2 5/8" Chambers, 1927 VH? What shells?

[Sam Carpenter]

Forgive me if this has been covered lots of times before. I am new to the Parker Gun Collector's Association. I recently found a VH from early 1927 at a little gun shop in Southern Indiana. Serial number is the very high 224xxx range. The gun seems to be unmolested and original in every respect. It looks new.

From what I can pick up from reading, my gun most likely has 2 5/8" chambers. I have not been able to confirm that. Is it correct that this is the likely length?

If so, I am wondering what to shoot. My first inclination is to get the 1oz. 2 1/2" RST Paper/Fiber loads at 1225fps. (I like paper. It smells like hunting when I was a kid) I plan to do grouse, quail, and small bird hunting with that and squirrel too. I expect that load will be fine. I am nut sure if I should shoot 2 3/4 loads ever although I know many do. I plan to shoot trap with it and would like to use AA loads commonly available a with 1 1/8oz and a little more pressure. I also plan to pheasant hunt and would like advice for proper loads to treat the gun correctly please. I am not sure if I should go up to 1 1/4oz? Sorry so many questions. Thank you.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/samoci1/20200520_183625.jpg

[Reggie Bishop]

RST 2.5 lite is my go to shell in my 20s. How about posting pics of your Parker. It sounds lovely.

[Sam Carpenter]

Reggie B: Thank you for advise. I have pictures but when I want to post, it asks for a URL. Does that mean that I need to open a photo account to reference?

[Sam Carpenter]

RST 2.5 lite is my go to shell in my 20s. How about posting pics of your Parker. It sounds lovely.

I tried to upload a link and it did not work. I will buy hosting it looks like.

[Bruce Day]

Parker loads:

And what I shoot in my old beater grab and go gun:

[Dave Noreen]

A Parker Bros. 12-gauge with chambers that measure 2 5/8 inches is intended for 2 3/4 inch shells. Being from 1927, such a gun, in sound condition, should handle any SAAMI spec, lead, 2 3/4 inch 12-gauge shell. Whether 93 year old wood is up to that may be another question.

Since the introduction of progressive burning powder, high velocity, loads in 1922, the great bulk of these old guns have digested many boxcar loads of them. I'm sure my Grandfather's heavy 1890 vintage PH-Grade that my Father was using at King Lake in 1932, digested lots of them.

85235

[Sam Carpenter]

RST 2.5 lite is my go to shell in my 20s. How about posting pics of your Parker. It sounds lovely.

I managed to get a picture to come up this time. Sorry for the false starts.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/samoci1/VH_Vernon.jpg

[Chuck Bishop]

Why spend the extra money for RST shells? That gun will shoot anything off the shelf if it's in sound condition. Try 7/8 or 1 ounce loads, easy on the shoulder and kills well.

[Randy G Roberts]

Why spend the extra money for RST shells? That gun will shoot anything off the shelf if it's in sound condition. Try 7/8 or 1 ounce loads, easy on the shoulder and kills well.

Exactly. Fiocchi makes a 1oz 1170' load that I have been shooting a lot. Currently they run about $58 a flat. RIO had a 7/8 load that I think was 1100', not 100% sure on the FPS but it was super soft. There are numerous paper options on the market as well. Not to take anything away from RST but you have a lot of less expensive options.

[Sam Carpenter]

Exactly. Fiocchi makes a 1oz 1170' load that I have been shooting a lot. Currently they run about $58 a flat. RIO had a 7/8 load that I think was 1100', not 100% sure on the FPS but it was super soft. There are numerous paper options on the market as well. Not to take anything away from RST but you have a lot of less expensive options.

Thanks Randy and Chuck. I feel better now about shooting some volume.

[Jeff Christie]

Ammunition is the least expensive item in our sport. A few bucks a box is meaningless in the cost equation. Buy what you like and practice with it to gain needed confidence. You can not go wrong with RST.

[Steven Groh]

I also plan to pheasant hunt and would like advice for proper loads to treat the gun correctly please. I am not sure if I should go up to 1 1/4oz? Sorry so many questions. Thank you.


:eek:

Why would you do that to yourself and your gun?

It is just so much more pleasurable to drop a rooster like a sack of potatoes with a 1 ounce, or better yet, 7/8 ounce load.

Light loads are far more effective than many give them credit for. It's easier on you and your gun. And I think it makes a man a better shooter, when a gun is a pleasure to shoot, not a punishing experience.

The farthest shot I ever made on a pheasant was with a 7/8 ounce hand load from a hundred year old Dickson boxlock. Granted, it was a crosser, but still....

I am all about using the lightest load that will kill (or break targets) effectively.

[Steven Groh]

Ammunition is the least expensive item in our sport. A few bucks a box is meaningless in the cost equation. Buy what you like and practice with it to gain needed confidence. You can not go wrong with RST.

Agreed.
I just ordered two flats yesterday, and they shipped today. Great service.

[Steven Groh]

A Parker Bros. 12-gauge with chambers that measure 2 5/8 inches is intended for 2 3/4 inch shells. Being from 1927, such a gun, in sound condition, should handle any SAAMI spec, lead, 2 3/4 inch 12-gauge shell. Whether 93 year old wood is up to that may be another question.

Since the introduction of progressive burning powder, high velocity, loads in 1922, the great bulk of these old guns have digested many boxcar loads of them. I'm sure my Grandfather's heavy 1890 vintage PH-Grade that my Father was using at King Lake in 1932, digested lots of them.

85235

What a great photo! It really tells a story.

[Dave Noreen]

What I've always liked about that photo is the live decoy standing down in the lower right. My Father and Uncles referred to them as "Dad's English Call Ducks."

[Steven Groh]

I saw that too. That's part of the story. Very interesting. That picture tells a lot!

[William Davis]

Target load off the shelf Winchester AA light is effective. Plus you get quality hulls for reloading.

Following good advice by others, tight choked gun like yours lighter shot loads put plenty of pellets on birds. Size and number of pellets that strike the bird is what counts. 7/8 or 1 oz & chose size according to the game.

Willam