Miller single trigger

[RJ Jose]

Hi everyone, I've been a member of the board for a short time, but I've been reading and learning for several years. I own several Parker's, all 16 ga, the fever has not spread to other gauges yet but I feel tempted to expand my horizons - no cure for Parker flu.
My question is, does any one have any info on the Miller single trigger? I have a "O" frame 16 that I'm trying to mold into the ultimate grouse gun. Don't worry, the barrels have been cut to 26" from 28", leaving open chokes. Someone has fitted a Trojan stock on it with homemade engraving and bondo. I have a period correct "O" frame stock to fit and I thought while I was at it, I would convert to the single trigger, something I'm used to and like on my grouse guns. The trouble I'm having, is that I cannot find hardly any info on the internet as to history, fitment, availability, etc. I know Turnbull use to own the co. in the '90,s but no info since. I,ve noticed many doubles fitted with this from European shotguns to the American classics. Are they one size fits all - hard to believe, does frame size make a difference? What is a fair price if I find one at a gun show? Who is the Miller Trigger guru?

[Bill Murphy]

Simple answer: If you find a Parker with a Miller trigger and it works and you like the gun, buy it. Of course, the same thing applies to a Parker with any trigger, double or single. If it works and you like the gun, buy it. If you are talking about fitting a Miller trigger to an existing gun, forget it.

[Dean Romig]

What Bill means by saying "forget it" is that IF you can find an expert smith with loads of Miller trigger conversion experience it will cost you a minimum of $2K and that is the simple fact of the matter.

[Harry Collins]

RJ,

I just inherited a 16 gauge VH with a miller trigger. It needed a lot of work so I sent it to Del Grego. In speaking with them I learned that Miller Triggers are going for about $2 to $2.5K. Del Grego use to spply sears for the conversion,but ran short and had to stop. The reason for the new sears is because they are bent. You might require a new stock to accomidate the trigger. I like double triggers and would have converted this one back, but then I would be way out of my price range.

Harry

[Richard Flanders]

ie: you can buy a decent Parker grouse gun for less than the cost of converting your 16ga.

[Don Kaas]

Turnbull advertises on the Gunshop BBS that he still offers Miller conversion for $1250. If thats what you want for a cut barrel VH grouse gun then that's what it costs. IMHO, the Miller is the finest aftermarket single trigger ever produced. At the moment, I have them on my Purdey pigeon gun, my Parker D hammer Titanic barreled pigeon gun, my Ithaca NID 10 gauge Magnum (factory original). I have probably owned about a dozen or more on Remington 32s, Winchester Model 21s, Foxes, Westley Richards and atleast 3 other Parkers. In fact, my very first Parker was a steel barreled 12g PHE on a #3 frame with a Miller trigger. That one was not a grouse gun! I am also lucky that my gunsmith builds his own Miller style triggers when the mood moves him so we do it "in house" so repairs or adjustments are not problematic. He does not solicit such work however...

I do agree with Richard, however, that there are ways to a single trigger Parker "grouse gun" that may be cheaper and quicker than a conversion, like trade or sale of it into an existing single trigger gun.

[Larry Frey]

To me the ultimate grouse gun would have two triggers with the right barrel open and the left barrel tight. I’ve had several guns in 20, 16, and 12 gage ordered by hunters in the northeast (presumably grouse hunters) which were ordered in just that way. My current favorite upland gun is a 6# 4oz 26" 12 gage DHE ordered IC/Full (.003/.028). I have the exact same gun in a 16 gage O frame at 6#s even that I shot very well for several seasons until one day I notice it was cast for a lefty. I have lost confidence and now rarely shoot it. That’s now the one I let the wife use. She will never notice.:D

[Don Kaas]

My "grouse gun" is my late uncle's 16 gauge 0 frame ball grip 26" DHE delivered to Portland, ME in 1912 with LH cast on. Two triggers, choked .005/.015, weighing 5 14...all of its life in NH until it went south with me a few years ago. But, I guess it doesn't matter what our grouse guns are, it only matters what "RJ Jose" wants.

[Dean Romig]

I have lost confidence and now rarely shoot it. That’s now the one I let the wife use. She will never notice.:D


Printed and saved for future blackmailing purposes. :bigbye:

[Brad Bachelder]

We have miller,parker single triggers and sears in stock. The conversion is not a big deal and totally reliable. Let me know if we can help.

[Francis Morin]

Brad is not only my gunsmith of years, but a good friend and shooting partner. I only own one double with a single selective trigger, a 12 ga. M21 made in 1949. All the years I have used it I have never changed it from firing the right barrel first, then the left. I should prefer single triggers I suppose, as I grew up shooting Model 12's and still do yet today (they kill birds dead for me consistently, and nothing succeeds like success. My doubles, including a AH fox Utica mfg. 20 Sterlingworth (SN 261981) which I recently acquired, all have double triggers and were stocked for a RH shooter (which I am, and Thanks be, also dominant right eye--

I can't tell another man how to lead a mallard or a pigeon, what my eyes and reflexes tell me to do with the gun in hand may be way different for another person. But double triggers are virtually fool-proof (Murphy's Law nonwithstanding) and IMO only-a VH or even VHE with barrels shortened from 28" to 26" (WHY?) is already compromised to some extent, and to spend extra dollars to restock and re-configure the trigger(s)- as opposed to what other PGCA members have suggested as to selling/trading the Parker as is and buying another with a single trigger might be less damaging to the bank account. I have several older 12 gauge Smiths which I like, and they fit me and perform flawlessly- BUT they all have double triggers and I have turned down 4 good ejector Smith 12 bores offered to me that had Hunter One Triggers.

Brad's work and reputation speak for itself, he is a friend, so of course I will endorse him, as Brad is a PGCA member and often is a good source for Parker parts, stocks and barrels, and also for other doubles as well. He is the gunsmith who put together my "project Parker" a 12 GHE with the Christian Fischer after-market ejector systems- I had the receiver and the ejector forearm, Brad found and fitted 28" Vulcan no. 2 frame barrels and a pg PH buttstock-I am very pleased with the gun and his work and recommend Brad to anyone in the Midwest.

I can also understand the "hesitation" on certain single triggers. If I am properly informed, LC Smith and LeFever specialist Buck Hamlin of MO. will not work on a Smith Hunter One Trigger-

[Destry L. Hoffard]

So are we to assume that you're doing Miller single trigger installation now Brad?

DLH

[RJ Jose]

Thanks to all who have responded to the thread. I feel I must explain the cirumstances, I suffer from a medical condition do to injuries, where I loose circulation in my hands at temps less than 40 degrees. This requires me to wear battery heated gloves when it gets cold. As you can imagine, they are quite bulky, so I shoot a single trigger Uggie as a cold weather gun.
Since I'm trying to resserect this 16ga. o frame to a shootable condition, I thought it would make an excellent replacement - who would not rather carry a Parker? In the course of investigation, I became interested in Elmer Miller and his single trigger. I know some people don't think much of them,but they are very prevalent and could not have been in business as long as they were without some supporters. Is there a book or historical info on his contribution to firearm history.
As a side note, what was available from Parker if one wanted to order a single trigger? Was it only Remington years ,did they have their own system, send them in for Miller conversion? I'm curious and can't find very much info.

[Dave Suponski]

RJ,I applaud you in your quest to get this Parker back in the field.Parker Brothers manufactured their own single triggers starting in/around 1922.I call this trigger the single screw trigger.About 1932 Parker started to offer an"improved" single trigger.I call this trigger the two screw trigger because of the two small screws that are visible under/near the trigger guard bow.The improved later trigger was better than the first design but could still be problematic. There were several other single triggers designed over the years and some of them have found their way on Parkers guns but in my opinion the Miller is the best single trigger"out there".

[RJ Jose]

Thanks Dave, that is exactly the type of info I was looking for.