Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums General Parker Discussions

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
28 gauge 2 7/8" chambers and shells
Unread 10-20-2018, 11:23 AM   #1
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,650
Thanks: 13,085
Thanked 9,474 Times in 3,043 Posts

Default 28 gauge 2 7/8" chambers and shells

I saw a 28 gauge Parker shotgun advertised recently that was listed to have 2 7/8 inch chambers. I can't find the listing again, but as I recall the gun was made in 1923.

Ironically, I recently also came across a box of 2 7/8" shells. I know there's a great deal of knowledge out there regarding old shells/loads and chamber lengths. Does anyone know when these shells might have been made, and/or when 2 7/8" chambers were offered by Parker Brothers?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_4872.jpg (506.6 KB, 1 views)
__________________
“Every day I wonder how many things I am dead wrong about.”
― Jim Harrison
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
Garry L Gordon is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-20-2018, 12:18 PM   #2
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,597
Thanks: 1,617
Thanked 7,773 Times in 2,353 Posts

Default

When the 28-gauge was introduced in North America, the "standard" 28-gauge load was 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 14 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 1/2 inch case. A slightly hotter load of 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 16 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing 5/8 ounce of shot out of a 2 7/8 inch case.

28-gauge Bulk Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16.jpeg

28-gauge Dense Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16 Infallible or Ballistite.jpg

TARGET 28-ga.jpg

Early Long 28-gauge Peters TARGET.jpg

Around 1931-2, high velocity, progressive burning smokeless powder caught up to the 28-gauge and the 3/4 ounce load, Western Super-X, Peters High-Velocity, etc. were introduced.

28-gauge Super-X #6.jpg

28-gauge High Velocity #6.jpg

NID 28-ga Field & Stream April 1932.jpg

Shortly before WW-II, our ammunition companies began putting up their 28-gauge Skeet Loads in a 2 3/4 inch case, and shortly after the war the 2 1/2 and 2 7/8 inch cases disappeared and all 28-gauge loads came in a 2 3/4 inch case.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Unread 10-20-2018, 09:00 PM   #3
Member
charlie cleveland
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,986
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7,787 Times in 3,967 Posts

Default

there now makeing 3 inch loads in the 28 ga....charlie
charlie cleveland is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to charlie cleveland For Your Post:
Unread 10-21-2018, 12:07 PM   #4
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,597
Thanks: 1,617
Thanked 7,773 Times in 2,353 Posts

Default

Around 1960-61 the Olin brothers began stuffing a full ounce in the 2 3/4 inch 28-gauge case --

1 ounce 28-gauge shells.jpg

As far as I know Remington & Peters didn't join in on this, and Federal introduced a 7/8 ounce load.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Unread 10-22-2018, 05:52 AM   #5
Member
6pt-Sika
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
CraigThompson's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,504
Thanks: 5,494
Thanked 7,460 Times in 3,383 Posts

Default

Thirty years ago a fellow I worked with sold me 5 or 6 boxes of 28 gauge 2 3/4” 7/8 ounce shells all 6’s and 7 1/2’s if memory serves . And of course they long since been shot up . Seems to me the ones I had were REM or Peters .
CraigThompson is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to CraigThompson For Your Post:
Unread 10-22-2018, 09:08 AM   #6
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,650
Thanks: 13,085
Thanked 9,474 Times in 3,043 Posts

Default

Great information! Many thanks to my colleagues.

Now, does anyone know when Parker Brothers started making 2 7/8" chambered 28s? I'm away from my library and so don't have access to TPS.

Thanks again.

(Dave, you are a treasure trove of in-depth information!!)
__________________
“Every day I wonder how many things I am dead wrong about.”
― Jim Harrison
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
Garry L Gordon is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-22-2018, 11:23 AM   #7
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,597
Thanks: 1,617
Thanked 7,773 Times in 2,353 Posts

Default

Chas. Askins was writing about his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge chambered for 2 7/8 inch shells in his 1910 book The American Shotgun. Ole Chas. said he was handloading 2 1/8 drams and 3/4 ounce of shot!!

FWIW the May 1900 UMC catalog only shows 2 1/2 inch 28-gauge cases but the April 1901 UMC catalog includes the 2 7/8 inch case.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Unread 10-23-2018, 09:02 AM   #8
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,650
Thanks: 13,085
Thanked 9,474 Times in 3,043 Posts

Default

Askins (both of them) sure liked them heavy and hot.

Thanks again, Dave, for this information!
__________________
“Every day I wonder how many things I am dead wrong about.”
― Jim Harrison
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
Garry L Gordon is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-23-2018, 11:13 AM   #9
Member
Dean Romig
PGCA Invincible
Life Member
 
Dean Romig's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 31,563
Thanks: 35,444
Thanked 33,042 Times in 12,322 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Noreen View Post
Chas. Askins was writing about his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge chambered for 2 7/8 inch shells in his 1910 book The American Shotgun. Ole Chas. said he was handloading 2 1/8 drams and 3/4 ounce of shot!!

FWIW the May 1900 UMC catalog only shows 2 1/2 inch 28-gauge cases but the April 1901 UMC catalog includes the 2 7/8 inch case.
Dave, do you know if the 2 7/8” shell was designed for use in 2 3/4” chambers holding to the practice of shells being 1/8” longer than the chambers in order to ensure a better gas seal?





.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."

George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
Dean Romig is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 10-23-2018, 11:34 AM   #10
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,597
Thanks: 1,617
Thanked 7,773 Times in 2,353 Posts

Default

The Remington era specification sheets on pages 164 to 167 of The Parker Story show that for the little guns, 28-gauge and .410-bore, the chamber was held 1/16 inch short -- 2 13/16 inch chamber for the 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge shell and 2 15/16 inch chamber for the 3-inch .410-bore shell.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:40 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2023, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.