Parker 13 gauge?

[Bindlestiff]

Here is a video in which Larry shows how to measure a 11 gauge chamber so he can make custom brass shells to shoot. It would be a good guide to find out what gauge you have. He measures the chamber at about 3:40 into the video. I hope this help.

[Jack Hamner]

[QUOTE=Robin Lewis;132674]Here is a video in which Larry shows how to measure a 11 gauge chamber so he can make custom brass shells to shoot. It would be a good guide to find out what gauge you have. He measures the chamber at about 3:40 into the video. I hope this help.

Very interesting video, Robin. Yes, this helps tremendously! I'm just wondering if a cast of the chamber is necessary rather than a direct measurement, although I suppose that would be rather difficult and prone to error. With the cast, you can take a direct measurement and be assured your results are accurate and repeatable.

[Smoothebore]

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

Thanks, Dave. I have tried both a 12 and a 16 ga. shell in the gun. A 12 gauge will not fit into the chamber (shell is too large), and a 16 gauge (to the best of my recollection--it's been a while!) falls right through the barrel.
Do you think it would be possible to find a dowel or piece of plastic pipe that fit snugly into the chamber (without getting stuck!) and then measure that instead of making a casting---I'm a little nervous about attempting the casting process!

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

Thanks, Dave. I have tried both a 12 and a 16 ga. shell in the gun. A 12 gauge will not fit into the chamber (shell is too large), and a 16 gauge (to the best of my recollection--it's been a while!) falls right through the barrel.
Do you think it would be possible to find a dowel or piece of plastic pipe that fit snugly into the chamber (without getting stuck!) and then measure that instead of making a casting---I'm a little nervous about attempting the casting process!

P.S.By very tight, you mean that a 12 ga. will actually fit into the chamber, except very tightly? One will not even start into the chamber on this gun. Maybe it is a 14 ga. after all! BTW, a penny is almost the same size as the chamber at the end of the barrel..only the penny is a few hundredths too big. If placed in the chamber, about half of the penny will rest inside and the other half will protrude. The Redbook lists the diameter of a penny as 19 mm.

[Dean Romig]

By it's age, the gun was made for use with brass shells and if you intend to use a 12 ga. shell to determine if it is a 12 ga. gun you should try a 12 ga. brass shell.

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

By it's age, the gun was made for use with brass shells and if you intend to use a 12 ga. shell to determine if it is a 12 ga. gun you should try a 12 ga. brass shell.

Thanks Dean--excellent point! I just dug out an old Winchester brass 12 gauge and tried it. It's close, but it will NOT go into the chamber at all.

[Smoothebore]

Ok, first, on the faceof it, I was wrong about trying a modern 12ga shell in an early Parker gun, Dean is correct, but also, so is Robin. At the time of this early gun there was brass shells marked A & B. According to The Parker Story, at about 1870 the A & B shells appeared on the market. The "A" shell was for use in chambers sized for paper shells of the time. Paper had thicker walls so also a larger outside diameter. Then, shells for earlier guns that were chambered originally for brass shells, were marked with a "B". TPS also states in an undated chart that 12ga had tapered chambers from .811 to .797. FWIW, I believe this size corresponds to size of modern 12ga shells. This size would also be the "B" size shell, as the "12A" was a larger diameter matching the overall paper shell of the time. Confused yet? So, I still think you can try a modern unfired 12ga shell to help make a determination of what you have. If the gun is a 13ga, then the chamber will be smaller, and the 12ga shell won't fit.

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Ok, first, on the faceof it, I was wrong about trying a modern 12ga shell in an early Parker gun, Dean is correct, but also, so is Robin. At the time of this early gun there was brass shells marked A & B. According to The Parker Story, at about 1870 the A & B shells appeared on the market. The "A" shell was for use in chambers sized for paper shells of the time. Paper had thicker walls so also a larger outside diameter. Then, shells for earlier guns that were chambered originally for brass shells, were marked with a "B". TPS also states in an undated chart that 12ga had tapered chambers from .811 to .797. FWIW, I believe this size corresponds to size of modern 12ga shells. This size would also be the "B" size shell, as the "12A" was a larger diameter matching the overall paper shell of the time. Confused yet? So, I still think you can try a modern unfired 12ga shell to help make a determination of what you have. If the gun is a 13ga, then the chamber will be smaller, and the 12ga shell won't fit.

Thanks so much for sticking with me, Dave! As I was telling Dean, as impatient as I am, I think I'm just going to have to wait and find a gunsmith who can make a gauge determination for me, even if it means waiting a while!

[Jack Hamner]

One final try! I didn't make a mold, but I sanded down a plastic tube and then smoothed the surface. It now goes easily into the chamber where the shell fits and then slides very snugly through the entire length of the barrel. So snugly in fact, it takes a moderate amount of pressure on a dowel rod to push the tube through the barrel, although it loosens up at the very end (choke?). If I were to accurately measure the diameter of this snugly fitting tube,(I think the tube is pretty uniform in diameter) would this be pretty close to a true bore diameter? I don't have a caliper (that I can find!), but rough measurements with a ruler read +/- 18 cm. If anyone thinks this would be an accurate enough method, I will try and locate a good caliper and get a more accurate reading. Thanks for your patience and ALL your help!!!