My First Parker!!
 

First, thank you for the forum gents...what an amazing place.

Second, I picked up a Trojan 20 ga today serial # 206116 and I have two questions:

1. Can I take it out this weekend and shoot it? The receiver and barrels are in pristine condition with no corrosion or wear whatsoever. If so, can I use the regular 20 gauge dove loads being sold down at wally world?

2. This gun is perfect in every way except one. The guy I bought it from said the movers dropped it when he came down here and it knocked a chunk of wood off the heel about an inch long and half an inch thick at the largest place. Do you guys have any suggestions about whether to repair it and how to go about doing that?

Whoops...make that three questions:

3. I can't find any choke markings anywhere. Does anyone know how to find such information out? Sorry in advance if that's a dumb question.

thanks again for a great site.

Jeremy, Welcome to the PGCA Forum.

You'll probably need to have the choke constriction measured with a bore mic. in order to determine chokes.

The chambers in your 1923 or 1924 Trojan are probably 2 9/16" or 2 5/8" and yes, you can shoot standard 2 3/4" dove loads in it. I would suggest however, that you shoot 2 1/2" loads in it which will only serve to reduce recoil and treat both the gun and your shoulder a little better. I find shooting the 20 ga. Parkers on a 0-frame using 2 3/4" shells give my shoulder a severe beating with continuous shooting.

Have fun with your "new" Trojan.

Thanks for the advice Dean. I'll stop by bps tomorrow and pick up a couple boxes of 2 1/2's.

Jeremy,

The 20 gauge Trojan is my favorite Parker. Not that I don't have higher grades, but because it was given to my father when he was a child. He found it "New" in the box under the Christmas Tree. I do not think this gun has ever seen a 2 1/2" shell. I know the advice you were given is sound, but with 2 1/2 dram 7/8 oz loads you will be fine. I think these guns came with a standard IC and Modified chokes. Do not alter them if you are a hunter. The last two days have presented some long shots on dove and the back trigger received first billing and the left barrel did the job.

Kindest, Harry

Thanks for the advice Harry.

I've got a dove shoot near Frankfort Saturday I'll be testing the waters with. I picked up some 2 1/2 dram 2 3/4" shells today at Bass Pro and we'll see. hopefully i can get a photo uploaded tonight...it's a beautiful gun.

Jeremy: here's an easy way to measure the chambers yourself http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/chamlgth.html
I once had a 1928 20g Trojan with chambers close to 2 3/8", and recoil in that light gun was brutal with 7/8 oz 2 3/4" loads.
Several 2 1/2 inch 20g shotshell sources are listed here http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/loadsuse.html

photos...

Jeremy,

I shot near Frankfort opening day. If you end up at the same place I shot you will be delighted. Are you a native of Louisville?

Harry

My wife is, and now my kids are. I grew up in rural Florida.

A friend of mine just bought 40 acres in Cropper last year and planted sunflowers just for birds this year. I imagine we are indeed going to have fun, I cannot WAIT to hunt with this gun.