New Parker owner

[Mike Creevey]

Hi first I would like to say what a great site. I recently inherited two parker Trojans one is a 30 barrel the other is 26 barrel, I am an avid duck hunter, is it a good idea to shoot steel in these beauty's as both are in great shape one is made in 1924 the other is 1925 I think the 30 is a full and full choke is there any markings telling the chokes ? if so where Thanks for any assistance I can get

[MARK KIRCHER]

No steel - Never- It does not compress. Will ring your barrels or worse - (especially with tight chokes).
Tungsten Matrix or Bismuth
Congratulations on your "New to You" Parkers!
Welcome to the site!
No markings to tell chokes - Need to measure them.

[Eric Eis]

What Mark said.

[Mike Creevey]

Thanks Mark, that's what I thought, guess I will use them for Pheasant

[Scott Chapman]

I use Bismuth #5s in my 12 gauge 30" Trojan choked IM and Full.

It is fun to shoot and really whacks the ducks when I do my job.

[Jack Cronkhite]

Once you get on to SxS shooting you will enjoy your Trojans and may find yourself itching to shoot others. It is an affliction. Do not restrict your enjoyment to only upland birds. Just get the right ammo for migratory and you will have a gun for all seasons. Have fun. Jack

[Garry L Gordon]

You have a pair of some of the finest guns ever made, and the wondrous thing about Parkers is that except for the more cosmetic features of the guns, all grades are made to the same standard -- which is as high as any made in America at the time.

Treat them kindly. No need to shoot super heavy loads, they'll kill birds and bust clays with loads similar to those they were meant to shoot.

What a treasure trove you have with a pair of long and short barreled Parkers. Congratulations.

[Mike Creevey]

Thank you all for the Great response, And yes Mobirdhunter I will treasure them, I am a collector of old Winchesters all pre 64 and these Parkers mean more to me then all of them. and I want to Thank Everyone for your help as I am learning my way with my new treasures

[Mike McKinney]

Mike, We hope you will join the Parker Gun Collectors Association. Lot’s of great info in our quarterly publication Parker Pages, plus additional benefits and sources open in the forum. The PGCA supports this site. An easy $40 for a good benefit.

[Milton C Starr]

RST sells bismuth loads for these vintage doubles. I personally have no experience shooting it but I know it's what the englishmen who shoot their old doubles use .

[Victor Wasylyna]

Unfortunately, RST’s bismuth loads are often “out of stock.” (See https://www.rstshells.com/bismuth.aspx.) Learn to load your own.

-Victor

[Jack Cronkhite]

Another nice RST product are the spreader loads making those full choke barrels more useable for upland birds. Full chokes are okay if you let the bird get out a ways first but even after decades of chasing the wiley roosters it can be hard to be that disciplined when an unexpected close in flush happens.

[Bill Holcombe]

Sell them as fast as you can and run, they are highly contagious and addictive.

Just kidding that's a nice start with some great guns.

[todd allen]

Trojans are great guns, for sure. But beware. Once you get into the graded guns, Katy bar the door!
Parkers are very addictive!