Please forgive a possibly stupid question, but does a steady (almost exclusive) diet of 2 3/4" shells harm a 3" or 3 1/2" chambered barrel in any way? I know it can shoot them, but should it shoot them? Is there any long-term wear or erosion to the "unused" portion of the chamber?

I'm sure this has been covered many times before, but I couldn't locate it with a search. :o

I have shot hundreds of 2-3/4 inch shells through my model 870 Magnum. Several hundred trap loads and many more hot hunting loads. I have looked and not seen any damage to the chamber or forcing cone caused by using the shorter shells in it. I often use a mix of 2-3/4 and 3 inch shells when hunting ducks.

I think you've asked a very reasonable and valid question!

I too have used short shells in long chambers for many years and many rounds with no ill effect. I shoot lots of pattern test and keep my results, I have seen no effect on patterns.:D

One thing is most, if not all, shot loads today are in protective cups (wads) and lead is soft enough to give before the steel would. Of course, this was one of the concerns of useing steel but then there are the cups.

So my answer is no, shooting short shells in a long chamber will not damage the chamber but I am not a firearms engineer. Maybe one of them could tell us.;)

No. This was a concern many years ago with .22 shorts in long / long rifle chambers, but the issues arose with the abrasive priming mixtures of the day.

Keep it clean and you'll have no trouble.

I don't see any trouble other than a change in velocity (because of the extra room the powder would have before the wad had to go tight to the bore). Perhaps a bit more attention cleaning that last .25" of chamber?

Cheezywan