Does anyone here besides me remember when the Standard 28 gauge shell length was 2 7/8"?
From its introduction here in North America in the late 1890s, the "standard" 28-gauge load was 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 14 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 1/2 inch case.
A slightly hotter load of 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 16 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing that same 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 7/8 inch case was also offered.
In 1931, progressive burning smokeless powder caught up with the 28-gauge, and the 3/4 ounce high velocity load was introduced --
Shortly before WW-II our North American ammunition companies began offering their 28-gauge skeet loads in a 2 3/4 inch case. Very soon after WW-II the 2 1/2 and 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge shells were gone and all loads were put up in a 2 3/4 inch case.
