Now what?? Anyone know a good counselor?

[Richard Flanders]

I’m in Denver on a short break from the Fairbanks winter and my host and I snagged his gun-laden neighbor and headed to the local trap range to burn some powder. I knew John had a nice 20ga Citori so wasn’t worried about shooting too foreign a gun. It was cold so we were pretty bundled up. Well, his neighbor offered me a nice Merkel 20ga S/S so I tried that first. It felt a bit awkward but not that bad and I think I hit 13 or something. Then he pulls out this very nice O/U 12ga trap gun and tells me to try it…. It felt absolutely awful. Heavy, the LOP felt like it was 16” with all the clothes I had on. Big wide and tall vent rib sticking up…Single trigger…very flat stock…. I thought this is going to be really bad and very embarrassing, but I dutifully took my place on the line and away we went. This gun felt to me like a piece of sewer pipe mounted on a hunk of firewood to mount. Every mount was different and it seemed I was looking down the side of the barrels half the time, but for some strange reason, every time my head came up after the shot, all I could see was black dust in place of the clay that seemed to me to disappear from sight at some random and varying point in my awkward and clumsy swing. Halfway through I swore a rash was developing all over my body and all I wanted was one of my Parkers. The pain and misery continued to mount as the round progressed and clays for some reason, that seemed to me to have nothing to do with my efforts, continued to die. After all that, I ended up powdering 18/25 clays, which is likely the best score I have ever managed at such a game, and with the most uncomfortable gun I have ever shot in my life. Go figure. Next round I figured I had it all figured out and went back to the Merkel 20 to redeem my self respect and to get rid of the rash and I think I hit only 5/25! And I thought I knew what type of gun I shot well and not so well…. These trap shots seemed easy too. I figure I would have shot 20+ every time with my Remington hammer gun or even my DH12. I feel like I'm having some 'back to the drawing board' moments and figure I’m going to need some serious counseling after this experience… I hope my PGCA card won't be summarily burned by the BOD after such a performance....

[Don Kaas]

There is a reason high stocked over and unders and high ribbed "un" single barrel guns overwhelmingly dominate the trap ranges of the world and its not fashion. Most people just shoot them better than side by sides. While I am no great trapshooter, I have shot a few 25s with lots of different shotguns including Parkers, it's just easier and more methodical with a proper trap gun whose PoI is such that one can float the target above the muzzle rather than cover it.

[Harry Collins]

Richard,

The fellows I normaly shoot with refer to my Parker's as crowbar's. Everyone is saying try my gun. Like you, these O/U's feel like a fencepost with a spud bar mounted on it and the single triggers have me stumped. Never could opperate one. My father started shooting O/U's and had a 28 Browning 425 and a 12 gauge 325. I found a 12 gauge 425 and purchased it for him. He shot it for the first time on a Sunday and died the following Wednesday. I shot it some last summer and though I was about 10+ birds better per 100, I want a Parker. Plus Wednesday's had me walking on eggs. I'll give the Brownings to his grandchildren and keep the Parkers.

Harry

[Richard Flanders]

Don's correct being able to float the clay above the bbl in the sight picture. I was very careful to not blank the clay when I shot. I just felt soooo uncomfortable and mount so inconsistent I figured I wouldn't hit even 5/25 with it... phew. Not so. And these seemed like shots I can hit when shooting over the river at home with my eyes closed. Just rising straightaways with some angle on the side stations. What could be easier?! At home I let shots like that get out to at least 50yds just to make them seem not so easy; my long bbled hammer guns love those long ones... I wish I could go back today with any one of my Parkers to see how it would go. I've never shot official 'trap'; is that the usual with 5 stations in slight semi-circle with radiating handicap lines and a thrower out front that throws them wherever it pleases?? Trigg: I'm coming down to Anchorage Feb 3-4; we may have to go to Birchwood that evening and shoot under the lights when no one is watching and try this trap thing to see if it's as easy at it looks...

[Dave Suponski]

Rich,Trap is my winter game.Sounds like you had fun! Never mind them O/U guns.Sounds like you just talked yourself into a new Parker.All three of my Parker trap guns the VHE and DHE doubles and the SC single are stocked high.I float the bird 6-8 inch's above the bead and these guns crush targets. I had a Browning Featherweight O/U trap gun but sold it because I shot and liked the Parkers better!

[Bill Bolyard]

Richard,

What you now need is a nice Parker single barrel trap gun. A few years ago I took a friend trap shooting and with his hunting gun he only broke 3 in the first round. I convinced him to shoot my SBT on the next round and he scored 24 out of 25, he was amazed at the difference. I do have a double trap gun that I shoot OK, but not as well as my SBT. On Sunday I am picking up a Parker SC trap gun that I found in northern Michigan, another addictive love affair to go along with the SxS Parkers, God help me.

Bill

[Richard Flanders]

I could defnitely see a SBT were I to shoot competitive trap, the chances of which are so low as to be infinitesimal. I'm sure I would have shot 20+ the other day with any one of my Parkers that I'm use to shooting at rising birds and clays. We're going to some large gun show here in Denver on Saturday... who knows what we'll find. I'm going to try for stuff that John can drive up for me in late February..., old shotgun ammo, cast bullets, primers, etc...

[Dave Suponski]

Sooo,Bill it was you that pulled the trigger on that great SC! A great price also.I was gonna buy that gun yesterday for a friend but you got there first...:crying:OH Well..That gun has to be in the first few made! Congratulations...:)

[E Robert Fabian]

I came close to pulling the trigger on that one myself.

[Bill Bolyard]

I hope it looks as good as the pictures. The fellow that i am purchasing it from just had the firing pin replaced . It seems that it would not fire all the time. The gunsmith told him that someone replaced the firing pin with a screw that had the end filed down to look like the pin. What was the first year that Parker built the SBT?

Bill

[Dave Suponski]

Bill,Guns were started in 1917. The first serial number SC in the stock books was 177318 but the preceding book is missing.The first SC in the order books is 176129.

[Bill Bolyard]

Dave,

Sorry about beating your friend to the phone. It appears that this SC was around the 255th built buy a quick count in the serialization book. Does any one have a earlier serial number?

Bill

[Dave Suponski]

Bill,
176798 is in "Parkers Found" as the earliest known SC Trap

[Bill Bolyard]

Dave,

Your starting to scare me! Do you look these facts up or do they just pop out of your head.:bowdown:

Bill

[Dave Suponski]

Bill,

Not to worry....Some I remember from past research but I do have to look some stuff up. When someone asks a question I enjoy finding the answer for them if I am able....:)

[Trigg Davis]

Rich,

Come on down and we can go out and see how it goes. If you get to hitting to many we can turn on the wobble setting. By the way my 32 inch GHE will reach out and nail them pretty well.

Trigg

[Richard Flanders]

Trigg: count on going out the evening of the 4th.... bring the 32" ghe.... I'll bring my dh12.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Good luck at the gun show, make sure and give us a report.

DLH

[Bill Murphy]

Dave and Bill, I guess you're talking about the SC that was advertised on several sites a couple of days ago. I emailed the guy asking who fixed his firing pin but I didn't get a reply. Bill, do you know who fixed the firing pin? I understand it is not an easy fix. Congratulations on your buy.

[Richard Flanders]

We went to the Tanner gunshow here in Denver yesterday. A lot of black guns on display of course. One grade 2? twist bbled parker 8ga hammer gun that was pretty cool and I think around $2800 or thereabouts. Good project gun. Sound, with not that much wear but in need of a cleaning, bbl refinish, and tightening up on face. Seemed all there and all original. We stocked up on 11,000 primers and about 6,000 cast bullets, most of which will head to Alaska in Johns truck in a couple of weeks.... then I found a gorgeous little Colt govt model .380 and bought it. What a beauty. A nice scaled down 1911 in .380 and very similar in feel to a 1908 Colt .380. Series 80, unfortunately, but better priced than anything I've seen on the internet sites and unfired to boot. Lower price as no box or papers, but I don't care. What a sweetheart of a little gun. Only one box of 10ga ammo there Destry, but only $25. 3-1/2" Remington plastic I think they were. If we go back today I'll pick up the box of old Remington 12ga #4's in "Extra Long Range". The tan ribbed shells, roll crimped and 4dram, 1-1/4 oz. Nice! Some reach out power there for sure. My 32" hammer gun loves that stuff... The seller was a bit shocked when I told him I wanted to shoot them. Mostly the show was a junk yard of useless guns. Not a single pre-64 Winchester or even a more current mod 70 xtr to be had. V few nice shotguns of any kind. Want a machine gun though? No problem... Full auto AK47's, .50 BMG, grenade launchers, anti-tank missile launchers, you name it. You could buy dummy .50cal ammo for 3 for $5. You can't buy the bullets for that + you get good brass. Prices seemed ridiculously high on most stuff to me. The gunroom at the local Bass Pro was a different matter entirely! I was drooling over an 1886 Winchester .45-70 take down with octagonal barrel with 4 folding leaf sights and absolutely stunning wood. In a trunk case. $37,900 I think it was... What a stunning gun and my dream moose killer... Not sure it isn't a Turnbull restoration though. Pretty vivid case colors for an 1886. 9 Parkers on the rack but no killer guns and all significantly overpriced. Anyone interested in the 8ga if we go back today?? I could get a phone number. 907 978-5909 cell in my pocket all day...

[Bill Murphy]

Richard, yes, we would be interested in the eight gauge if you are able to get the phone number. Lots of us in line for that one. I'm sure your cell phone has rung.

[Richard Flanders]

Ok Bill. It was obviously a serious brain fart to not have gotten the number yesterday. Surprised I didn't think of it at the time. The place was an intimidating sea of humanity though, packed shoulder to shoulder most of it and the noise was something new to this Alaskan I can tell you. You could barely talk on a cell phone; couldn't hear the other end. I don't do well in crowds like that. The 8ga seller wasn't at his booth when I looked at it and he had it tie wrapped so I couldn't open it to check the markings, unfortunately, but the side plates were engraved and the breech balls lightly sculpted, so it wasn't as low as an 0-grade for sure.

[Richard Flanders]

More than just a senior moment here... I looked at that 8ga in a crowd and bad light yesterday.... It's actually a Parkhurst not a Parker. False alarm Bill.... I did pick up some great ammo today though. 5 boxes of Winchester Ranger Mark V 20ga super skeet shells, paper, low brass. mint condition...and only $4/box. 1 box Remington plastic ribbed #6, but early with no shot cup, and a box of Activ yellow 1-pc plastic hull 20ga #6. All these 20ga for $4/box in the last 30 minutes of the show. Can barely reload it for that. Good find I figured. Oddest part was the seller of this 20ga ammo turned out to be a kid I taught how to reload in a remote Alaska camp 25 yrs ago and haven't seen since until today. That was a shocker. Also got my Remington paper 12ga shells also, and they're 3-3/4dram not 4... and green not tan. Some other guy had tan ribbed Remingtons but way too high.