20 Gauge Help

[Harry Collins]

A friend is looking at a 20 Gauge VHE 26" barrels as his everyday gun. The "Book" is in concurrence on single trigger and ejectors but not on the large forend. A late Remington Parker 239,240 and has what I consider warts as follows: 628 bores, .022 barrel wall thickness, mod and full with what appears to have had a heavy load shot through the full barrel (I haven't seen it and can not elaborate), barrels reblued. It is exactly what he has been looking for, but doesn't want to put down heavy coin to turn around and have to rebarrel it. Your thoughts please.

Kindest,
Harry

[Rick Losey]

with what appears to have had a heavy load shot through the full barrel

May I ask how you know a heavy load was used?

Unless there is damage as a result

[Dean Romig]

Suggest your friend walk away if the barrels leave anything to question.

There are other such Parkers out there... it may be more of a wait but it will likely be worth the wait.





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[Dave Suponski]

I agree with Dean.

[Rich Anderson]

I would have your friend continue his search esp if the barrels have an issue.

[greg conomos]

Also not sure just how he would get it rebarrelled

[Bruce Day]

Good morning Harry.
Backing in the numbers:
1. 20 ga standard nominal id is .615
2. the subject barrel walls have been honed and reduced by .0065
3. original wall thickness would have measured .028, now they are .022

Parker 20ga barrel wall thickness is usually .028 to .035, however some original thickness light Parker 20's were made in the .020 to .022 range. Those barrels were proofed with standard SAAMI proof loads and intended for standard 7/8oz 2 1/2 dre loads.

The above facts are for consideration. I know that Parker 20's with thin barrels in the .022 range are in use and I have heard no reports of burst or bulged barrels in them from standard loads. I know that some shooters use 1 oz 2 3/4 dre loads in late Rem Parkers and I would be uneasy about that in such a gun as the subject gun.

[George Lander]

Harry Rule #1 when purchasing any high grade double be it Parker, Fox, LC Smith or Purdey you are primarily paying for the barrels and the condition thereof.

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

The forend situation can be solved with a couple of pictures.

[Mills Morrison]

One thing you might try is to look at the weight stamped on the barrels and then weigh to see if the barrels weigh less than that or the same. If less, then they were most likely honed.

[Dean Romig]

Not so Mills. The stamped weight is the "pre - struck" weight - in other words, before they were finish-filed for weight and contour.





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[Rich Anderson]

Mills I believe the stamp is the unstruck barrel weight. After striking they would undoubtly weigh less. The best indication of weather or not they have been honed is the wall thickness.

[Mills Morrison]

Ok. I stand corrected.

[Mike Franzen]

Harry I'm going to be taking a set of barrels for X-ray for another member. If you can get me your friends barrels I can take them to the same place an have an ultrasonic thickness test performed. Don't know if that's a help but the offer is out there. Another option might be to send them to Kirk merrington for a professional evaluation.