Opinions Please

[Daniel B Sweet]

I have a 12 gauge CHE 30" choked Mod/Full, I will be shooting sporting clays, five stand and upland gamebirds. I would prefer that it was choked I/C & Mod or even I/C & Lgt Mod. This gun is in it's original configuration at this time, that includes a vent rib, checkered butt with skeletonized buttplate, SST and Trap Modified forend. Please offer opinions on what opening the chokes would do to the guns value and collectability.

[CraigThompson]

To each his own and it’s your gun of course . But I wouldn’t open the chokes . If you want something more open buy another gun or get an orphan set of barrels and have them fit to the gun . Personally I feel that changing the chokes is not a wise move in the whole scheme of things financially.

[John Knobelsdorf II]

If the finishes (barrels, receiver, and stocks) are already well worn - so the gun is basically “a shooter”, then changing the chokes to personal preference will probably make little to no difference if you were offering this to me.

But, if the overall condition shows the gun was given the care it deserves then I will pay more for the untouched version before the chokes are changed.

Also, I am hoping all Grade 4 CH guns do get the care they deserve.

The choking now there is what feels appropriate for 30” barrels.

If this were mine, and this gun is in better than average condition, then I would keep looking for the one with the chokes I want to use (may decide to not keep one I will not use).

[todd allen]

I've modified chokes in many guns, but never a Parker. Unless it's a clapped out restoration project, I wouldn't mess with the chokes.
That said, I have always wanted to build a dedicated Parker clays gun.

[Gerald McPherson]

I would try shooting those clay birds as it is. You may be surprised. Try different loads. It may like some better than others.

[Patrick Lien]

Please show us some pictures and frame size.

PML

[Dean Romig]

Shoot spreaders.





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[David Gehman]

Pattern the gun with different loads.
Chokes sometimes are quite variable.
I would not change the chokes.
If you are on target the clay will usually break regardless of choke, within reasonable ranges.

[Daniel B Sweet]

I plan on shooting this gun but I would not classify it as a "Shooter". The gun is in excellent DelGrego restored condition. Currently I am having the stock bent back to neutral as it had 1/2" of cast off, I could never shoot it well with that much cast. After hearing from my friends at PGCA and my own further consideration I am going to leave the chokes as they are and see how well I shoot it. I know it will be great for flushing pheasants. The suggestion of finding another set of barrels and have them fit to the 1 1/2 frame is something to give serious consideration to, I'll keep my eyes open for a set of barrels that I can configure as I wish. Thanks to all

[Mike Franzen]

Good call!

[Bill Holcombe]

I echo Dean. Order spreaders. I use them to shoot skeet with a gun that is f/f and have no issues. This is a CH by definition not a shooter gun. Just use spreaders. They are murderous.

[Joe Graziano]

Yes, very good call. I shoot a tightly choked, original Rem 32 for sporting clays. I always have a handful of Fiocchi #8.5 spreader loads on my pocket for those rabbit stations and the other occasional close shot. This system works very well for me on clays and I didn’t have to change the chokes. And when I need to reach out for those long shots, it’s very sweet to crush them from afar. Better too much choke than not enough.

[Joe Graziano]

Btw, Able Ammo carries the Fiocchi spreaders, around $10 box with shipping. Not a bad deal. You’ll find a case will last quite a while.

[Randy G Roberts]

Dan you have a wonderful configuration there. Vent rib CH's are hard to come by, they are out there but they do not come to market often. I think we would all like to see pictures of your gun. Wise decision leaving the chokes alone. When one considers opening chokes to pick up a few birds on the course we should also factor in how many birds it will cost you on the longer targets as the net result will most likely be minimal. After you shoot it a while the whole choke thought process will be out of your mind as you gain confidence. Good luck with what sounds like a really nice gun. Pics please....

[Brian Dudley]

Asking permission here to alter the chokes on a gun like that? Are you asking to be roasted?

Well, at least you were asking if cutting the barrels was ok...

[Dean Romig]

Once you open the chokes you can never put that metal back... and opening chokes on a Parker usually reduces its resale value considerably.





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[Bill Murphy]

The spreaders I load are very aggressive in spreading the shot. Use the PC Post wads, cut short pieces of fuel line to go over the post, which causes even more spreading than the post itself. They will still allow an ounce or more of shot in a AA or STS shell. They feed through a PW loader just like a regular wad. Some loaders have a pin in the wad seater and are more difficult with the post wad. This has been my favorite spreader load for many years.

[Mills Morrison]

Bill said it best some time ago - If you are having trouble with full chokes, the best solution is to learn how to shoot. Last weekend, I shot a 28 gauge with 20 thousandths and 40 thousandths in the barrels and did just fine.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Waiting to get the gun back from having the cast off removed, back to neutral. Anxious to get it back and post some pictures.

[Daniel B Sweet]

Do you think Fiocchi Spreader loads 1 oz at 1300FPS is too much to be shooting from my CHE, I'd rather be shooting something at about 1200 FPS?

[Dean Romig]

I used to be intimidated by full choke guns. I have recently (all of 2019 and Jan 1st this year) been shooting full choke Parkers and Sterlingworths and have learned how to shoot them and have really surprised myself at how well I've done and even improved my scores.





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[Daniel B Sweet]

I shoot well with my forever owned Beretta AL390, this Parker is my first venture into the world of S x S's. I have shot a friends gun a couple of times and it was quite foreign to me, I am confident that I will catch on and find a groove. I can be very competitive in the leagues I shoot in and frankly I just want to go out and have a good time I am burned out with shooting to win all the time.

[Dean Romig]

So your new mission, should you choose to accept it Mr. Phelps, is to learn to love shooting your SXS Parker. :cool:





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[Harry Collins]

I have altered the chokes on two Parkers and deeply regret it. We had a vintage shoot at Elk Creek this past Wednesday and it was raining. I took a Trojan 12 choked .030 and .040 i.e.: Full and Xtra Full. I shot a 94 with 1oz of 7 1/2 shot at 1200 fps. I had purchased the Trojan to give to my nephew along with Papa's 20 Trojan. I don't think he will receive the gifts for awhile.