stocking of repros
 

After looking at the normal web sites that sale Parker repros it seem to me that a lot of these guns appear to be stocked high. Drop at the heel of 2 1/4 is about normal. A gun stocked that high would no more work for me than a Parker made 1900 with 3 inch drop at the heel. Are there many or any repros with drop at the heel of 21/2 or 25/8?

Yes there are but like you’re discovering, there aren’t a lot of them.

The straight, or English, grip models are typically stocked even higher than their pistol grip cousins. The two straight grip repros I owned were stocked pretty high but I learned to shoot them both pretty well. I did find that the older I get, the less flexible I am becoming and it’s not as easy to adjust to an ill-fitting stock as I once could.





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I'm with you Daniel. I have bought and sold several over the years to keep the gun fund running but never owned one personally for just that reason. They don't fit me at all which is to bad as they are beautiful guns......

The Cataloged standard dimensions of Repros of all gauges was 1-3/8" at Comb and 2-3/16" at heel. Now, the comb on Repros is about 1" father rearward that Meriden Parkers, so that Comb dimensions equates to more like 1-1/4" on a closer comb. I personally feel like these dimensions are too high for many shooters, but it was clearly felt that more wanted dims like these at that time.

I have found some Repros are closer to the 1-1/2" and 2-1/2" Drops that most would feel more suitable today, but that is not the norm.

I could talk for hours about this issue. I will try to keep it short. I learned to hunt rabbits at about 11, dad gave me a heavy 12 SXS non selector 30". I used it but never liked it! My older brother was given a little lovely Fox 20 SW with double ivories...man it was sweet! Dad no longer hunted and we did not have much luxury cash in them days so I used the big 12 for several years. I did ok on rabbits if they got out there or I cut them in half. Don't think I ever hit a rooster with that gun. Now I know why..pretty sure I was shooting under them. I started working at 16 for Woolworths in the coffee shop, soon I bought a Hi Standard pump 20....I shot that gun well! Later I got a better paying job in Sheet&Yube steel mill. Being a smart modern young man I thought I wanted a Over Under they looked so cool and sleek! I bought a SKB 600 all engraved up, silver receiver 26" 20ga. I sold my pump to a older kid. I soon found out I could not hit with the SKB and sold it, next I bought a Remington 870. It saw little use...I got very interested in GIRLS. That lasted way to long, did not get married till I was 35. So now I get back into hunting, deer was my main interest as we no longer had wild pheasants left in eastern Ohio. Ohio was a shotgun state back then so I bought a deer barrel for 870. Then one day on the Gun List that came in the mail I saw the full page add for Parker Reproduction SXS shotguns at close-out prices. I got on the phone to Jaque's and bought a 20ga two barrel set.....My SXS addiction started that day! An infection I still have as I type. I did not like the single trigger of my PR, it was way to hard to switch the barrel selector. So I sold that set and looked for a double trigger model that I found in short order. About that time I started shooting sporting clays. Something I had never done before so I had to learn. I shot and shot till I started breaking birds and slowly got better at it. Self taught and had no clue about stock dimensions and all that. I kept shooting and learned to shoot my repro and got much better at it. Well that gun is stocked 1 1/4 by 2 1/8 That is high compared to the old Parkers and Fox guns I wanted to own. Wow that dimensions stuff is important! Now today a look for the old guns that are stocked hi. They are hard to find indeed, its a battle I fight all the time. In the past 10 years I have bought several PR sets and 3 Parker guns that have hi stocks. I ordered a made for me CSMC Fox and bought a few English guns and two Ithica Classic doubles all are stocked kinda hi. My advise is...If you want to own all kinds of shotguns and be able to shoot them (ALL) well stick with 1 1/2 2 1/2 and the correct pull you shoot. You can find the old ones stocked that way if you take your time. Minor bending will also help in some cases. Restocking is a expensive option. I know the PR market...there are guns out there with lower dimensions, look for one of them! I am a wild bird hunter, I do not have time to think about what gun I have and how it shoots hi or low, I want a gun in my hands that shoots exactly ware I point it....period. I have shot the feet of several roosters and blasted the breast meat...not good! When I have a proper fitting gun its head shots for me...(-: Stock dimensions are not the whole story, get to the patterning board often, shoot sporting clays and find your sweet spot. Don't buy guns that do not fit if you plan to hunt with them. SXS Ohio

Like many I had a 28ga repro ,it was stocked too high, sold it to a friend who also found it too high. Never understood why they were not made in a few different stock dimensions.

And that is the only reason that the two 28 gauge Repros that I have owned in the past have been sold.

That's why I have never owned one. That and they left off about 4" of barrel.:)

How hard would it be to bend a repro stock?

Forum associate, Chuck Heald, bent his Repro's D@H more than 3/8" down.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9320
. . . and more on the matter . . .
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17035
. . . and even more on the matter . . .
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7127

Keep in mind that bending a stock down in order to gain DAH could change the pitch somewhat.





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I recently sent a repro out for bending. It was my Only experience with trying to have a stock bent. It was my personal gun. It was a complete waste of money. All I got was a stock with messed up finish and an action that was all gummed up from the oil getting into it. The stock would not take the bend. The bend for cast held, but after two attempts to bend for drop, it kept moving back. I just ended up taking the comb down and refinishing. I would have been better off saving the money and just doing that to start with.

Yup, carve wood off the top. Unfortunately, it doesn't work the other way.

I've found, for me, that pulling the gun in really tight helps to overcome the high dimensions. It's basically become a natural mount for me and I haven't many problems wing shooting instinctually. But, to the point: I, too, wish the standard dims were 1-1/2 x 2-1/2 b/c that'd be just a little more natural and not require the development of gun specific muscle memory. Although I've considered it, I've been too scared to attempt a bend pretty much for the reasons Brian cited and confirmed through his attempt. Plus, I've never bent a stock b/f. Moreover, now that I've learned how to shoot them, I doubt I'll ever worry about it. YMMV

There is a guy down in the Texas area (Keith Warner) that uses a different bending technique that uses hot water ( or some other liquid) cycled through surgical tubing that is wrapped around the wrist. It is supposed to not result in any finish damage. He reports very good results with bending repros and a lot of stocks in general and he guarantees his work if it moves later on.

IF I felt the need to try to have a stock bent again, he would be who I would try next.

My hunting partner is a lefty and had Dan Cullity bring his BHE repro to his specified measurements. He shoots it quite well and has been happy with it for years. I introduced him to Dan and was with him when he dropped it off and when he picked it up. I don't remember Dan saying that he touched the finish? But that was years ago.:eek: At about that time I had been reading about the use of hot oil to bend a stock and not having any affect on the finish, it may be that is what Dan did but I am only guessing.

Beyond working with American walnut in my gun box making, I really don't know all the ins and outs of wood morphology. That said, I have believed that the finish, and pre-finish used on the 'California' wood used in reproductions doesn't lend itself well to mechanical manipulation.
I have had several experiences, some great, and one, ehhhh, with heat bending, but that was always on older guns with traditional finishes.
I think adding an additional 1/4" of drop is going to have so small effect on pitch, it would be very hard to measure. Good old trigonometry.

2 1/4" DAH is great for me. Please send all Repros not wanted my way:)

I'm with Steve. I never met a repro stock I did not like to shoot. I cannot say the same for Meriden examples. I do have one though that is a bit less than 25" that I am quite fond of.

Hhhhmmmm . . . Is that "the comb on Repros is about 1" father rearward that Meriden Parkers" by the guess or by the tape?

You tell me...

The here a photo of three separate repro stocks laid on top of 3 separate original meriden stocks. The spread here is between 1/2” and 1” difference in comb positon (with the repros being farther back).

True there is variation in meriden guns, but I have found that generally the repro combs are back in the farthest position that one will ever find a meriden comb in.

Attachment 70278

Brian, It's hard to tell because of the light reflection, but are all three of those stocks wrist failures?

Yes, they are.

I actually measured four Repro stocks (1-12ga. 1-20ga. & 2-28ga.) and two original 12ga. Meriden Parkers. The measurements were taken from the standing breech to the nose of the comb. You're correct in that the comb position is further back on the Repros, but the position is only 1/8" further back on the 28ga. Repros and 1/4" on the 12 & 20ga. Repros vs. the Meriden Parkers.

Let’s keep in mind the fact that the Parker Reproductions replicate the Remington Parkers, not the Meriden Parkers.





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Of course Dean, I suppose a comparison to Remington Era stocks would be more appropriate. I do not have any of those on hand here to compare to.

There is enough of a departure from Remington and Meriden stocks on the Repros that I would not expect there is much to find simialar in a comparison. ie: wrist sizes, butt end sizes and overall proportions.

XXX

The heel radius on a Repro is much larger than either Remington era or Meriden era.

Hi folks. New to this forum. Recent purchase of my first Parker has me hooked.it's a repro 12 low serial number. Stocked 1 3/8 by 2 3/8 by 14 5/8. Dt.pg.and my favorite btfa. Shoots like a dream. Only 7 lbs 1oz. Gonna have to get a 16 of some sorts. Thanks.

Welcome Matt, it sounds like you found a great repro 12 ga you should post a few pictures of it.

thanks opening day. after looking at several other great threads in this forum i wound up on the one with pix of wood... i'm going to have to revamp my assessment on my gun. it's maybe average looking compared to what i have seen as the norm pictured there. when i bought it, it had honest marks from being enjoyed by the previous owner (presumably hunted with). top lever is far to right, but gun has been more than moderately used. my wood is plain with little dark streakings. stock finish is intact. i'll work on getting thru attaching pix as i can. as for my stable of shooters she is is still my best one, and i still love her dearly. it just doesn't come close to the rest of the bevy of beauties i saw on that particular thread. thanks matt k

I disagree, it’s the best one b/c you’re enjoying it and you’ve made it yours.

Welcome to the forum, Matt.

Now, about that 16ga...keep your eyes peeled because one will show up for you at some point, but be ready. They’re the best of the bunch if you ask me.

I grew up shooting a circa 1900 20 ga on a 28 frame - with a 2 inch stock extension, it fit well and is still the fastest shotgun ever for me.

My wife gave me a Repro 12 for Christmas and the comb was too high, so I took it to a Mississippi gun shop and had it bent to suit. They used hot oil and a jig. Then they refinished the area finish to match the rest of stock. This fixed the problem for good. And it fits me like a 12 ga glove.

I later bought a new Repro 20 and it fit from the get go: still does. ?

PS I am taking it to Hidden Lakes preserve tomorrow to shoot birds with some buddies. :)
http://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/53029_600x400.jpg

Matt, you have a fairly rare Repro as it's a 12 ga with double triggers, a BTFA and a long length of pull, not a real common combination. I would prefer your stock over some of the other repros as quite a few of the guns with lots of figure didn't have the proper grain going threw the wrist and would break at that point. You've got yourself a keeper!

Thanks opening day.it was my thoughts as well. Don't know enough about parkers yet, nice to have someone else's positive input.

Hi folks. I was able to import 3 pix today to my album here in the forum.got stuck there. I can open up in the album.. can't get them into this reply..sorry for no pix yet. Matt k

To learn how to upload pictures here, see the two video's at the bottom of the FAQ page (link found on the left side of the parker guns.org main page).

Pic
 

Best I can get.

my thanks to all who helped me muddle thru the photo process. matt k .
still working on a 16 ..

Just sort of ran into this thread. Regarding bending Repros (or any other guns), Black or Claro Walnut doesn't normally bend well at all. Quartersawn wood bends best if one is looking at lowering the DAH/DAC. I was at the NE SXS and watched Dan Rossiter bend two stocks from guns that were given to him during the show. He took the guns home and bent the stocks and returned them to the owners the next morning. He has a rather nice set up at the shop that involves, various jigs and heat lamps. He doesn't even attempt the bend until the temp hits specific number at the wrist and then literally he bends the stock to the required position by hand and then clamps it in the various jigs at the required position/dimension the customer needs and lets it cool overnight to set the bend.

Above said, there are occasions where the heat is applied and the perfect temp is achieved and the stock just won't move. Its a rather imperfect science.

PS. I have seen him bend several stocks over the years. English Gripped stocks made with the various European type walnut can sometimes bend like a noodle. There can be a bit of spring back at times. If folks want a stock bend during the Vintagers event in Sept, swing by and talk to Dan at his booth. He can pretty much take one look at the stock and tell you if he thinks it can be bent. The good thing is no shipping and he will hand the finished gun back to you the following morning.