Shotshell reloaders - 2.5" 20ga?

[Chris M]

I've got a early model 12 winchester, made in 1914. It's a 20ga with a 2.5" chamber. Before I know what the chamber length was, I put a box of 2.75" round through it, and it sure did kick like a mule. I found out later it was because of excessive pressure due to the shell not being able to open all the way. I haven't fired it since, and it's been sitting in my safe for almost 2 years. Now that I'm getting into reloading, I'd like to load my own ammo for this firearm, but have been unable to find any info about reloading for 2.5" 20ga.

I know nothing about shotshell reloading presses. Am I going to need a specialized press for this? can a 2.75" press be modified to crimp 2.5" shells? Is there more to it than that? I realize that finding reloading recipes may be difficult for it, but I'm planning on sticking with only one load - whatever works for shooting clays occasionally.

I don't really want to ream the chamber to 2.75", and I don't want to sell the gun. It's been in my family for quite some time.

[mjsweims]

Are you sure it is a 2.5" chamber? Does it say so on the barrell or did you measure it yourself?
For 2.5" shells your best bet would be to cut down the hulls to start. Cutter available from BPI. They also have a loading guide for short hulls.
You can probably use a Mec 600 Jr and adjust down the pre-crimp and crimp stations to properly crimp the hulls. Alternatively you could use a loader for everything except the crimp and then roll crimp with an overshot card.

[Chris M]

It's not stamped on the barrel. I had a gumsmith measure the chamber about 1.5 years ago.

I didn't want to purchase any shotshell reloading equipment until I knew for sure that I could accomplish what I wanted.

Thanks,
Chris

[mjsweims]

It's not stamped on the barrel. I had a gumsmith measure the chamber about 1.5 years ago.

I didn't want to purchase any shotshell reloading equipment until I knew for sure that I could accomplish what I wanted.

Thanks,
Chris

You can definitely load 2.5" shells. If it were me. I would:
1. Get a reload guide for 2.5" hulls.
2. Buy new 2.75" hulls. Once fired hulls may be harder to trim.
3. Get a Trim doctor and cut down the hulls to 2.5"
4. Use a press to size, deprime, prime, charge with powder, add wad and shot.
5. Add an overshot card and roll crimp in a hull vise.

All of the items are available from ballisticproducts.com - reload guide, hulls,7/8 oz wads, overshot cards, reloader (I would use the MEC 500 jr but BPI may have a high price), Trim Doctor, roll crimp tool, hull vise. Grafs.com also has everything except the reload guide.