This invention relates to a method of producing a honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting a predetermined radial dimension comprising producing a green ceramic honeycomb body that exhibits a radial dimension at least 9% greater than the predetermined radial dimension and a cell density of at least 500 cpsi. The method further involves shrinking the green body during firing to form a sintered honeycomb ceramic body exhibiting the final predetermined radial dimension. This invention also relates to a method of producing a ceramic body comprising the following steps: (a) compounding and plasticizing a ceramic raw material mixture and forming the plasticizable raw material mixture into a green ceramic body by extrusion through an extrusion die; (b) drying the green body and thereafter firing the green body at a time and at a temperature sufficient to sinter the ceramic body resulting in a radial shrinkage of the green ceramic body in the radial dimension due to the firing of at least 9%.