Plain twist barrels and low pressure loads

[Robt. Harris]

Good morning fellas,

Have an opportunity to purchase a 1904 PH grade 12 ga. with plain twist barrels. The gun is about 95-98% original condition, no modifications, and has been vetted as having original choke/bore diameters, all in great shape.

I've been shooting other standard damascus guns with low pressure loads alot since 1990 without incident, and am thinking a good quality, plain twist barrel should behave no differently. More specifically, I've stuck to using PB and IMR 7625 powders over the years with published pressures under 7,000 psi at most - and more often than not with loads below 6K psi.

If I'm wrong in my assumption as re: shooting Parker's plain twist at similar pressures, I'd appreciate hearing about it......

'Thanks' in advance for any input,

Rob

[Chuck Bishop]

Robert,

You should have no problem at all with the loads you describe if the barrel wall thickness and overall condition of the barrels are good.

Please consider joining the PGCA, details are on the home page.

Welcome to the world of Parkers!

Chuck Bishop

[Bruce Day]

Parker used service and proof load pressures are set out in the table on p.515, TPS. You'll find that a chamber pressure of 7000psi is on a very conservative, low side. Parker made no load distinctions between fluid, damascus and twist steel barrels.

Here is a photo my old GHE 12ga with so-called high brass loads.

[Robt. Harris]

'Thank you' for the replies, Chuck and Bruce. I should have remembered that this proof info was in TPS, which I do have; and the only excuses are that I'm over 60.... and... those guys put way too much info into those two volumes!:rolleyes:

This particular gun here is lightly used in that it has about 50-60% factory case and about 95% of its original barrel coloring......so abuse or modification is not an issue. Will probably be back with another question or two if I close the deal today.

Again, my 'Thanks, and for the great photo as well, Bruce.

Rob Harris

[lee r moege]

Hey Bruce, where did you get those "chickens"? Lee.:bigbye:

[Linn Matthews]

Mr. Harris
Over 60 on this Forum means that you are on the early side of the distribution.

Linn

[Bruce Day]

Well I am well over 60 also, but come ride with us on the Bike Across Kansas in June. Average age is 58. I often use is as an early season pheasant scouting trip. Last time I rode, John Dunkle called me somewhere west of Hill City. I stopped to talk and a rooster couldn't have been more than 20-30 feet away in the wheatfield and loudly announced his displeasure at being bothered. I've talked to Charlie but I can't get anybody else here to ride.

Lee, those are prairie chickens from the Sandhills Sharptail Shootout by Mullen Nebraska that Team Parker shot in last Sept. Prairie chickens, sharptail grouse and Hungarian partridge are about my favorite birds to hunt.

[william faulk]

Bruce and all..
I shot my very first partridge this month up in Ten Mile River Preserve. in N.Y.Never had even seen one before.I shot 6 behind a little German Shorthair.I can now understand why those of you that live in the East seek these birds out.
Shot with a 120 year old GH,Damascus. Bill

[Bruce Day]

Bill, I am not an easterner. I was talking about Hungarian partridge, which is a totally different bird than a ruffed grouse, which they call partridge in the east.

[william faulk]

Yep..Hungarian Partridge is what I shot also Pheasant,Chucker and quail.
Best shoot ever for a poor boy.I went as a 'guest' of one of my better to do friends in Ft. Worth.
Bill :rotf:

[Steve Huffman]

Parker used service and proof load pressures are set out in the table on p.515, TPS. You'll find that a chamber pressure of 7000psi is on a very conservative, low side. Parker made no load distinctions between fluid, damascus and twist steel barrels.

Here is a photo my old GHE 12ga with so-called high brass loads.

Bruce
What are your barrels ? and when you say so-called high brass loads ,what are they actually .I hope someone that reads this does not think they can shoot high brass out of a Twist gun.

[Bruce Day]

Those were Federals. 1 1/8oz, 6 shot, 3 1/4dram eq, 1255 fps, H123 6, their Heavy Field Load Game-Shoc. They make a good heavier load out of the old damascus G. They work well for me and I have about half a case left after several seasons.

[Robt. Harris]

Jent,

With the deal concluded today, I guess I can say mine is a No. 2 frame gun as well - with a barrel weight stamp of 4 lbs. 3 oz. Total gun weight is 7 lb. 13 oz. Tubes are 30" 12 gauge, uncut, with 2-5/8" chambers weighing 3 lbs. 10 oz. Chokes of .038" and .040" constriction respectively. Weight of barrel group to include forend is coincidentally 4 lb. 3 oz. Internally, bores are still mirror bright with a nominal dia. of .731 in each, and can't imagine they wouldn't hold up to loads as you describe- but with my handloading I'm usually under 6K psi at one ounce.

The gun obviously did a lot of closet time judging by the condition it's in, and I'm happy to have come across it. 'Thanks' for your input, and with just a bit more looking I'll figure out how to 'Thank' you guys in the appropriate boxes beneath the posts.


Rob

[John Dallas]

Bob - for thanks, look at the extreme lower fight of a post and locate the yellow "Thumbs Up" doobie. That will register a "thanks"

[Dean Romig]

Bill, I am not an easterner. I was talking about Hungarian partridge, which is a totally different bird than a ruffed grouse, which they call partridge in the east.

Correction Bruce... it's pa'tridge! You gotta work on that accent. :smiley7:

[Paul Harm]

In Michigan , how about just " pats " or " pat ". My dad used to say he was going " pat hunting this week end ". Paul