Opinions Please

[John Davis]

This is a picture of the bottom part of the forearm on my SB. It's my go to singles trap gun. As you can see, a crack has developed down the center. It does not extend through the top part of the forearm.

Do you think I can shoot it through the Grand, (100 singles in the Champion of Champions and 200 singles in the Singles Championship)? Or do I need to let her sit it out and send her off for immediate repair? Grand is in about a week, so no repair possible before hand.

[Dean Romig]

Seriously John???

That is your "Go To" SBT... Don't compromise your confidence by shooting a different gun. If it breaks while shooting it just duct tape it and keep shooting!!!

Send it to Brian Board for repairs AFTER you bring home the trophy!!!





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[John Davis]

Dean, that was my initial thought but I didn’t want to risk real damage. Just wanted some reassurance.

[Craig Budgeon]

Put a couple ty-wraps thru the vent rib until you complete the competition. Ty-wraps are strong and don't leave a residue on the wood.

[Drew Hause]

John: Terribly disappointing, but you will be thinking about that crack, which won't help your performance.
And 2 halves of a FE would probably be a tougher repair than the current crack.

[Dean Romig]

Brian Board can repair ANY break invisibly.

Shoot it like you own it!!




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[Wayne Owens]

Does the SA forearm fit on the SB? Just an idea.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Oh Christ, just shoot the damn thing.

[Mills Morrison]

Probably ok. But I am the wrong one to ask. I’ll just defer to Destry

[John Davis]

I just changed my "Signature".

[John Davis]

Does the SA forearm fit on the SB? Just an idea.

Wayne, the SA is my handicap gun and back up singles.

[Phil Yearout]

John, my SC has had a crack like that ever since I bought it. It ain't moved a skotch (how the hell do you spell that anyway?) Ah, skosh! Good to know! I don't put the kind of rounds thorough mine that you do, but my advice is pretty much like Destry's. It's kinda like Ron Rats, the MG mechanic I used to take my '72 MGB/GT to used to say: "It'll either get worse, or it won't."

[ED J, MORGAN]

John, Go forth and shoot to win .

[Mills Morrison]

I just changed my "Signature".

Classic!

[Alfred Greeson]

Good Luck John, always proud to hear of your success and carrying the Parker banner for all of us!

[allen newell]

Just shoot the dam gun

[Daryl Corona]

I would advise against shooting it for two reasons John.

First, it won't get any better by shooting it and it could turn an easy repair into a more complex one.

Second, if you are like me, it will be in the back of your mind all the while you are on the line. You know what the lack of concentration can do and what one target can mean at the end of the day.

If you can put it out of your mind then go for it. Good luck.

A final thought. If you have another SBT you might want to try it's forend. It just might snap on.

[Stan Hillis]

Here's my thoughts, John. If you can not be thinking about the cracked forearm, go for it. But, put the ty-wrap on there so that all can see it. You will have a slight edge over your competition. For some reason it is intimidating to the competition to see someone shooting well with a "patched up" gun.

Years ago, when the NWTF Turkey Shoot at The Meadows was held each August, they had a 100 bird S X S event which we would enter each year. My buddy Charlie Boswell, of CompNChoke, was shooting a Parker with the forend held on with multiple wraps of electrical tape around and over the barrels, rib and forend. There was a shootout for HOA between him and a guy shooting a Purdey. I won't mention his name. Charlie beat him in the shootout. A friend from Alabama came up to him after the shootout and said "You've just got to admire a man that outshoots a Purdey with a taped-up Parker".

There is a big psychological aspect to keen competition, I learned years ago. I'm sure you're aware of that, too. Take advantage of it.

[Bill Murphy]

My solution would be to use a forearm from another gun while I waited to get the SC forearm fixed. Parker single barrels and forearms are notoriously friendly about being changed from gun to gun. Give it a try.

[John Davis]

I appreciate all the feed back and it’s a lot to consider. However one thing is for certain, whatever I toe the line with will be a Parker.

[Mills Morrison]

Win one for the Gipper!

[Mike Franzen]

The drama of a trapshooter and his gun is unsurpassed in the sporting world. It seems zip ties, duct tape and nails are off the table as too mundane. As are replacement forends scavenged from other guns. Expecting a high level shooter, which Mr. Davis no doubt is, to simply ignore a CRACK is like asking a passenger on the Titanic to ignore the water coming on board. The only solution is to realize there is no solution and that is the beauty of it all.

[John Davis]

"The only solution is to realize there is no solution and that is the beauty of it all."

The answer is clear to me now.

[Mills Morrison]

. . . And back to Destry’s original point

[Bill Murphy]

Mike, for the first time, I realize there are not enough "Thanks" buttons.

[John Davis]

Harry, I'll let you know when I decide. Which may be the day of.

[Mills Morrison]

I make most gun decisions the day or moment of myself

[Jean Swanson]

John
I would call Brian for a little advise. If the crack continues to get worse, just continue to shoot, the FE will not fall apart. I have shot guns with cracks a hell of a lot bigger than yours on your B. STAY POSITIVE & KEEP SHOOTING AS YOU
NORMALLY DO !!! Bring home the trophy.

Best to you
Your pal from the north
Allan

[Mike Koneski]

John, Occam's Razor-the simplest solution is the best solution. As Tuco said in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", "When it's time to talk, talk. When it's time to shoot, shoot." SHOOT IT!!!!!!

[allen newell]

Years ago I had a Browning auto 5 that had a forend Crack similar to this one posted here. I glued it up from the inside and wrapped some rubber bands around the outside of the forend. Shot that gun for years without it opening up ever again. This is an easy fix, parker or not.

[Daryl Corona]

Auto 5's were famous for that. The forend was dangerously thin in that area and that movement of the barrel in recoil cracked many in the duckblind in cold weather.

[Phil Yearout]

I make most gun decisions the day or moment of myself

Good for you. I seem to make far too many of mine AFTER the fact.

[Jerry Harlow]

I always regret posting my opinions, but:

I don't believe that crack happened when the last shell was fired. Looking at the photo I'll bet it has been there a long, long time but was just noticed. Think of how many shells may have been fired without further damage.

I have been in the turkey woods and with noting to do but wait and have found cracks that have been in a stock long before I acquired the gun, but just found them in the proper light.

[Chuck Bishop]

I'd shoot it but keep my backup close by just in case.

[Mills Morrison]

Just read Gene Hill's "Why Not" piece and thought about this thread