GH Chamber and Chokes?

[Sam Hershfield]

The gunsmith who's working restoring my GH 12's Damascus barrels (they were rust blued years ago) has just informed me they are both full choke and the chambers are 2 1/2. I was wondering how common this was for a 1891 Parker?

Thanks

[Mills Morrison]

That is very common.

[Steve McCarty]

I think it is more uncommon to find a GH with original 2&3/4 inch chambers. I usually shoot RST 2.5 inch shells in my GH, but since it is a full and full I have been know to slip in some standard 12 gauge spreaders with no prob.

I read somewhere, maybe in these pages, that all SBT's have short chambers too. I shoot standard low base trap loads in mine.

Just bought a 16 gauge model 97 Win, made in 1910. I think that gun has short chambers too, but have yet to shoot it.

I have read Jack O'Conner's shotgun book about five times. In it he says that lots of folks shoot standard shells in 2.5 inch chambers. He admits to doing it without a second's thought. While I own a few new guns...a Browning Gold Fusion, an Ithaca 500, I prefer to shoot hundred year old guns. I have only lengthened the chamber on one old model 12 that is almost a century old. The rest I just shoot.

[Nicholas Sarro]

Funny you should mention that. I recently sent my PB 10ga Damascus to a gunsmith to open up my 2 5/8" chamber to 2 7/8" & to open the chokes up to IC & M. Still waiting to hear from him.

[Bill Murphy]

Nicholas, why would you lengthen your chambers? A 2 5/8" shell will hold as much shot as you will ever want in a ten gauge bird gun.

[Nicholas Sarro]

This way I can buy 2 7/8" shells which are cheaper and more readily available than 2 5/8". I can still use the shorter shells if I need to.