.410 shotgun 3" full choke? use 2.5" shells?

[Soundguy]

My shotgun experience is limited to a mossberg 12ga pump and a 20ga bolt action.

I picked up a nice little H&R .410 single shot this weekend.. it says it is chamberd for 3" and is full choke barrel... etc.

Digging around my bullet bin, I see I have some winchester .410 2.5" #7 shells that I apparently have for an old enfile rifle that was converted to .410..

So my question is.. will the .410 chamberd for 3" take the 2.5" shells with no damage?

I realize they slide in fine as they are short.. but wondered if this would not damage the last half inch of chamber?

thanks

soundguy

 

[Highbeam]

My Remington 870 is designed as a "magnum" for 3" 12 gauge shells and I almost always buy the cheap skeet loads which are 2-3/4" No problems have been encountered the few times that I loaded up some 3" steel loads for duck hunting.

 

[PMA]

I had .410 gauge single barrel that would shoot 2.5 inch shells. This was a very long time ago.

 

[the_sandman_454]

With shotguns, the chamber length markings refer to the maximum length shells you can use. You can use shells shorter than the max allowable, but not longer.

As another person here mentioned, I also shoot 2.75" shells in the 3" chamber on my 870 12ga.

I wouldn't worry about it, but in order for it to hold a more useful amount of pellets after you use up the 2.5" shells, you may want to start buying the 3" ones to use, or maybe not depending on what you're doing.

 

[Bird]

Chris, I think the Sandman answered about as well as your question could be answered.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks guys. I think I'll save the 2.5" shells for that old enfield rifle that is only chambered for the 2.5" .410 shells, and just pick up a box of 3" shells.

I intend to carry this as a snake gun when i got out on the rural part of my farm. Currently I've bene carrying a 12ga.. sure blows up a snake.. but it's overkill and louder than needed...

soundguy