Posted by Mike Poindexter on September 24, 2018, 4:12 pm
I just got a second field grade 12 ga. R frame from 1935 almost a twin of another I have from 1939. Both are 30" bbls, with typical dimensions and markings. Both are above 90% condition, with no evidence of alteration. The thing I am writing about is that both have a 2 5/8 inch chamber, as measured with a Walker chamber gauge from Brownells. I know Parker Bros cut their 12 ga chambers to 2 5/8 in the early days, but Houtchens book shows a chart from 1907 that shows a 2 3/4 inch depth as standard. Anybody else notice this apparent anomoly in their guns? I shoot 3-1-7 1/2 factory loads in the 1939 gun with no problems and no obvious increase in recoil, so I'm not really worried about it, just confused. Thanks in advance for any insights.