size of shotshells

[wshtb]

My Mossberg 590A1 is supposed to hold 8 rounds in the magazine tube when using 2 3/4 shells. With Federal brand bird shot, no problem, it holds 8 of them. However, with Rio brand 00 buckshot, it'll only hold 7. So I measured the actual lengths of the two type of shot shells with a caliper.

Federal #7.5 target load: 2.3 inches
Rio 00 buckshot: 2.5 inches

(After firing, both spent shells measure ~2.75 inches.)

I'm still new to this, please forgive me for this dumb question: are shotshell sizes not standard?

Since the main purpose of the gun is for home defense, I do want to keep 8 rounds in the tube. Are there any 00 shells that are 2.3 inches long?

Thanks!

[bigbearbear]

Some shells are just a little bit longer, not enough to be dangerous but in some tube magazines, you'll end up 1 shell short of capacity.

Try Fiocchi low recoil 00 buckshot, this one:

http://www.targetsportsusa.com/p-3825-fiocchi-low-recoil-ammo-12-gauge-2-34-00-buckshot-9-pellets-in-ammo-can-ammunition.aspx

They load to capacity no problems on both my Benelli Supersport and Benelli M2 Field Compact.

[Thefeeder]

The only standard for length is "not to exceed overall leagth" measured after firing

[brv1102]

The Rio shells have a different crimp to them, most euro/russian shotgun shells have a roll crimp which adds a little extra length.

[19K]

they also have different crimps. and they make "mini" buckshot shells. you can put like 12 in an 8 tube shotgun.

[Steve_In_29]

they also have different crimps. and they make "mini" buckshot shells. you can put like 12 in an 8 tube shotgun.

The mini shells don't work in most shotguns.

[d33pt]

Like you found out, the 2.75" measurement is the fired length. That's why you have to be careful not to put a 3" shell in a 2.75" only chamber. It will fit and chamber, but firing it will not be pretty.

[railroader]

Here's some mini shotshells that will feed in a mossberg pump. Cabelas has Herters mini buckshot shells on sale 10 rounds for $5. I got some for my maverick 88. They feed fine. They are lower recoil but they still are 1250fps. My gun also went from 7 plus 1 to 8 plus 1.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hertersreg-Defense-Shotshells/1555113.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dherters%2Bshotshells%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=herters+shotshells&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

[L84CABO]

Just FYI...Federal Law Enforcement Tactical 00 with Flight Control comes in both an 8 pellet and 9 pellet load. The 9 pellet shells are just slightly longer than the 8's and may affect magazine capacity. The 9 pellets fit just fine in my Remington 870 but I lose a round in my Benelli M4. Go figure. However this is more than likely due to mag spring.

A possible solution for you might be to cut a turn or two off of your mag spring which might create just enough room to get that last round in there...and hopefully not affect reliability.

Or you could simply look for a different round. You didn't mention if the Rio's you were using were 8 pellets or 9. If they're 9 you could check and see if they make an 8 pellet version. The Federals are excellent rounds btw if you want to go with them. And I've already done the research so I would think the 8 pellet round would be good to go for you.