Shell length?

[SDawson]

Hi all. I am new to shotguns. Purchased a Maverick 88 for play and home defense. The paperwork says to use 2.75" or 3" shells. Purchased some Rio #4 buck shells from Cabela's. The web site said they were 2.75" but when I measured them, they are only 2.5". Cabela's says that the 2.75" length is uncrimped. Can I use these shells? Thank you.

[NapalmCheese]

In short, yes you can.

The length of a shotgun hull is determined before it is crimped. In other words, if you measure a fired hull it will measure 2.75 inches, but a loaded and crimped round will only be 2.5 inches.

[sdnative13]

Typically speaking it doesn't really matter if it's smaller then stated its when its longer where you run into problems

[SDawson]

Thank you both for your answers. I will give them a try.

[edgerly779]

Buy the 3" mags and they will beat you up. First shot ok second tough as you have either dropped the gun or shooting at the sky if newbie shotgunner .( I think you are) Start out with light field loads from wallyworld 3/1/8 shells. When you are familiar with shotgun then start using heavier loaded shells.

[CandG]

Also note that shells with a roll crimp are often longer than shells with a star-fold. For example, my Benelli M4 magazine can hold (7) 2.75" shells with a starfold, but only 6 with a roll crimp. This won't effect compatibility with your shotgun, your chamber is large enough to accept any 3" shell with any crimp. Just might affect magazine capacity. You can also safely shoot shells shorter than 2.75", but they probably won't feed well. For example, some company makes something like 1-1.5" shells so that a tube magazine can hold more of them, but I imagine they feed like crap in most shotguns, hence the 2.75" minimum stamped on your shotgun. But if you could manage to get it to feed, or load them 1 at a time, they're perfectly safe.