Shotgun shell question

crapshoot

crapshoot

Well-known member
Probably doesn't make any difference but I'm asking anyways.
All ammo is remington express #4 buck 3". 5 in the back came out of 1 box. 5 in the front came from another. The remaining 2 rounds (1 front 1 rear) came out of my shotgun and is when I noticed the difference.
Why is there a length difference of at least an 8th of an inch when they should all be identical?
And no it's not a trick pic of me holding the camera slightly higher or lower.

Just made me go hmmmm.
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I would expect it’s something with the crimps. Is there any visual or discernible difference in how the crimps appear? 1/8” is quite a difference. I know the length of shotgun shells can vary a bit depending on a few things. Type of crimp, wads, Powder charge etc. etc. i would expect shells from same manufacturer would be closer. Assume different lots?

There’s probably better qualified people than me to help with this one. When I was reloading for sporting clays, my press was set it and forget it. Only loaded one charge with same components. Maybe Remington used alternate powders and components during the shortages?
 
I'm guessing the two boxes are from different lots of production and there may have been a slight change in the wad height or thickness or of the volume or even type of the powder between the two lots. These changes can make the shot column higher or shorter. Fortunately the roll crimp closure is pretty forgiving with regard to shot column variation. I would expect the performance to meet all the manufacturer's specifications in performance.
 
Ok, here's another one. I fired 7 of these rounds out of a brand new shotgun today. Shotgun is semi-auto and rated for 3" shells. All 7 look exactly identical after firing.
Think there might be a head space problem?

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It sure looks like something is wrong with that new shotgun. Try shooting a few other factory loads through the same gun to see what the brass looks like on them.
 
That looks serious. I'm a lefty and have been sprayed in the face by powder residue when too many times reloaded hulls split along the rim. Those rims look awful. Check the bases with a magnet to see if they are washed steel or brass. If what you are showing are steel bases then I would not shoot any brass based shells due to a likely rupture. I think that gun needs to go back to the fastory for rebarrelling/chambering.
 
Did you measure the OAL of the shells? IDK, but looks to me like those shells were fired out of battery somehow. Probably not the case, but if the shells are too long for your chamber and the gun does not have some mechanical means to prevent firing out of battery, the area just in front of rim would be unsupported by chamber????? I sure wouldn't fire it again until getting to the bottom of the cause.
 
Can you remove the barrel and chamber a round in it to see if a new shell fully chambers in that barrel?
 
That is definitely not right. I thought the same as hm1996, in that the shells were not completely seated within the chamber, or its firing slightly out of battery somehow.

I would do as Clarence suggested and pull barrel and insert a 3” round to see if the rim seats tightly. I would then make sure your barrel if fully seated into the receiver. Look for something stopping it from fully engaging with the receiver.

If that checks out, fire a 2-3/4” low brass target/field load and inspect the rim area. If okay, I would fire a magnum 2-3/4” load and inspect. If you get to 3” again and it bulges like that I would start suspecting a short chamber or something. But I’m not sure even that would cause what you’re seeing?

Get it figured out and fixed for sure! I wouldn’t continue pushing your luck with its current status. It’s not worth the risk. Good luck.
 
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I contacted the company and they said that this is normal with all AK style shotguns and is part of the design as the rear of the case is not fully supported.
 
Be interesting to find out if the lighter loads bulge the shells. I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting a gun that deforms cases like that....seems it would be only a matter of time until a weak case would fail, but that's just me.
 
Well, I ain't never considered myself a good lookin man and I'm on the down hill side of the hill if you get my drift 😉.... so what have I got to lose. 🤣
 
Shot shells sould HS on the RIM. But if the forcing cone is short it will seat long. Shoot non 3": and see what happens. Import AK style?
 
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