Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Merit vs pitfalls: short-chambered (old) SxS's

Who has experience with these to comment on how much they enjoyed the gun vs. degree of headaches/hassles?

Specifically, adventures in hull cutting when short hulls aren't available, and learning roll crimping. That one can buy factory at 75-100% of 2 3/4", am aware and not being a competitive shooter it doesn't bother me should I buy it now and again.

Been browsing for a 20 or 28 sxs of the fox/smith/lefever etc variety, preferably modest re ornamentation but a classic heirloom gun nonetheless.

One's tugging at my heartstrings here, but is 2 1/2. Will be checking on suitability to lengthen chamber, but not keen on doing unless practicality dictates down the road. Finally, an experienced friend can instruct re hull cutting and roll crimps.

I enjoy the old stuff and have no illusions of this being walmart-easy; will be keeping other guns around for proverbial "rainy days". But whether it would prove a fool's errand, am trying to figure. Thanks for your thoughts.

to easy to buy 2-1/2" loads. Buy the gun!

I just have the chambers or forcing cones lengthened. I also do not hesitate to open chokes to suit me. I usually send them to Briley Mfg. To be altered.

I've been shooting low pressure 2 1/2" 16's in my Mod 20 Husqvarna going on ten years now. My pre-war A5 is also short chambered.
Not all of the2 1/2" load recipes call for a roll crimp. There's really little difference between loading 2 1/2" and 2 3/4". The fold crimp loads I use come off my MEC 600JR just as well as the longer cartridges. MEC makes a short cartridge plate to fit their presses.

All of my roll crimp equipment came from Ballistic Products, and there really isn't that much involved. If you already have a press of the right gauge you can use it to size with. If not the Super Sizer is nice. You'll also need a hull vise, roll crimper and a drill to run the crimper with. Again if you have a press, powder and shot can be handled with the charge bar and then moved to the hull vise for crimping. If not Lee dippers work for powder and an adjustable dipper for shot.

The biggest thing to roll crimping is getting the Feel for when to push down on the crimper. Too soon, and the plastic won't be warm enough to roll. Too late, and the plastic gets too hot and smears.
It also helps if you charge several hulls and then crimp one right after the other so the crimping tool doesn't cool between cartridges. I actually got lazy and bought a cheap plastic bodied Sears drill press and mounted a hull vise to the table. With the depth stop set crimps come out nice and round, even and square to the hull walls.

And no, it's no fools errand. My days shooting dove with the Husqy or roosters with the A5 make the small additional effort invested worth while.

Thanks for the insights, fellas.

I see little draw back other than you can't go to walmart for ammo.

Pluses, you can get to hunt with some very nice guns that would be out of my reach to purchase new.

I shoot a pair of Husqvarna 51's in 12ga, a Darne and Ideal in 12ga, a Robust sxs, Sauer and guild drillings in 16 ga. all 2 1/2"

There is much data available fro BP and loaded ammo from B&P and RST. Loading is little different from 2 3/4 just a shortshell adaptor for the MEC. I load a block full and then take them to the roll crimper. I have an old Lee Loadall that I use for my ITX waterfowl loads.

My waterfowl load set up. the press just deprimes and primes both 12 and 16 ga and I scoop shot and hand inset wads.


Mec with shortshell adaptor


When it all comes together.




I don't think there is anything more fun than harvesting your birds with one of the oldtimers.

I find that I do just as well with low pressure 3/4 to 1 Oz. as I did with heavier modern loads.