Distance between sights

[Chuck Bishop]

I'd like to get distances between the front sight and middle bead on 28" barrels. It seems like there isn't a set distance, they vary quite a bit. If you have a 28" barrel with a front and middle please give the measurement. 28" barrels only.

[Dean Romig]

I believe the average on any Parker is roughly 15" from what I've seen.
There was a thread on this topic several years ago but ...





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[Dean Romig]

This may help Chuck... but the more I read the confuseder I get...


https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1544&highlight=bead+spacing





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[J. Scott Hanes]

My 20 / 28 VH = 15.75" center to center of the beads.

[Steve Huffman]

I always thought you don't need any beads if a shotgun fit you. You point a shotgun and aim a rifle, but I do like the old ivory middle beads.

[Russell E. Cleary]

One point made by "SXSOHIO" in the 2010 link that Dean supplies above is worth considering:

"...One thought is way back in the day a single gun did all the work for hunting, they did not own multiple guns like we have now. Lots of old timers used the double gun to hunt deer with buckshot. squirrels sitting on a limb may need this type of sight alingment? just a thought.... SXS ohio....(-:"

[Garry L Gordon]

If you read some of the sporting writers from the 1800s, you'll find advocates for shooting with one eye closed. This more or less "aiming" method was quite popular, and it along with the more erect head position of early shooters resulted in the significant drops on those old shotguns.

But, back to the original question: Chuck, my CHE 20 gauge from 1918 has twin ivory beads that are just a smidge over 15 inches.

[Dave Noreen]

Nash Buckingham ordered the rear sight on BoWhoop to be 10" from the breech.

[Chuck Bishop]

Well it sure looks like there was no standard distance. My barrels had a mid bead that was plugged. The distance was almost 19"!!! I like CSL's idea of using a round headed stick pin. A dab of Vasaline on the bead and just move it around until the correct sight picture is made. Thanks Dean and all who responded.

[Dave Noreen]

I dug through the safe and found two 28-inch doubles with twin beads. Model 21 vent rib skeet gun with mid-bead 17-inch back from the muzzle and Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Gun with mid-bead right in the middle at 14-inches.

[Chuck Bishop]

I used CSL's method of using a small round straight pin and used grease to make it stick on the rib. It looks like 14" from the muzzle is best for a figure 8 sight picture on a 28" barrel. Distances can vary due to comb height and facial dimensions.

[Ted Hicks]

I have one such Parker and the distance is 18 1/16" center of bead to center of bead. The research letter indicates special instructions for "...2 Lyman sights..."

[Chuck Bishop]

Ted, what's your barrel length?

[Ted Hicks]

This gun has 28" barrels.