In 1922, when Western Cartridge Co. introduced progressive burning powder, high velocity loads to North American shotgunnery, they put up their 12-gauge 1 1/4 ounce Super-X load and their 20-gauge 1 ounce Super-X load in their 2 3/4 inch FIELD shell. A bit later they introduced their 1 1/8 ounce 16-gauge Super-X load put up in their 2 9/16 inch FIELD shell. Remington followed suit adding their 12- and 20-gauge HEAVY DUCK load to their Game Load series in 2 3/4 inch NITRO CLUB cases. Remington didn't bother with a 16-gauge HEAVY DUCK load early on as they hadn't made a 16-gauge gun since 1910, and their new Model 17 20-gauge pump was made for 2 3/4 inch shells as were their 12-gauge pump and autoloader. By 1925 they added a 16-gauge 2 9/16 inch HEAVY DUCK Load. Between 1925 and 1930 the HEAVY DUCK load morphed into the NITRO EXPRESS load.
From the late 1890s until after WW-I, the heaviest 16-gauge loads our North American ammunition companies offered were 2 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 22 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing 1 ounce of shot. Those loads could be had in the "standard" 2 9/16 inch case or any of the longer 2 3/4, 2 7/8 or 3-inch cases.
The 2 3/4 inch 16-gauge shell really began to get some traction when Remington Arms Co., Inc. introduced their Model 11 and "Sportsman" autoloaders in 16-gauge in 1931, chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells. While Remington's regular NITRO EXPRESS 16-gauge progressive burning powder load was put up in a 2 9/16 inch hull with a load of 3 drams equiv. pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot, for their new 16-gauge autoloaders they introduced the slightly faster AUTO-EXPRESS with a 3 1/4 drams equiv. charge pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot --
