Interesting observation original vs repro

[Ryan Brege]

So, all week my wife and I have been turkey hunting with two 20 gauges. One VH 28" O frame roughly mod and full, and one Reproduction DHE 26" IC/Mod.

The Reproduction just seems bulkier but I didn't realize how much until they were laying on the tonneau cover waiting to be unloaded. I could SEE the difference in barrel size. So when I got home I did a little measuring. I was surprised to see the difference.

Repro:

Width at end of breech = 2.050"
Width at end of barrels = 1.425"
Width of rib at breech = 0.550"
Width of rib at end of barrels = 0.340"
Weight = 6 lbs 9 oz

Original:

Width at end of breech = 2.060"
Width of barrels at 26" = 1.362"
Width of rib at breech = 0.530"
Width of rib at 26" = 0.330"
Weight = 6 lbs 2 oz

I was really surprised to see a difference of almost half a pound with 2" more barrel. Now, the Repro is english grip and the original is pistol grip but still.

The most interesting part was I went out and got the 16 Gauge VH 1 Frame with 28" barrels and weighed it, came in at 6 lbs 11 oz. Only 2 oz more than the Repro.

I believe the 20 Gauge VH is circa 1928, so not as late as the ones the Repro were modeled from but close.

How did they end up beefing them up so much?

Ryan

[J. Scott Hanes]

Probably for legal reasons. When making firearms, the lawyers rule on a LOT of things to avoid suits..

[Kenny Graft]

I hate to fuss about the Parker Reproductions as we are so blessed to have them at all. And some of them are outstanding like the little 28-s....(-: I do think they overlooked the heaviness of the 20-gauge guns or failed to offer a little lighter model. The barrels are a little robust in 20 gauge and the wood is to die for! I have a few 20/16 sets, 16 barrels made by Kreghoff and also the Merkel barrels and they come in at 6lbs-4oz consistently on the 20gauge frames while most 20-gauge guns are 6lb-8 or 6-10oz depending on wood and are considered to be heavy at that. I shoot clays with a 6lb-8oz 20, 28" PG-DT-SF and like its weight for 100 rounds of shooting. But in the uplands, I use the 16-gauge barrels to hunt with. The Merkel set is choked M/F with the full being .031 or x-full in 16. They kill like a 12 for sure and never feel under-gunned in Kansas for wild roosters! In the grouse woods I have a set of Kreghoff barrels choked Q1/Q2 and they work really well too. If you like to chase wild birds like me, get a PR-16 and a 28 gauge and you will be set! SXS Ohio

The first picture is my CSMC Fox guns...wrong picture for this post, my bad. Second is a PR 28gauge 410/28 set.

[Paul Ehlers]

Here's my two cents on this one.

Yes, there is a common perception that the Repro twenties are a bit on the heavy side. With that said, it's not totally fair to compare them with original Parker twenties in that the bros. Parker could & did make guns in all sorts of different profiles & weights even within the same frame size. An example of this is how some, one frame sixteens with the same barrel length can weigh less than a comparable zero framed gun.

My bottom line that I try to live by is to judge every gun as an individual; I like some & others fall short of my subjective tastes.

I'm just glad we have the repro's because I've had one heck of a lot of fun with them over the years.

[tom tutwiler]

FWIW, I had a 20 gauge Repro with straight stock and 28" barrels with double triggers. Weight was 6 lb 12 oz and I moved it down the road. I was not aware of the weight when I bought it. It was imo grossly overweight for a Grouse gun which is what I bought it for.
PS. I'm a little guy and that was way too heavy. Listing did not provide the weight.

[Arthur Shaffer]

It comes down to barrel striking and what the company decided was an acceptable all around weight. I doubt there is any variation in barrels for the Repro's. The bulk of the variation in guns (outside of bbl length) is likely wood.

[tom tutwiler]

It comes down to barrel striking and what the company decided was an acceptable all around weight. I doubt there is any variation in barrels for the Repro's. The bulk of the variation in guns (outside of bbl length) is likely wood.

My 2 cents is the 28 gauge and the 12 gauge are pretty much where they should be. I think the 12 gauges swing a lot better then a 2 frame VHE, which make one helluva duck gun imo.

[Stan Hoover]

This is all meant in fun:bigbye:

You guys are concerned about 6-10 oz’s, really:eek:

Swing a 12-14 lb gun, it can be done. For grouse hunting, no, clays, yes.

I think sometimes we get too caught up in the perfect weight we prefer, and then when a gun is more, we tell ourselves that we will not shoot it well, try it before deciding!

[tom tutwiler]

This is all meant in fun:bigbye:

You guys are concerned about 6-10 oz’s, really:eek:

Swing a 12-14 lb gun, it can be done. For grouse hunting, no, clays, yes.

I think sometimes we get too caught up in the perfect weight we prefer, and then when a gun is more, we tell ourselves that we will not shoot it well, try it before deciding!

Folks Mr. Hoover has a 14 lb gun and yes, he swings it quite well. PS. His son can also swing that beast. PS. I don't believe it legal in the Grouse woods, but it sure would be fun to watch.

[Stan Hoover]

Folks Mr. Hoover has a 14 lb gun and yes, he swings it quite well. PS. His son can also swing that beast. PS. I don't believe it legal in the Grouse woods, but it sure would be fun to watch.

I wouldn’t attempt it in the grouse woods, but I really don’t think about the weight while pointing, only while initially lifting it and sometimes on the follow through.
95% of our downfall is between the ears, don’t tell yourself you cannot shoot a gun well till you’ve tried it

[Daryl Corona]

I wouldn’t attempt it in the grouse woods, but I really don’t think about the weight while pointing, only while initially lifting it and sometimes on the follow through.
95% of our downfall is between the ears, don’t tell yourself you cannot shoot a gun well till you’ve tried it

Mr. Hoover hits the nail on head as he does targets with his 8 gauges. I certainly don't want an 8lb gun to carry in the woods but the balance and dynamics of the gun are far more important to me than a few ozs. They can't be explained. Every shooter feels these qualities differently so what works for me probably won't work for you. If not every original Parker would have been been the same. Those guys knew what they wanted and ordered the same.

[Arthur Shaffer]

My problem has always been that I find a gun that I want to be perfect in everyway and lie to myself in an effort to convince myself that it is, even though I realize what I am doing at the time it happens. These always end up going down the road. That is part of the joy of collecting; you realize that some guns will not really be used but they are so beautiful or so unique or have such a provenance that you want to own them just to be connected to them.

[Mike Koneski]

This is all meant in fun:bigbye:

You guys are concerned about 6-10 oz’s, really:eek:

Swing a 12-14 lb gun, it can be done. For grouse hunting, no, clays, yes.

I think sometimes we get too caught up in the perfect weight we prefer, and then when a gun is more, we tell ourselves that we will not shoot it well, try it before deciding!

BINGO!! Nailed it Stan.