Springfield Arms 16ga chamber length?

[mikenbarb]

Im wondering if anyone knows if a Springfield Arms 16 gauge built by Savage Arms has a 2-3/4" chamber? I just picked up a real nice one and it dont say anywhere. I believe it is but I just want to make sure. Thanks.

[Bret4207]

You should be able to tell by lightly dropping a 2 3/4" shell in the chamber. If it stands proud at all it's 2 9/16".

[pietro]

If the chamber/shell length isn't marked on the outside of the barrel top/bottom somewhere, take it to a gunsmith who has the proper tool to measure the chamber length.

An unfired 2 3/4" shotshell will chamber very nicely in the shorter chamber, since they're not 2 3/4" long until AFTER they've been fired,

That's much too late to avoid the pressure surge, from the shot charge being forced into the barrel forcing cone - the diameter of which has been reduced/constricted by the additional thickness of the fired shell mouth.

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[richbug]

All the "Springfield" Savages I have had have been 1950's or 60's vintage. I'd imagine they would have standardized on 2.75" by then.

[BruceB]

Let's not forget that the figure "2.75" is the length of the FIRED shell; an unfired "2.75" shotshell is only 2.25" in length. Therefore, such a modern shell will easily fit into a 2 & 9/16" chamber. When fired, its crimp area will impinge on the forcing cone of the shorter chamber, raising pressures even further.

I do believe all the Savage-made Springfield-brand guns use the current 2.75" chamber.

[BruceB]

....dang...I didn't see pietro's reply until after I'd said the same thing!

Sorry.

[pietro]

S'ok, Better safe, than sorry - since Savage/Stevens has been using the "Springfield" moniker on shotguns since at least the 1935 Price List I have seen, and maybe before even then !

If the barrel's not clearly marked with a chamber length, it's better to presume a short chamber, since most were not marked with chamber length until after the longer chamberings became more popular/common, if not "standardized".

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[Old Ironsights]

What they said.

I have two 16s made around 1900 and both of them are running 2-9/16. One was actually shorter than that and had an agressive forcing cone and Extra Extra Extra Full Choke ta boot.

If you don't reload, then I STRONGLY recommend the "Vintager" series of 16ga shells from Polywad. http://www.polywad.com/vintager.html They are both the proper length (true 2.5") AND low pressure.

[Bret4207]

Hmmmm, I must have a tight chambered 16 then. I have a "Parkhurst" damascus double I've been working on for years. A standard 16 ga 2 3/4" will stand proud by about 1/4 when lightly placed in the chamber, but a paper 2 9/16" shell slides in nicely. Sorry if I gave the wrong info.

[Old Ironsights]

Hmmmm, I must have a tight chambered 16 then. I have a "Parkhurst" damascus double I've been working on for years. A standard 16 ga 2 3/4" will stand proud by about 1/4 when lightly placed in the chamber, but a paper 2 9/16" shell slides in nicely. Sorry if I gave the wrong info.

It can go both ways.

For example, My Damascus 2-9/16 double will easily take FIRED 2-3/4 hull, but an never-loaded/OEM 2-3/4" Cheddite hull will stand proud.

That same gun will also take a pair of Gauge-Mate 16/.410 inserts and work just fine.

My Drilling, OTOH would NOT take any 2-3/4" hulls: unfired, fired, never loaded, nothing. Nor will the chambers allow the Guage-mates lo drop in.

[pietro]

[I must have a tight chambered 16 then.]
[I have a "Parkhurst" damascus double I've been working on for years.]
[A 16 ga 2 3/4" will stand proud by about 1/4 when lightly placed in the chamber, but a paper 2 9/16" shell slides in nicely.]

No disrespect, Bret, but what you describe is a 2 1/2" short-chambered Parkhurst, and not a 2 9/16" short-chamber.

Please consider, just as with a 2 3/4" unfired shell in a 2 9/16" chamber -
a 2 9/16" shell will chamber OK in a 2 1/2" chamber, as it's not 2 9/16" long - until after it's been fired.

When fired in a shorter 2 1/2" chamber, the 2 9/16" shell will raise the pressures in those old barrels - just not as drastically as 2 3/4" ammo raises pressures, which is most likely why you haven't had any issues as yet.

Like OI posted above - go with 2 1/2" ammo, at least until the chambers are accurately measured with the proper tool.

We DO like hearin' from ya ! ;)

.

[Bret4207]

I appreciate the info. I was unaware there even was a 2 1/2" 16 ga chamber. At the rate I'm going I'll never get it shootable anyway!

[Old Ironsights]

I appreciate the info. I was unaware there even was a 2 1/2" 16 ga chamber. At the rate I'm going I'll never get it shootable anyway!

Depends on your definition of "shootable".

It is 100% safe & shootable using sub-guage chamber inserts.

if you can get a "Guage Mate" or "Lil-Skeeter" in 28 or .410 to drop in, you can shoot it from now until Ragnarok.

If you want to throw money at it, you can get it lined to 20ga and it will be just dandy.

But with My damascus, I just went with the Guage Mate chamber inserts and blast away... old & off-face or not. :mrgreen:

[Mk42gunner]

Guys,

There are a couple of ways to make sure what the chamber length is.

1. Hunt around on the internet to find chamber dimensions; then make a flat gauge to measure the chamber.

2. Buy a shotgun chamber guage from Brownell's, the 16 Gauge retails for $19.99, if you get the trade discount it is considerably cheaper.

I went with option 1 because I got curious about a 16 gauge double that I boughtin 1983, (supposedly libertated during WWII) and have shot somewhere around a bazillion shells through. UH-OH it had 2 1/2" chambers. Then I checked the plainly marked 2 3/4" chambers of a Winchester model 24; my custom made gauge said it had 2 5/8" chambers????

Moral of the story if you make your own guage; make absolutely certain the measurements that you use are correct.

My next order to Brownell's will have a 16 ga chamber guage included.

Robert

[mikenbarb]

If this is a 2.5" chamber, Can it be lengthened to a 2-3/4"? Its a solid built gun in great shape with plenty of steel around the chamber area.

[Old Ironsights]

Can it be? Usually. Should it be? That's up to the competence of the 'smith involved/age of the gun.