Advice on Buying My First Reproduction

[Rud Blumentritt]

I am new to this site, but I have been planning to purchase a 20 gauge Reproduction for about a year now. I am in the process of divesting of several guns in order to fund this project and am getting close. As I go through the search process I was wondering if any of you guys could share some advice on what to look for, where to look and what questions I should ask of sellers. My optimal gun would be a 20 gauge, 26" barrels, IC/M, double trigger (won't hold my breath), splinter forend and pistol grip. I definitely prefer the French walnut (light blonde with straight grain) to the Claro. Reasonable pricing (not looking for a bargain but don't want to overpay), where to look, what to ask, etc. would be much appreciated. One thing I have noticed is that many of the guns on Gunbroker, Guns America and Guns International have been sitting out there for a year. Are they just overpriced? Thanks in advance!

[Dean Romig]

I think the ones you see on internet sales or auction sites that aren't moving are probably not generally overpriced but are, probably, not the gun that the majority of shoppers are looking for. Like you, most people in the market for a Parker Repro have specific sets of criteria that not many "for sale" Repros can fill. I have only three Repros and I paid well above market price for two of them... because they met my (fussy) set of criteria.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Hold out for what you want and be prepared to pay the price when it comes along. Your criteria are not so stringent that it will take forever to find one. The last one I bought I looked for 5 years before I found it. Oh, I found one several years earlier but I thought the asking price was too much so I passed on it. I regretted that decision many a day.

[David Holes]

The 20 ga. repro I shoot is a lot like what your looking for. I have shot it very well. Several doubles on doves and some good skeet scores. The wood may be a little darker then what your looking for, but still pleasent to look at.

[Michael Murphy]

The various auction and selling sites will be your best bet for getting comparable information on the specific configuration that your looking for. Make up a small chart and scour the auction and other selling sites while listing things like stated condition; your take on the wood vs your ideal; "Buy It Now" price; etc. Then buy the one that makes your socks go up & down!
I'd suggest a two barrel set as the small frames that the 20ga is built on seem to be better served by the 28" barrels. One would expect that they will also be most in demand in future years. But, in the end that's obviously your call.

[Mills Morrison]

Here is my Great Uncle's 20 gauge Repro I just acquired. The opportunity kind of fell in my lap and I was not looking to spend money on more guns, but am glad I got this one.

[charlie cleveland]

nice gun mills...i ve always wanted one of those repo s but something else kept getting bought first... i hope you find that 28 ga you want hold out till the rite one comes along... charlie

[Kenny Graft]

Your in luck....see gun broker # 336837364 It looks to be a good gun at a normal price. A two barrel set may be a better choice if you will need the longer barrels that are choked mod/full. expect to pay 8-1500.00 more for two barrel set. If you are a gun collector or gun needer it will be only your first repro...they are that nice! SXS ohio..(-:

[Eric Grims]

The gun on gunbroker looks to be a very nice one. I too am on the prowl for a 20 gauge. What do folks think about the grain in the wrist on that one? Any concerns?

[Bill Murphy]

If my criteria were the same as the OP's, I would be making an offer on the GB gun. Look at his previous sales to find out how long he's been shopping this gun.

[Kenny Graft]

The grain in this stock does not look like a issue to me. It is not croch wood or knotty wood, but normal grain. I like it...(-: If I needed this I would make a fair offer to the seller and see what hapens. SXS ohio

[Dean Romig]

Just to be forewarned, and in my HO, the 20 gauge Repros are a bit heavier than I like a twenty to be. 6 or 8 ounces less would be nice but unless you go for a twenty-eight you won't likely find a twenty that feels really good in your hands. Again, just my opinion.

[Kenny Graft]

Normily 20 gage Repro's come in at 6lbs-8oz on up to 6lbs 12 oz with PG-BTF and 28" tubes. I have one that is 6lbs-6oz SG-DT-SF in 20ga with 28" tubes. This is not bad for target shooting but a tad heavy for long day of walking. My go to hunting gun is a repro 16ga that comes in at 6lbs-4oz PG-DT-SF 28" barrels. I have a 28" factory set Q1/Q2 and a 16 ga. 28" Galazan/Merkel set IC/Full both guns are exactly alike... This gives me a great grouse or rooster guns in a great gauge! SXS ohio...(-:

[Michael Murphy]

I have to say that I'm somewhat amused by those who feel that a shotgun must be 6 1/2lbs or less to be acceptable for upland hunting. That somehow we all lack the stamina to carry a 7.0 lb shotgun all day and be effective with it. Those southern boys with their Browning Superposed's, Sweet-Sixteen Auto-5's and Model12's busting Quail must be wondering what they've been doing wrong all these years.
Goodness, how many 12 ga, DHE's with 28"-30" barrels served admirably in that capacity over the many years. It's about balance, fit and gun dynamics. In my uneducated youth (before side x sides) I swatted a trainload of Grouse (partridge in these parts) Pheasants, Ducks and the occasional Quail, along with thousands of Skeet targets, with a Remington 1100, with a Cutts on the end of the barrel. Ideal, of course not, except for Skeet. Effective, most assuredly.
Don't let a few ounces one side or the other sway your decision. Buy the gun YOU like.

[Dean Romig]

Hi there Mr. Murphy -

You will notice that in three sentences I twice said that this was simply "My opinion" not necessarily endorsed by everyone who shoots upland birds with a SXS, be it a Repro or anything else. I suspect you are either a lot bigger, stronger and quite possibly younger than I am. In any case, I still prefer a lighter twenty-gauge side-by-side shotgun for my flavor of upland shooting in the terrain I do it in.

Just to be forewarned, and in my HO, the 20 gauge Repros are a bit heavier than I like a twenty to be. 6 or 8 ounces less would be nice but unless you go for a twenty-eight you won't likely find a twenty that feels really good in your hands. Again, just my opinion.

[Michael Murphy]

Dean,
You can call me Mike. Yes, I should have said, "In my opinion". Thought that was understood.

[Dean Romig]

Hi Mike!

Thanks.

[Kenny Graft]

I would think most upland bird hunters today prefer small gauge guns over 12ga. The reasons are many...weight is only one of them. Nothing wrong with a 2 frame parker at 7 1/2 lbs but when grouse huntin the thickets give me a 6lb gun! SXS ohio...(-:

[Michael Murphy]

SxS,
I obviously wasn't clear enough in my post. I don't recommend or feel that a 12ga is ideal for upland hunting. My preference, if you have only one upland game gun, is for a 20ga. My point is/was that the difference in weight of a few ounces one way or the other shouldn't determine your purchase. It is far more important that the weight distribution and stock dimensions work for you.

[Mark Ouellette]

I have a few 10 gauge Parkers and Elsies that come up like magic albeit their loaded weight is over 10 lbs! I will take them on an afternoon pheasant hunt but not a all day hunt. After a few hours of walking I do not shoulder those big guns as quickly as I desire.

The above as a reference at least for me, I can envision where a lighter gun will be a comfort after climbing hills all day. Luckily there are vintage SxS's in every gauge and configuration so it is easy to select the most desired guage and weight for the game, terrain, length of hunt, and one's physical abilities.

[Gerald McPherson]

I looked at one yesterday in a shop that fits your description except it is a straight stock. It felt very good to me except for the price which is $3395. It has a few scratches as if it has already been out looking for a grouse. Gerald.