Winchester 21 or Parker DH?

[6pt-Sika]

21's have never over enthused me . Except a 16 gauge skeet we had in the shop for repair last year !

The gun needed a little work but I liked it and tried to talk the owner out of it but to no avail !

[Craig Larter]

I own both plus Foxes and Elsies and would always select a DH over a Model 21. The Parker DH has it all over the 21 in terms of looks and class in my opinion. That being said my Model 21 Duck with 30" full choked barrels, a single trigger and splinter forend is a great waterfowl and clays gun.

[Dean Romig]

In answer to your question to me Michael, I've shot skeet model 21's in 20, 28, and 12 gauges and I've been offered a few at very attractive prices. IF I had bought any of them it would only have been to flip them at reasonable prices. I would not have kept any of them and all but one 12 ga. we're in excellent original condition. So, no, the temptation was never really there for me. JMHO

[OH Osthaus]

I think Dean beat most of us to the expected answer

[Opening Day]

I have had Model 21's in 12 ga,16 ga and 20 ga, both the 12 (which I hunted with for 7 years) and the 20 were too heavy for my taste. The reason I hunted with the 12 so long was it was my first SXS and I knew the action was strong (which it is) and could handle any load. The 20 just didn't do anything for me and I even had it custom engraved with two of my dogs so they both ended up going down the road. I picked up the 16 ga mainly for the strength of the action for the UP flurry which was 75 birds in 2 1/2 minutes, one man shooting and you had to shoot this for part of the competition and no one I talked to liked it. It was very hard on guns and I didn't want to put my Parkers through that again so I bought the 21 16 ga. it has a balance like no other 21, the 16 is built like the Parker on a 20 ga frame, so the 16 weighs less then the 20 and feels good in your hand. If your looking at a 12 ga for hunting it is Parker period the weight of the 21 will get to you by the end of the day. For shooting sports where weight is not a factor or is a plus pick the gun that feels best to you.

[Pay Dirt]

I understand this is the PGCA, but Mike asked...
With only a tenth of the production of the Parker Gun, still plenty of interesting 21's to covet.
Sorry for the visual rant.

Here's a 6lb 6oz 28" 20 gauge 2 barrel set.
WS2/IC, Full/Mod



Or a 6lb 12 oz 28" 12 gauge. Full/Mod



A 30" 16 gauge at 6 and 3/4 pounds. Full/IMod


How about a 6 pound 16 gauge choked LMod/IC?
30" F/F along for the ride.


A 30" 20 gauge, F/F ?? With 26" WS1/WS2.


First year 32" Vent Rib 12. F/F and absolutely slays them on the Continental Trap fields.

[Mills]

Maybe playing Devil's Advocate a little, the 21's are supposed to be the strongest built of the American doubles. If you wanted to shoot heavy loads, the 21 would be the one to get. If you want the custom, hand finish and engraving, the Parker is the way to go. Also, good, decent DH's seem to go in the $2,000-$3,000 range and 21's seem to start around $3,000 and go up from there - 12 gauges, of course

[Ed Blake]

Mills offers good advice. You have not mentioned condition, though. Are the actions tight, barrels in good shape? Parkers tend to get wobbly actions.

[Fishtail]

If I wanted to shoot heavy loads all the time I'd use a #3 frame Parker. But really....I think most of us would be lucky to shoot enough to wear out a Parker.

20 years ago I had a nice CHE 20 ga for sale. The son of a very well known 21 expert came to look at it. He looked it over and more or less wrinkled his nose and declared that it paled in every way to a 21. I didn't care much either way, but his comments made me curious about 21's. I bought THE book his father had written that covers 21's and dove in. To this day I am amazed anyone would rather have a 21, especially in light of the 'pimp my gun' engraving and single trigger setup they are prone to have.

[Pay Dirt]