Loads for my Damascus Parker
 

I am seeking advice and counsel on this post. My friends and I have booked a 1,000 bird tower shoot thiscoming December. All of us shoot SXS's but I'm the only one with Parkers.

I plan to take 2 guns, one a 1889 or so 12 ga Damascus w/32 inch barrels. The barrels are .044 in each barrel at least 6 inches from both chambers. This Parker is build like a tank, tight on face, no issues what so ever.

These birds will be flying high (250 pheasants and 750 pigeons). This fine double is in excellent condition, I've had Brad B. go all over it and believe I've posted pictures of it. Not sure how heavy a load I should shoot. Any thoughts?

If Brad B. says it is ok, then I would have no problems shooting it.

As to loads

Give RST a call for advice

They have a variety of loads that would reach out including a copper plate one

Morris ships pallets of flats of highly coveted 'pigeon loads' to the southwast. These loads are hard-hitting (they need to be cause some serious stakes are involved) and I'm sure a call to Morris will get you what you need.






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Thank you Rick and Dean

Allen;
I don't know if you reload or not but if it were me, with .044 choke in each barrel, I'd opt for a 1oz. load of 7.5's. I might even use 7/8oz in the first barrel. Easy on you and the gun. A 1.25oz. pigeon load will take it's toll over that much shooting as you are going to be shooting alot of overhead/vertical birds. JMHO. Have fun.

Thanks Daryl
I do reload and only 7/8 and 1 oz loads for all my guns.

Take a look at some load data and recipes from the powder manufacturer that you like to use. Any load that is under 8,000 psi should be just fine for your gun. I use this number because i believe that RST makes no loads that are higher than that.

I load 1oz shells that are around 7,200 psi in both 2-3/4" and 2.5" and they perform well and i put them through any of my guns, damascus or fluid steel.

I was at a pigeon shoot recently and was surprised to see how many were using RST Pigeon Loads. Flat upon flats of them in the backs of their cars and SUV's. They have a modest Pigeon load that is easy on you. I do prefer #6 shot for pheasant and pigeon. B&P (Baschieri & Pellagra) High Pheasant 12 gauge 2 1/2" 1 1/16 oz of 6's is death itself. I shoot a Damascus Parker with this load out of 30" barrels with .030 & .041 constriction.

I shoot any load I please in my stout 32" 1883 2-frame twist bbld hammer gun. Mostly I shoot old paper shells with the 3-3/4dram, 1-1/4oz loads of gawd knows what pressure, but they are stout and seem to shake your teeth loose, and I don't worry one bit ever. I love old red paper Super X's, Mark V's and green, ribbed Remington Express loads for it. I think they hurt me more with the recoil than they do the gun. I shoot the same shells in a stout 2-frame 30" VH12.