Sporting Clays Classic chambers...

[Greg Baehman]

Every article that I've read and every specification that I've seen concerning the Parker Repro Sporting Clays Classic model states they are factory furnished with 3" chambers, yet every SCC model that I've examined (which is probably less than a handful) are roll-stamped on the left barrel "12-gauge 2 3/4". My SCC is roll-stamped as such, but the chambers do indeed measure 3" long.

If you are an owner of a SCC, how are your chambers marked and do they indeed measure 3" long?

Here's how my SCC is stamped:

[Dave Suponski]

Greg,That would be interesting to know. I wonder if it might be a product liability issue?

[Dean Romig]

I can understand 3" chambers in a 20 ga. but does anyone really use 3" shells/chambers for sporting clays in a 12??

[Greg Baehman]

As you know Dean, Repros are steel shot compatible. So, if one were waterfowl hunting one may choose a 3" steel load, no?

[Robin Lewis]

Question: If all the Parker Repros are steel shot compatible, what was the reason for the "Steel Shot Special" that I seem to remember being marketed? I must admit that I have never seen one or even seen one list for sale or auction. Did any sell?

[Joe Bernfeld]

Question: If all the Parker Repros are steel shot compatible, what was the reason for the "Steel Shot Special" that I seem to remember being marketed? I must admit that I have never seen one or even seen one list for sale or auction. Did any sell?

I owned one, and the only difference I could detect was the serial #, which began with SS, and the fact that Dunn's sold them. Also they were all 28" bbls with 3" chambers choked IC/Mod. Parker Reproductions made other 28" bbl 3" chambered IC/Mod guns, which were not Steel Shot Specials; I bought one last Spring. I sold the Steel Shot Special because the pistol grip stock it had was made with too much drop and I didn't shoot it well. I think they were sold mostly as a marketing thing. And yes, Robin, no "if" about it, all Parker Repros were designed to be used with steel shot (except full choke).

[Greg Baehman]

Yes, they sold out the entire edition which was reportedly some 350 guns. I have heard there is/was quite a cult following of these guns by waterfowl hunters in the Grand Junction, TN area with the federal mandate requiring non-tox shot nationwide.

I probably should have qualified my statement of all Parker Reproductions being steel shot compatible as I understand that it is recommended that something looser than a Full choke be used. The Steel Shot Specials were choked .006/.018 and have 3" chambers. My feeling is that SSS's were designed to fill a niche, but also a marketing effort to sell more guns---which isn't a bad thing.

[Bill Murphy]

All posters are confusing the "Steel Shot Special" with the "Sporting Clays" model of Repro. The Sporting Clays model has 2 3/4" chambers and screw in chokes. The "Steel Shot Special" has 3" chambers and IC and MOD chokes in 28" barrels. The difference between a regular Repro with 28" barrels and a Steel Shot Special with 28" barrels is that the SSS has chokes that are compatible with steel shot in 3" shells. The regular Repro with 28" barrels has 2 3/4" chambers and modified and full chokes. I don't doubt that Joe owned a gun that was not serial numbered as a Steel Shot Special that had SSS features. OK, so he did. No one got too excited about 12 gauge Repros as a concept. In 1986, original short barrel D Grade Parkers were not a hot item, and they still aren't today. Why do we think they only sold a few 12 gauge Repros? How hot are 26" 12 gauge Repros today?

[Greg Baehman]

All posters are confusing the "Steel Shot Special" with the "Sporting Clays" model of Repro. The Sporting Clays model has 2 3/4" chambers and screw in chokes. The "Steel Shot Special" has 3" chambers and IC and MOD chokes in 28" barrels. The difference between a regular Repro with 28" barrels and a Steel Shot Special with 28" barrels is that the SSS has chokes that are compatible with steel shot in 3" shells. The regular Repro with 28" barrels has 2 3/4" chambers and modified and full chokes. I don't doubt that Joe owned a gun that was not serial numbered as a Steel Shot Special that had SSS features. OK, so he did.

Not all posters are confused Bill. Like I stated in the first sentence of this thread "Every article that I've read and every specification that I've seen concerning the Parker Repro Sporting Clays Classic model states they are factory furnished with 3" chambers." I've also got magazine articles/reviews of the SCC that also state they were furnished with 3" chambers---and I own one that has 3" chambers---yet I have yet to see one so marked.

Here's a pic of the Specs on the back of a Parker Repro brochure, the third listing from the top is the SCC. The SCC's are marked "ISC" on the barrels flats. The second listing from the top is the standard DHE 12-ga. 28" gun which were available choked either IC/M or M/F. The fourth listing from the top is the SSS, which in addition to the .006/.018 chokes and 3" chambers also spec'd to have .740 bores---supposedly this special choke/bore combination was derived to obtain ideal patterns with steel shot.

[Greg Baehman]

No one got too excited about 12 gauge Repros as a concept. In 1986, original short barrel D Grade Parkers were not a hot item, and they still aren't today. Why do we think they only sold a few 12 gauge Repros? How hot are 26" 12 gauge Repros today?

This of course is true Bill, however; to be fair it would be wise to take under consideration two things:

1. The retail price list of a new 12-ga. DHE Parker Reproduction during this period of time was $2970.00, the then current market price of an average conditioned original 12-ga. DHE Parker Bros. gun was probably less than that.

and

2. Back in the day when new Parker Repros were being marketed, circa mid 1980's to mid 1990's, 26" barrel length shotguns were at the tailend or perhaps even past the tailend of the era when these short-barreled guns were in vogue and therefore were a tough sell---and as you said, it remains so today. If only Tom Skeuse had a crystal ball...

[Donovan Kirkpatrick]

I have a NIB, 12 ga non SSS with 3" chambers, so marked. It is choked IC/Mod 28" bbls. I have a Sporting Clays w 28"bbls marked 2 3/4". Have no clue if it will chamber 3" shells because it is unfired. NIB. The only detractor according to "KG" is they have single triggers. I like single triggers and have had no problems to date. My "go to" gun had 26" bbls choked Q1/Q2, I find I like the shorter bbls on 12 ga guns. Seems the older I get the heavier the guns get. By the way Kenny, I did get 2 trigger guns in 20 and 28 ga because you speak so highly of them. Can not bring myself to shoot them. Everytime I have about talked myself into it, the asking price seems to go up. I surely do enjoy the threads about the reproductions. Have learned a lot keep it up.

[Greg Baehman]

Donovan, is there any way you could get the chambers measured in your SCC?
TIA,
Greg

[Dave Fuller]

Two comments:

1) My Sporting Clays Classic is marker 2-3/4 and measures 2-3/4
2) The Steel Shot Specials were also bored at .740 which I believe is a shade larger than standard. I remeber reading somewhere they were 12% heavier... I'll try and find that. Here's an original ad for one from a Dunn's catalog. Little hard to read - sorry.

[Donovan Kirkpatrick]

Greg, Would dropping a 3" shell in the chamber work? 3" shells chamber just fine.

[Carl Brandt]

sorry for the hijack.

[Greg Baehman]

Greg, Would dropping a 3" shell in the chamber work?

No, to get an accurate reading it should be done with a chamber gauge--any gunsmith could measure them for you. If your SCC is NIB, do you still have the box? If so, is the chamber length marked on the end cap label?

Dave,

Were the chambers on your SCC measured using a chamber gauge?

I too, have a copy of the article that I believe you're talking about on the "Parker Reproduction 12-gauge Magnum", I don't believe the writer ever specifically called them "Steel Shot Specials". (I'm at work and don't have it in front of me, so I'm commenting here with a foggy memory). The article says the barrels of these guns were 12% heavier than the norm, but also states, (I think--I'll have to reread it again when I get home) the bore diameters at either .732 and/or .733 of their test gun--which of course differs from the .740 bores reported the SSS's have by the authors of TPS.

[Dave Fuller]

Carl - WinChoke is the brand name you need. Be sure to get the flush fitting type and NOT the extended tube with the knurled end that takes a spanner wrench.

Greg - Yep... I used one of those brass Galazan chamber gauges and there's no ambiguity, its 2-3/4. I was kind of hoping it would be 3 since I have the same catalogs you do but it is most certainly not. I will ask John Allen at Game Fair about the bore on the SSS. He still has the original prototype that he sent to MacIntosh et al prior to placing his order for 350 more.

[Bill Murphy]

Greg, thanks for reminding us that the SC model was advertised as having 3" chambers. According to my catalog collection, the SC (ISC) model was not mentioned in later catalogs, having been sold out quite early. One Skeuse memo mentions steel shot compatible Repros as being any gun with less than .025 of constriction. That is some technical information for a manufacturer to share. The factory information indicated that 25 ISC models had been ordered from the factory but total production is estimated at 125. All this discussion about 12 gauge Repros makes me want to find one. Thank you Mr. Skeuse for your comments on this forum.

[Joe Bernfeld]

All posters are confusing the "Steel Shot Special" with the "Sporting Clays" model of Repro. The Sporting Clays model has 2 3/4" chambers and screw in chokes. The "Steel Shot Special" has 3" chambers and IC and MOD chokes in 28" barrels. The difference between a regular Repro with 28" barrels and a Steel Shot Special with 28" barrels is that the SSS has chokes that are compatible with steel shot in 3" shells. The regular Repro with 28" barrels has 2 3/4" chambers and modified and full chokes. I don't doubt that Joe owned a gun that was not serial numbered as a Steel Shot Special that had SSS features. OK, so he did. No one got too excited about 12 gauge Repros as a concept. In 1986, original short barrel D Grade Parkers were not a hot item, and they still aren't today. Why do we think they only sold a few 12 gauge Repros? How hot are 26" 12 gauge Repros today?

Bill, you misunderstood. Years ago I owned a Steel Shot Special (so marked and purchased from Dunn's) and later sold it. This Spring I bought a 28" bbl, 3" chambered Repro with IC/Mod chokes, but it is not marked SS in the serial number. And by the way, it weighs only 4 oz. less than the SSS weighed, and it has a straight stock/splinter forend while my Steel Shot Special had a pistol grip/beavertail forend, so it's not much, if any lighter.
Joe