Mine is late Dec 08 production and it is very finiciky with 2 1/2" anything. I actually have the best luck, in that I have never had any problems at all, with 3" Winchester super X that I buy here at Walmart(as much as I hate walmart). I did run through some of the 2 1/2" 3 ball buckshot that was at walmart, also winchester, that seemed to cycle fine but at almost a $1.50 a round I didn't fire many.