Burrard 1st Ed provides a table of Proof and Service Charges which includes 3 1/4" 12G as above noted, however the separate Table for All Sizes of British Cartridges does not include the 3 1/4" cartridge load.


Later editions eg 1960 does include the 3 1/4" loads - for 33grain, 43/1 1/2oz

36 " 46/1 1/2 oz

42 " 54/1 9/16 oz

BP - 4Drs/1 9/16 oz

Also includes Low Velocity loads for 36 grain smokeless nitro powder and Black Powder.

Guns chambered for thin brass cases were built as pigeon and wildfowl guns usually 2 3/4" upwards and probably even in standard game guns, so called "chamberless" guns. The 12/10 cartridge was manufactured for this class and I think that this type of gun was generally built to accomodate the heavier loads on the low velocity principle. Paper case guns were also produced in 3 1/4" length.

I have seen a 3 1/4" chambered gun stamped with Nitro Proof for 1 3/4 oz , original, a nominal 12 although measuring in 10 gauge classification, and apparently a paper case chambered gun. So far I have not found any Proof House data for a 1 3/4 oz Nitro load. The gunmakers who specialised in construction of this class of shotgun ( Ford, Jeffries, Greener...) to customer order would have specified the load particulars to the Proof House .

Last edited by greener4me; 07/30/22 05:41 PM. Reason: load data display re-format