Back Action Guns

[Russ Jackson]

Odd question I suppose but I have never seen it ask ,is it possible to shoot RST Low Pressure Shells out of a back action Parker ,or do you need to use the Brass Hulls ? Thank You in advance ! Russ

[Bruce Day]

Russ, I don't think its the chamber configuration issue, as at least I regularly shoot Feds and other modern cartridges from a top action hammer Parker with black powder chambers. My concern would be barrel strength, as I don't know and have not seen figures about barrel strength for them. I think all or most of them were laminated steel barrels and I don't know how strong those are.

I assume, but don't know, that a person could shoot 5,000 to 6,000 psi loads from a laminated barrel without concern, as that has to be below the original barrel cartridge loads. Of course look at wall thickness. I regularly shoot 8,000 psi or more loads from a top action hammer with Damascus barrels, but then it has .040 or more thickness.

Best, Bruce

[Russ Jackson]

Bruce , Thank You for the reply ,I was most concerned with the Chamber issue ,if in fact there was one , This particular gun has Stub Twist Barrels and I have a Hosford Barrel Wall Thickness Gauge and that will be the next step before shooting the Gun ,I know just enough to get myself into trouble !:rotf: . I don't really follow the Hammer Guns as much as I should , just curious ! Thanks again ! Russ

[charlie cleveland]

what year is this back action gun made.. this is a good question and bruce gave us a good answer.... charlie

[David Dwyer]

I regularly shoot a stub twist barrel with RST . I was told by Brad Bachelder stub twist was one of the strongest of the Parker barrels
David

[Russ Jackson]

what year is this back action gun made.. ... charlie

Charlie ,It has an 1866 Patent Date and was built in 1874 according to the Serialization Book and our Home Page ! It must be an #1 Grade as near as I can figure and has the second style of Forearm release with the Slot for your Thumb Nail to push it out to get the forend off ! No Engraving just Parker Brothers on each side of the receiver and one Barrel Band and the Screws are engraved nicely ! The Gun does have " Parker Brothers Meriden Conn. Stub Twist " on the Barrel Rib ,according to TPS the Stub Twist barrels were not on the O Grade but on the next ,I am assuming it would be referred to as the # 1 Grade , You Fellows correct me please if I am wrong ! Russ

[Dean Romig]

The only back-action Parkers I would have reservations about shooting would be the earliest ones with barrels made from musket barrels and those marked with "Decarbonized Steel" or "DS" in the book.

[Russ Jackson]

Thank you for the reply Dean ,The Barrels appear fine with some moderate pitting ,of course I will measure the Barrel Wall Thickness ,the issue for me was with the chambers and type of Primers ,I have never owned a Back Action although I have owned some Hammer Guns and shot them regularly ,I was concerned if the Plastic Hulls from Rst were okay to shoot from a Back Action or if I would have to shoot a certain type of Brass Hull ,I am aware some of the Brass Hull primers were different and wasn't sure if something special would be needed for this particular gun !

[Dave Suponski]

Russ, The back action is not a very robust design. Go easy on the old girl. Most brass shells in the day were Berdan or boxer primed.

[ed good]

perhaps a set of briley full length 20 ga tubes combined with rst light loads would be a good combo?

[Mark Landskov]

The 10A, 12A and 16A chambers will accomodate shotshells with modern dimensions (diameter). The 'B' chambers are smaller, diameter-wise, and will require custom made hulls. I cannot recall the name, but there is an outfit that makes lathe turned brass hulls for obsolete guns.

[Dave Purnell]

Rocky Mountain Cartridge