crack in stock head

Bruce- I wish you lived here in MI- My friend, master gunsmith and PGCA member, Brad Bachelder is a master at stock repair. I agree with Bruce Day that there is a possibility of internal swelling at the head where the wood joins the receiver. I had Brad do a 12 gauge "Project Parker" for me, an older GHE with after market ejectors, matching forearm, barrels from a No. 2 frame VHE and a PHE pg buttstock that had the same crack at the rear of the top tang, as Bruce Day mentioned-

Brad took me through the steps involved, and I saw the stock "before and after" and he used Acra-Glas and a reinforcement pin, but inside, not visible on the surface anywhere- strong as Hercules, you have to use a magnifier to see the crack at all, and the wood is maybe 1/64" "proud" to the receiver now-

As to your loads, yes I No. 2 frame 12 Parker can handle those loads you mentioned, so can the 12 gauge R or Std. frame LC Smiths I also shoot, BUT-I'm getting older, so are the shotguns I enjoy, so I shoot RST 1 oz. light loads mainly- some 1 and 1/8 oz. No. 8 AA Sporting clays for the left barrel- anything heavier afield, I use a Model 12.

I understand your reluctance to ship a Parker or any other gun in today's world- If we go out to Lewiston MT this coming October, as we did 4 years ago, we'll drive a Suburban and the guns go into the motel rooms with us each night out and back.