SBT

[bob lyons]

My first SBT no letter yet.
I’m not much of trap shooter however that may change now.
Shot 3 rounds and it was great, very tight full choke. Looking for a lighter trap load.
Some issues with ejector but I’m confident it can be resolved. The ejector does not seem to important in trap shooting anyway.
Also looking to try it on a sporting clays range.

[John Davis]

Bod, for 16 yard singles I shoot 1 1/8 oz, 1145 fps loads. My preference for registered targets is Winchester AA’s. For handicap I’ go with 1200 fps. If your Parker SBT is in good sound condition, and it looks like it probably is, it will digest those loads all day long.

[bob lyons]

Thanks John the loads I used were all over 1200 seemed to be a little too much recoil.
I just picked up some Winchester at 1180 in 1 oz and also reloaded some at 1100 range. Looking forward to trying them out next.

[John Davis]

IMO, 1200 fps is all you’ll ever need in handicap. Anything more than a light target load is overkill in singles. If I’m shooting registered targets, I’ll always go with 1 1/8 ounces of shot because they won’t let me shoot 1 1/4. I like one ounce loads for practice and the first shot in doubles. Of course you won’t be shooting doubles with your SBT.

And don’t be afraid to compete with that Parker. She will break just as many targets and win you just as many buckles as any “modern” gun.

[Jeff Christie]

I feel your pain with regulation loads. I have severely worn out shoulders and am very recoil sensitive. I load 7/8 oz loads for my SC. Sometimes even 3/4 ounces. I have rarely felt I lost a bird from lack of shot. Usually I peek or flinch. Even with the reduced loads I rarely shoot more than two rounds. I probably wouldn’t shoot any trap at all but the SC is just so cool and fun to shoot. You should have many more years of fun with yours. Go for it.

[bob lyons]

Thanks
Another member suggested 7/8 oz light loads as well. I’m going to try them as well.
John what size shot do you prefer on singles ?

[John Davis]

A 7/8 ounce load is fine for the first shot in doubles and great for singles practice, but there’s no reason to handicap yourself in competition, unless you are super recoil sensitive as Jeff alluded to.

I prefer 8 shot for singles and first shot of doubles. 7 1/2’s for handicap and second shot of doubles.

[John Davis]

One other thing that might be worth mentioning is you want to keep the speed of what you practice with close to what you shoot in competition. In other words, you don’t want to practice with a 1325 fps 7/8 load and compete with an 1145 fps 1 1/8 ounce load. I often practice singles with 1200 fps 7/8 or 1 ounce loads and then compete with the 1145 fps 1 1/8’s.

[GunnerGrilli]

One other thing that might be worth mentioning is you want to keep the speed of what you practice with close to what you shoot in competition. In other words, you don’t want to practice with a 1325 fps 7/8 load and compete with an 1145 fps 1 1/8 ounce load. I often practice singles with 1200 fps 7/8 or 1 ounce loads and then compete with the 1145 fps 1 1/8’s.


John is exactly correct Bob. Trap Shooting in my humble opinion is a game of consistency. The same goes for your loads...............I personally prefer shooting the same shells in practice as well as competitively. I hope you do well with your SBT. They are fantastic guns.


Bobby

[bob lyons]

Bobby
I can’t thank you enough!
The gun is great and one that will get passed down to one of my boys.
I was not able, so far to pick up some of the loads you mentioned, however I was able to get the ones mentioned in previous post.
I was hoping to try them out this past Sunday however an unexpected trip to the ER messed up the week end.
Hopefully I will be able to try out a few different loads next Sunday or Thursday.

[Mike Scelzo]

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like a nice one.

I have had one for a few years. Being it's current caretaker, I bring it out on nice sunny days to shoot a few rounds at a local club. Maybe I'm being over protective but the gun is older than I am, so it deserves my respect.

I shoot 1 1/8 oz. AA's at 1145 fps. The recoil is minimal and the gun eats them like a free lunch. It shoots as well or better for me than any of my modern guns and the name of one of them starts with a K.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

[John Davis]

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like a nice one.

I have had one for a few years. Being it's current caretaker, I bring it out on nice sunny days to shoot a few rounds at a local club. Maybe I'm being over protective but the gun is older than I am, so it deserves my respect.

I shoot 1 1/8 oz. AA's at 1145 fps. The recoil is minimal and the gun eats them like a free lunch. It shoots as well or better for me than any of my modern guns and the name of one of them starts with a K.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

I’m in complete agreement with you, except I would say it would be more respectful to shoot the old girl exclusively and leave the K gun in the cabinet. Better yet, sell the modern guns and buy a backup Parker SBT.

[GunnerGrilli]

I’m in complete agreement with you, except I would say it would be more respectful to shoot the old girl exclusively and leave the K gun in the cabinet. Better yet, sell the modern guns and buy a backup Parker SBT.


You can never have enough Parker SBT's!!!!



Bobby

[Bill Murphy]

My K gun was made in 1967 and my first P single was made in 1917. I will be shooting my Parker single when the K gun is covered in a coat of dust. Both have great histories, but the Parkers are the survivors.

[Phil Yearout]

The only reason I even shoot trap is my vintage SBT’s.

[Arthur Shaffer]

A long time ago, I shot a lot of trap. Gradually drifted away, but I always admired SBT guns. For the last several years I have thought about buying a Parker to fill a niche, but didn't want to spend that much on something I wouldn't use.

I purchased a really nice late Ithaca a while back on this board. Just a couple of weeks ago I picked up a basic LC Smith Olympic grade in good condition for a song. I also purchased a Fox K single from a member here for a good honest price. During buying these I noticed a Parker SBC on Gunbroker with a low starting price and in 10 days it got no bids. It was not relisted. Starting bid was $1000. I called them and they said it was a consignment with no bids in several cycles so they were going to return it as owner was firm. I asked them to relist it and I bought it as soon as it hit for the opening.

I got the gun yesterdayand it was actually nicer than expected. Certainly better looking than ad photos. Looks to be all original finishes. Great 32" barrel, perfectbores, good blue, silvered reciever with strong case under the lever and on the flats. Engraving is sharp and well done. Only problems were listed and shown in the ad. It has a very tiny hairline crack at the back of the forearm which should be invisible after repair. There are a few small and shallow "wormlike" drag marks on the butt stock. Engraving is a little dirty and it has a Morgan adjustable pad.

My plan is to deep clean (sonic), repair the hairline crack, and install a period recoil pad. (I also removed an Edmund recoil unit I found under the Morgan.

I contacted John Davis and asked about an SBT he is holding in the "Milestone" thread because I really liked the look considering it has been modified. It had what looks to be a 1/2" or so black spacer with a Silver's style thick pad. The gun I got already had a 1/2" black spacer that fit the stock perfectly with all angles correct. I have ordered a pad and will install it. It should be possible to do it without working anywhere near the original finish.

Any way, while I have no real plan to shoot trap again, they all together should make a nice display.

When I clean up the SBG I will post a couple of pictures.

[Phil Yearout]

Orphan Annie has that same forend crack. It was there when I bought her and it’s still there.

[Arthur Shaffer]

Orphan Annie has that same forend crack. It was there when I bought her and it’s still there.

I didn't mention it in the post, but before the gun arrived I checked to see if there were any fore ends available as replacements in case it was serious. Oddly enough I easily found multiple factory original units from $25 to $100. Most of them were in good shape with the exception of the same hairline crack in line with the left side mounting screw in the face of the fore arm. I had never heard mention of it but the results of my 20 minute search leads me to believe that their must be a common flaw related to the screw location and stress. Pictures I have seen make me think that it is a problem on the ejector model. Two pictures I saw of non ejector forearms had not cracked.

I am going to glue it and insert a fine brass pin from inside so I don't have to think about it. I haverepaired cracks in numerous foreends on break action guns in this area. My preferred method now is to remove the wood, coat the crack on the inside with a gelled super glue, then gently spread the crack apart and release it with the outside of the crack pointing down. Five or 6 repeats seems to pump the glue down into the crack. With a light plastic protected clamp, the clamp will usually close completely and a tiny visible glue bead appear outside. Wipe the glue bead off with a paper towel moist with solvent and let it dry. I then drill a 3/32" hole at an angle from the rear area covered by the iron, I mix a drop of gel epoxy, force it into the hole with a section of 1/16" welding rod and then seat the rod below the surface. Buff the outside when dry and you generally can't see the crack. For buttstocks in the grip area, I do the same with 1/8" rod.

Technically I actually use brazing rod to avoid any future iron corrosion problems.

[Phil Yearout]

Or you could just do what I'm doing and ignore it :). In all seriousness I should probably repair it, but in the nine years I've owned it I've shot a lot of trap with it and it still looks just like it did the day I bought it. I sorta follow the tenant of the mechanic who used to work on my MG; I'd point out some mystery noise or something to him and he'd say, "Well, it'll either get worse, or it won't."

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, many used Parker forends out there, but very few stocks, almost none in original condition. I found my first Parker single in 1973, still have it. I have bought a few more since and still have most of them. I won't buy one with a bad or missing stock because stocks in decent shape are so hard to find.

[Frank Good]

Beautiful SBT! :whistle:

I shoot 1oz/1180-1200 fps for trap and find them nice and soft on the shoulder. Recently I tried some Rio Evo 24gm training loads. They have a published MV of 1360fps. I shot two boxes through my Perazzi TMS that wears a PFS stock. They barely moved the recoil reducer. I could feel maybe half the normal travel compared to a 1oz 1200fps load. Then I switched guns and ran two boxes through my Model 12 Pigeon Grade Trap and there was ZERO difference in felt recoil between it and my TMS. If you can get them in your area they may be worth trying in your SBT. They were extremely soft shooting and absolutely inkballed targets.