Parker Versus Perazzi at Columbaire Birds

[Bill Murphy]

Yesterday, among thirty shooters at our semi annual Columbaire shoot, Parker shooters made the high score in two of the three races. The guns shot by the other shooters included many Perazzis, Brownings, Krieghoffs, Berettas, maybe a Fabbri, and other guns "more suited to the job at hand". One of the Parkers was a more than 120 year old Damascus gun.

[Daryl Corona]

I'm sorry I could'nt make it Bill, did'nt trust the bum leg with the Columbaire out front. Who won and what Damascus Parker was shot. Inquiring minds want to know.

[Bill Murphy]

No names, sorry. Flyer shooting is not on everyone's radar. The Damascus gun was a DHE 30" gun with extreme chokes in both barrels. I assume the ejectors were a retrofit, or maybe the gun is later than I guessed. The other winning Parker was a 26" PHE with rather open chokes. We missed you, Daryl.

[Bill Murphy]

The talented shooter of the Damascus DHE shot it only because he doesn't trust those newfangled fluid steel barrels when shooting the 1 1/4 ounce 1300 fps Kent Cartridge pigeon loads. Coincidentally, the site of the shoot is just a very few miles from the Kent Cartridge factory, making stocking up on pigeon loads a piece of cake.

[Rich Anderson]

Someday I would like to do such a shoot. FYI RST makes a fine Pigeon load also.

[Bill Murphy]

Rich, our group may be one of RST's largest customer for pigeon loads. They are wonderful, are available in several velocities. What more could we ask? If you are in our area, we have members who you know and who would be glad to invite you as a guest to one of our shoots. Unfortunately, Columbaire shoots are always full with member entries. Check with your friends.

[Rich Anderson]

Bill I would appreciate that. Let me know in advance of one and I'll make sure I'm in the area:)

[Fred Lowe]

Are these feral birds or are they pen raised for this?

[William Davis]

O/U shooters never agree but there is nothing about a new target gun that makes it hit targets better than a vintage SxS that fits the shooter and is choked for the job.

Nice work with those Parkers

William

[Bill Murphy]

Fred, these birds are not raised for shooting. I'm not sure, but "raised" birds that are handled for match shooting went out many years ago. Try to find Growing Up With Bootleggers, Gamblers, and Pigeons by Patrick Canfield. Another source is Advanced Competition Shooting by Michael Ray Forehand. Both are excellent reads for anyone interested in flyer shooting.

[John Dallas]

Brings back memories. When I was involved in field trialing Springers, we trapped feral pigeons by the hundreds. Good thing back then we had never heard of Histoplasmosis, or we probably wouldn't have gone crawling under those nets to shag the birds

[Fred Lowe]

I remember my fathers stories when I was young, about working at the squab market in Melrose, Massachusetts as a teenager. Not only did they raise squabs for consumption, but there were also flight pens for the birds that were going to the pigeon shoots.
I will look for the titles that you mentioned.