New to me 16VH
 

This is my first 16 gauge Parker. A VH made in 1907 on a #1 frame with 30" barrels choked M/F. In one of the pictures you can see a 2 on the forend and on the barrels where the forend connects. These must be the second set of barrels...it would be nice to run across the first set.

The gun shot well. It looks like someone tried to clean up the wood at some point there also looks to be varnish or lacquer over some of the metal parts and frame. I don't want to rush and clean anything, but my guess that would come off without too much effort.

It is nice to finally have a 16 :)

Nice Jay. Love those 30" barrels. Post on the lost and found thread with the s/n to maybe locate those extra set of barrels.

If I am reading that serial number correctly of 145954 the book shows it has having no extras, meaning no set of second barrels. Of course they could have been added at a later date. Have you ordered a letter? A great gun in either case, you're going to love the 16 gauge. Congrats and enjoy.

I will order a letter. It will be interesting to see if it mentions the second set of barrels.

I did enjoy shooting and learning it today. In addition to 2 1/2 RSTs I shot some regular 2 3/4 inch 1oz. 1165fps shells and there wasn't much difference in recoil. I tried a RST 1oz. loads that is 1200fps that work well. My favorite though was the 7/8oz. loads at 1125fps.

I need to put some more time in, but I like this gun. The more I shoot tighter chokes the more I like them(I wasn't always this way...). I usually can figure out the close targets and also feel confident on the far away ones. Today I had a station with 2 fairly close fast crossing targets, I used spreaders and hit them both, but then tried regular shells and hit them just fine after a little fine tuning.

It's an addiction or so I have been told. What's the chamber length of your gun ?

RST
 

Jay,
Morris Baker gave me a few of the 3/4 OZ 2-1/2" loads to try last summer at a SXS shoot in Pa. Told me to use them first then go to the 7/8 OZ that I purchased. I was impressed with the low recoil and was still hitting the pigeons!
You will enjoy that gun.

I just got a VH 16 too. I want a 0 frame but it is a 1 frame. Should be good for John Truitt's 16 gauge event

Nice gun ! I bought a pair of 16’s from the same guy in the mid 80’s . A Trojan and a VH 30” with a straight grip . Often wish I had that VH back .

The chambers on the gun are just a bit longer than 2 1/2, around 2 9/16, which is what I believe they used back then.

I had a box of 3/4 16s from RST that a shot a few from today. Yes they were nice and seemed to do just as well as the others, though I didn't shoot too many of them. I definitely will as I shoot this gun more.

Save your RST empty’s. Hodgdon has 2 1/2 inch 3/4 and 7/8/oz loads on their web site. 3/4 in a tight choked Parker is sweet. Have some 7/8 on hand you are set.

Willam

I have a question and not trying to pose an argument or be contrary, just want to know the basis for the notion. For the record I am believer of squaring the load or the shot column as best fit to a gauge of gun to get most shot in a pattern and limiting shot string. Recoil is not a factor in my thought.

What are the limitations and difference of performance in a 3/4 ounce load versus a 1 ounce load in a 16. I have always shot 1 ounce loads in my 16 and never thought about something less. Less shot in the pattern is just what it is, less shot in the pattern. Essentially if your shooting 3/4 ounce load that is a 28 gauge load. Are you saying that a 28 gauge load in tight chokes of 16 gauge is like shooting open chokes for a 28 gauge. A 3/4 load for a 16 is going to be probably less than a square shot column unless RST has redesigned the shot cup.

A 1 ounce load is considered the perfect load for a 16 gauge. A 3/4 load is considered the ideal load for a 28 gauge. I can see shooting a light load in a heavier gun like a 16 gauge would diminish recoil but is that the only factor. I that the case an not worried about recoil then why not shoot a 28 gauge instead if you that gun in your quiver.

Just wondering. BTW it is same discussion for say a 7/8 load which is ideal for say a 20 gauge.

Love my 16’s!!

I was told years ago the three most ballistically "efficient" rounds were the 10 gauge 2 7/8" with 1 1/4 ounces , the 16 with an ounce and the 28 with 3/4's of an ounce . I tend to try to stick to those . Nothing wrong with less or more if that's what floats a persons boat .

Jay, BTW I like your new to you 16. I also have 16 VH from 1907 it is numbered 144842. It has 28 inch barrels on 1 frame choked modified and full.

Use it mostly for dove hunting and continental pheasant. Killed a high tailing pheasant dead as a hammer using lead #6 in 1 ounce load. Estimated it was about 50 yards when I shot but landed about 80 yards away when we picked it up. Probably a lucky shot but still that left barrel can reach out and touch them.

It depends on what a shooter wants his 16 to do. Here is my take others may see it different.

Clay Targets don’t take many pellets to break and tight chokes deliver adequate density at reasonable distances. Round of Sporting Clays you shoot 100 shots or even more if warming up on 5 Stand first. 125 1 oz cartridges out of a 1 frame Parker 16 takes a toll. 125 3/4 oz cartridges much easier on the shooter, in most cases he will shoot higher scores with the lighter loads. Could be you could shoot the same score with a 20 or 28 but in the SXS tournaments those guns are classed with other 20s and 28s not with 16 G

Hunting small bag limits, few shots, 16 with 1 oz loads gun light and easy to carry is a fine choice.

Ballistic performance one thing Human performance another, guns intended use yet another factor.

Willam

Good reasoning William.

16's
 

I love my 16's it's what I started on as a kid in the late 50's. Dad always shot a Br Sweet 16 and so did my brother. I had a BS Savage Fox. Ask the doves and quail I have bagged with my 16's. I just got back fro NM blue quail hunt where my 30" DHE shot the best. My grandson used my 30" VHE to down his turkey last spring. Long may the 16 live and one can never have too many. Thanks Morris for your great shells that we get to use. I like 7/8 oz best.

I can buy into that as a reasoning and to each his own, again I am not considering recoil. My thought is wondering if there was a potential advantage of less shot stringing by shooting a less than square shot column. Meaning about the same amount of shot is arriving at the same time like a like a big flat pizza as opposed to a more elongated cloud. Also tight chokes on a 16 gauge was wondering how they would compare to open choke on a 28 gauge.

Guess its all relative.

This gun weighed 6.8lbs on a bathroom scale. It didn't seem to kick that much even with the 1oz. loads. For clays I'll stick to 7/8 and 3/4 from RST. I am saving all my empties as I will likely get set up to reload for 16 gauge.

I am looking forward to shooting it some more this weekend :)

I took my 16 hammer on a GA quail hunt back in October. I brought 7/8 oz RST spreader loads and they worked out just fine. Very light recoil and brought the birds down just fine when I did my part. Shooting quail with a hammer gun was challenging and a lot of fun. The light RST shells worked out well over a couple days of hunting. For pheasant, I will go with 1 oz loads.

16-s are the BEST!
 

Kills like a 12 and carry like a 20....(-: I have several16-s that weight runs from a light 5lb-8oz up to about 6lbs-6oz. I do not like to shoot factory loads like 1oz promo game loads as they beat you up after 50 or so rounds of clays and its pricy to shoot the other loads that are available. So I worked up a hand load, 7/8oz at 1000 FPS or just under. My shooting improved with my handloads and I can shoot all I want with no adverse effect on my shoulder or shooting skills from hard recoil. The cost runs about 4.00 box if I search out deals for the components. I found that the Mec sizemaster press is a great press for this loading need and Graf & Sons is a good place to buy one if needed. They also sell wads, cards, powder, primers at a good price. My little CSMC Fox 28ga is 5lbs-2oz and I also worked up a light load for it too! 3/4oz just under 1000FPS. With a gun that light... it matters! Thanks all SXS Ohio

Most of what you read about shot weight and loads in my opinion is backwards. Seems to me starting with the target is more appropriate. How far how hard to break or kill, then work backwards to the shot size and number of pellets needed to do the job. From there to choke required then what shot charge weight will deliver on target. Clay targets and small birds need a different solution than large heavy birds .

William