tested out at an average 3100 psi pressure and 1187 fps. I bumped the powder charge up to 15.5 grains of XL, same wad etc. and they tested out at 4600 psi and 1373 fps. It burns a little dirty but does well for me.

For 3/4 ounce: same as above: 15.5 grains XL and the 0.135" thick wad is not needed. I couldn't find my test data but IIRC, the psi is up a little and the speed just a little lower.

I pretty much just shoot 12 gauge 1/2 ounce loads in all my 12 gauge guns for my sporting clays and skeet shooting. Occasionally, 3/4 ounce for longer shots.

Ballistically, those 1/2 ounce 12 gauge loads work quite well with the speed you'll get, around 1325 fps.

As for the mechanics of loading them, I use my MEC Sizemaster and add a 1/4" thick spacer at the pre-crimp and final crimp stations as pictured below.

They load nice and shoot nice. And by the way, I shoot those 12 gauge 2 1/2" loads out of my H&H back action hammer gun with steel barrels Nitro Proofed for 1 1/8 ounce.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Jolly

Occasionally I play with loading 2 1/2” shells but usually I just shoot longer 2 3/4” in all my short chambered guns. Tens of thousands of rounds through my early damascus barreled guns and never a problem. Seems the same mentality that says shooting smokeless in damascus guns is dangerous goes along with shooting longer hulls in short chambered guns is also dangerous. Test after test has shown it is perfectly ok to shoot longer hulls in short chambers. Oh well....