28 gauge chamber length?

[Paul Straughn]

Greetings All:

I am new to Parker guns and the PGCA. I have the opportunity to buy a VH grade 28 gauge. The seller is unable to identify the chamber length. The gun was manufactured in 1903. Any suggestions please? Thank you!

[Jeff Christie]

Go for it (assuming it is in reasonable condition). You could wait years for another to pass by. You can always sort the chamber length out. Unless it has been monkeyed with it should become a centerpiece of a starting collection.

[Paul Straughn]

Thanks Jeff. I agree, and won't lett the chamber size, whatever length it may be, affect my decision.

[C grade]

That is a find!! I have two and would jump on another in a NY minute.
David

[Bill Murphy]

Paul, my 1904 28 gauge has 2 1/2" chambers. I have shot that gun with 2 3/4" shells for 53 years with no problem. I also have a 1900 28 gauge but don't know the chamber length. I shoot that one with 2 3/4" shells also. Do you have a PGCA letter on this gun? I have a lot of research material on early 28 gauges. If you would post the serial number, I could compare it with my research material.

[Bill Murphy]

If you have trouble getting modern 28 gauge shells into the rim recesses of your new gun, I can help you with a reamer to enlarge the recess a couple of thousandths so it will accept modern shells. This modification has nothing to do with chamber length. Early Parker rim recesses were originally too small in diameter to accept modern 28 gauge shells. Some were modified, some were not.

[David Noble]

Bill, I had to ream the rim recesses on my 1911 28 VHE. I believe I was able to get a better deal on that shotgun since the seller was never able to get a shell to seat in it.
My serial number is 156491 in case you have any info and would not mind sharing.

[Bill Murphy]

All of my material is in the very early days of the 28 gauge.

[Researcher]

During most of the years Parker Bros. offered 28-gauge guns, our North American ammunition manufacturer's "standard" 28-gauge cartridge was a 2 1/2 inch shell with a load of 1 3/4 drams bulk smokeless powder pushing 5/8 ounce of shot. Some at various times also offered a 2 dram load in a 2 7/8 inch case pushing the same 5/8 ounce of shot. In 1932, Western Cartridge Co. introduced their 28-gauge Super-X 3/4 ounce load in a 2 7/8 inch case.

Chas. Askins the Elder was handloading 2 7/8 inch 28-gauge cases with 3/4 ounce of shot for his 6 3/4 pound 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. gun in the decade before The Great War.

In the last couple of years before WW-II 2 3/4 inch 28-gauge skeet loads began appearing and shortly after all 28-gauge loads were being put up in the 2 3/4 inch case.

[Paul Straughn]

Thanks to all for sharing your insight and information. What a nice group! Now, let's hope I can secure this 28 gauge.