Intro from Virginia

[Kenneth Andres]

I purchased my first of many Parker shotguns yesterday I'm sure. I work in the fishing industry but my passion has always been with a gun in my hand chasing upland game or fowl. I hope to learn more as time goes on through the forum. I only hope my affliction doesn't affect my marriage. Thanks for letting me introduce myself and I look forward to contributing when I can. I hope all of you have a happy holiday and happy new year. Merry Christmas.

[Dave Suponski]

Ken, Welcome aboard and we are glad to have you! Merry Christmas to you also.

[Dean Romig]

Thank you Kenneth and Welcome to the PGCA Forum.

There is a lot more than meets the eye of the "Forum Associate" here in the PGCA.
What you are not seeing are the "Members Only" sections of this website, one of which is the ability to buy and sell fine shotguns as well as many other sporting and shooting acoutrements as well as books and art... a LOT of guns change hands on the Members Only pages. Another great benefit of membership is the quarterly Parker Pages "newsletter" which is actually a glossy, color, forty-eight page magazine with some of the best Parker technical articles and stories of Parkers in the field that you'll find anywhere! Another benefit of Membership is the ability of getting a PGCA Research Letter on any and all of your Parkers for only $40 each..... non-members pay $100 each. You really should consider joining the PGCA as an annual member - it's only $40 per year for all of these benefits.

Merry Christmas!

[Kenneth Andres]

Dave, thank you. For what it's worth I now have a VH 12 Gauge with 30 inch barrels in full and full. Serial number 208xxx. All original and now the pride of my gun collection. I was fortunate to come across this gun that has not been, re-blued, refinished or altered with the exception of the stock pin. I plan on ordering spreader shells from RST to get the most use I can from this gun. Now I'm on the hunt for a 20 gauge!

[Kenneth Andres]

Thank you Kenneth and Welcome to the PGCA Forum.

There is a lot more than meets the eye of the "Forum Associate" here in the PGCA.
What you are not seeing are the "Members Only" sections of this website, one of which is the ability to buy and sell fine shotguns as well as many other sporting and shooting acoutrements as well as books and art... a LOT of guns change hands on the Members Only pages. Another great benefit of membership is the quarterly Parker Pages "newsletter" which is actually a glossy, color, forty-eight page magazine with some of the best Parker technical articles and stories of Parkers in the field that you'll find anywhere! Another benefit of Membership is the ability of getting a PGCA Research Letter on any and all of your Parkers for only $40 each..... non-members pay $100 each. You really should consider joining the PGCA as an annual member - it's only $40 per year for all of these benefits.

Merry Christmas!

Dean,

Thank you. I have every intention of joining. I guess this is the first step by signing up for the forums. $40 is a bargain for what I've read on the free forums. I can only imagine what is there on the member forums. Thanks!

[Mark Ouellette]

Hi Kenneth,

Welcome to the PCGA forums and hopefully the PGCA. To strongly emphasize what Dean stated, joining the PGCA provides members with valuable tools. First is the quarterly published PARKER PAGES. This is in fact a small magazine filled with articles from ordinary members such as me. Then there are those articles researched and written by the old breed of Parker collectors. Reading any of those literary classics by our old timers will, providing you use the information, save you much more than $40 annual membership fee on your next acquisition of a Parker.

Next there is the For Sale and Wanted to Buy members only forums. I personally have bought and sold several Parkers and other vintage doubles using those. I have also acquired a Parker vise, pristine vintage shotgun shells with their boxes, a 100 year old trap, and other "stuff" which I could not live without.

Finally there is the network of PGCA members.. This network will willingly help forum associates but once you join the PGCA and get to know the other members the doors to greater knowledge and deals on rare Parkers will open. Through this network I have bought and sold some very collectible, highly desirable Parkers to members who travel in circles which I can barely imagine.

Welcome to the PGCA!
Mark

[Rick Losey]

Welcome to the board Ken

the first of many - enjoy the hunt for the 20, and then maybe a 16 or a maybe hammer gun or a ....

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Hi Ken, I am in the commonwealth too! Floyd V.A. If i can be of any help in any way regarding Parker Shotguns, just let me know, do not know much, but this forum is full of guys that know the gun in and out, congrats on your purchase of the finest shotgun made in the good ole USA, Gary

[Kenneth Andres]

Hi Ken, I am in the commonwealth too! Floyd V.A. If i can be of any help in any way regarding Parker Shotguns, just let me know, do not know much, but this forum is full of guys that know the gun in and out, congrats on your purchase of the finest shotgun made in the good ole USA, Gary

Great to know another Virginia boy is on here. I'm actually from the Star City so I know Floyd very well. I've done plenty of bird hunting, Christmas tree chopping, and fine dining down that way. You are lucky to be living in such a beautiful part of the country. Thanks for reaching out.

[Kenneth Andres]

Welcome to the board Ken

the first of many - enjoy the hunt for the 20, and then maybe a 16 or a maybe hammer gun or a ....

I'm coming to the realization that both are going to happen. I waited this long for my first. I'll wait for the 20 but not sure how long. I just got my first flat of RST 2 1/2 shells while I was in Atlanta from Chucks Gun Shop. That wasn't so bad. LOL.

[William Davis]

Lot of good Parker shooting central Va. Get in touch if you want some info.

You SW Virginia fellows ever shoot Summit Springs ? Do some business out your way. Be easy to carry a Parker along.

Bill

[Kenneth Andres]

Lot of good Parker shooting central Va. Get in touch if you want some info.

You SW Virginia fellows ever shoot Summit Springs ? Do some business out your way. Be easy to carry a Parker along.

Bill

Bill,

I haven't shot there yet. I'd love to shoot down in central VA. Please let me know what is going on there. I'm been taking my dog (Jefferson-English Springer Spaniel) out at Shady Grove to shoot over him. I miss the days when I could run over to Craig, Bath or Allegheny County for Grouse with our old Springer.

Ken

[Kenneth Andres]

Can someone please help me with identifying my gun? I put the serial number in to order the research letter for my gun but it came back that my serial number wasn't recognized. Clearly I know that I have a 12 gauge VH with full/full chokes but would like to know the history. The serial number is 208676. How disappointing if I couldnt get the research letter for my first Parker. Thanks.

[Rick Losey]

you know its a VH 12, and you think it is all original. 30" barrels are a normal size and they are full/full so it's very unlikely they have been altered. The Stock is pinned - so again - likely the original.

what other identification are you looking for. even if records did exist, the only other information you would probably get for a V would be the dealer it was shipped to.

sounds like a nice gun to shoot and enjoy

[Kenneth Andres]

you know its a VH 12, and you think it is all original. 30" barrels are a normal size and they are full/full so it's very unlikely they have been altered. The Stock is pinned - so again - likely the original.

what other identification are you looking for. even if records did exist, the only other information you would probably get for a V would be the dealer it was shipped to.

sounds like a nice gun to shoot and enjoy

Rick,

Thanks, I guess I was more interested in the letter than anything to authenticate it through the association. I also wanted to be sure the chambers were 2 5/8 and this gun is also able to shoot 2.75" shells. I did purchase RSTs in #6 and #8s in 2.5" shells. I typically have AAs in 12 and 20 for the B guns and if RSTs weren't available, that I could turn to the AAs if need be.

The interesting thing with this gun is that the left BBL is .37 and the right is .38. That seems backwards to me. I realize the VH is the entry into the Parker world but it's my first. I like to know ALOT about things that interest me.

Anyway, thanks for bringing back from the edge. I'll survive. LOL

[Rick Losey]

i expect the chamber won't be shorter than that, its possible they were lengthened - the only way to tell the length for sure is to have them measured.

no harm in wanting to know it all -

[Daryl Corona]

Ken;
If the barrels are in sound condition you will have no problems shooting 2.75" shells through it. If you don't handload, shoot the lowest pressure, payload you can find. 1oz. to me is a heavy load anymore as I shoot 3/4oz. loads in my 12's, 20's and 16's. Easier on that cracked stock and your shoulder. There is some readily available 7/8oz. factory stuff out there that's real mild too. Enjoy and don't make this your last Parker. (I bet it won't be).:)

[Kenneth Andres]

Ken;
If the barrels are in sound condition you will have no problems shooting 2.75" shells through it. If you don't handload, shoot the lowest pressure, payload you can find. 1oz. to me is a heavy load anymore as I shoot 3/4oz. loads in my 12's, 20's and 16's. Easier on that cracked stock and your shoulder. There is some readily available 7/8oz. factory stuff out there that's real mild too. Enjoy and don't make this your last Parker. (I bet it won't be).:)

Daryl,

Thanks. I was planning on using 1oz because that is what I have but I know AAs come in 3/4. I don't plan to do it often but when I do, I'll do it. Both barrels ring nicely and bores are bright and clean. I've had several people tell me I can open the chokes up but I'm going to leave this gun alone.

I see your from MD. I am torn between upland or a goose gun next. I hunt quite a bit out in Chestertown. I couldn't think of anything better than taking my two birds with a Parker instead of my Benelli. My springer would prefer an upland gun I'm sure. This VH won't be my last.

Ken

[Larry Mason]

Howdy Ken,

Welcome to the PGCA! My Brittany went to school at Shady Grove. Wonderful folks as is here. These gentleman's advice is priceless. But, beware, the Parker bug is highly contagious.

Larry Mason
King George, VA

[Kenneth Andres]

Howdy Ken,

Welcome to the PGCA! My Brittany went to school at Shady Grove. Wonderful folks as is here. These gentleman's advice is priceless. But, beware, the Parker bug is highly contagious.

Larry Mason
King George, VA

Larry,

Jefferson and I hunt there about six times a year. Neil runs a great facility and Sharon is great with training. The fields they have are larger than most preserves and the birds fly well early. With my dog, the more birds the better. I'm still trying to figure out how I can do a hunt with my gun there without exploding the birds. I'll just have to wait a little longer and of course the better solution is to buy a Parker in 20 gauge. LOL.

I went out to shoot sporting clays today with my parker and browning. There's no question that this gun kicks like a mule and the chokes are tight. It took some getting used to but I enjoyed shooting it for the first time today. Thanks!

[William Davis]

Get a flat of B&P 7/8 oz shells. My VH kicks less using 7/8 oz than my Berretta OU does with 1 1/8.

Bill

[Kenneth Andres]

Get a flat of B&P 7/8 oz shells. My VH kicks less using 7/8 oz than my Berretta OU does with 1 1/8.

Bill

Bill, thanks! I'll do just that. I toyed with a slip on recoil pad but couldn't remember who the maker was that I saw years ago. 7/8 is the way to go for 2 3/4 shells.

Ken

[Daryl Corona]

Daryl,

Thanks. I was planning on using 1oz because that is what I have but I know AAs come in 3/4. I don't plan to do it often but when I do, I'll do it. Both barrels ring nicely and bores are bright and clean. I've had several people tell me I can open the chokes up but I'm going to leave this gun alone.

I see your from MD. I am torn between upland or a goose gun next. I hunt quite a bit out in Chestertown. I couldn't think of anything better than taking my two birds with a Parker instead of my Benelli. My springer would prefer an upland gun I'm sure. This VH won't be my last.

Ken

Ken;
I do my waterfowl hunting in Rock Hall. Maybe we should link up for a hunt. I've got a few "waterfowl type" Parkers to shoot if you would like to leave that Benelli in the safe.

[Kenneth Andres]

Ken;
I do my waterfowl hunting in Rock Hall. Maybe we should link up for a hunt. I've got a few "waterfowl type" Parkers to shoot if you would like to leave that Benelli in the safe.

Yes, I'm just up river from you in a hunt club. I was invited this year so I'm still learning the ropes there. We should certainly get in touch for these late season field hunts out there. I'll send you a PM and thank you for offering to shoot your Parker.

[John Dallas]

In the late 50's, a man named Les Main (Mayne?) and his wife ran the Rock Hall Marina. Our family would bring our boat in there once or twice a year. Nice folks. Wonder if that name is still around Rock Hall.
My first experience in a duck blind was on the Chester River, and later, I had a chance to hunt around Elliott Island. It's still a magic part of the world

[Kenneth Andres]

In the late 50's, a man named Les Main (Mayne?) and his wife ran the Rock Hall Marina. Our family would bring our boat in there once or twice a year. Nice folks. Wonder if that name is still around Rock Hall.
My first experience in a duck blind was on the Chester River, and later, I had a chance to hunt around Elliott Island. It's still a magic part of the world

John,

Chestertown is quite the experience for sure. It's a bucket list item for most water fowlers as much as it is to own a Parker. With hundreds maybe thousands of populations of Geese and ducks, you never know what kind of hunt you'll have but you can guarantee there will be plenty of birds around. The hardest thing to do is find a place to hunt and I got that solved this year. Happy New Year to you.

Ken