Remington 1889 Chamber Length?

[Blackpowder Burn]

I just won a bid for an 1889 Remington 12 gauge shotgun.  Are the chamber lengths 2-3/4", or shorter?  Just wondering if I need to cut down my hulls and roll crimp, or use brass hulls.

[Pettifogger]

Shorter.  2 1/2 or most likely 2 5/8.  Here's a cheap way to measure the chamber.

http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/chamlgth.html

[Blackpowder Burn]

Pettifogger,

Thanks for the info.  I was doing some research on the web last night and came across the same link.  Very ingenious and simple method.  This is the first time I've worked with a period shotgun, and intend to load with BP and use for CAS.  Am I better off to have the chambers lengthened, or to buy the tools to cut down shotgun hulls to proper length and roll crimp?  Also thinking about brass hulls.

[Coffinmaker]

Is this A Damascus barrel gun??

Coffinmaker

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Improvised chamber length gauges;

16 ga; SHARPIE, accent highlighter   (Nominal dia. of fwd chamber .732/18.59mm)

12 ga; ELMERS school glue stick, 6 gm, no 60203    (Nominal dia of fwd chamber .798/20.27mm)

[Coffinmaker]

Additional simple chamber length gauge.  3 X 5 card stock ( or around here, Match Score Card) rolled neatly, a pencil and a tape measure.

Is this a Damascus barreled gun???

Coffinmaker