I just measured my 1908 28 gauge on the 0-frame at 2 1/2" from the bottom of the rim recess to the beginning of the forcing cone.

I also just measured my 1924 28 gauge on the 00-frame at 2 1/2" from the top of the rim recess to the beginning of the forcing cone.


My best guess is that if a 1917-18 28 ga. Parker has 2 3/4" chambers it was specially ordered that way or the chambers were lengthened at a later date... but by whom?

I am a firm believer that anyone involved with classic old SXS guns should have one of these Galazan tools with him at gun shows as well as in his gun room.

{Disclaimer} the attached choke gauge is virtually useless as it is merely a guide and will NOT give you the true constriction measurement in thousandths of an inch.... which is the definitive way to determine choke.


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Everybody has their opinion and there are different ways to do it. I’ve tried measuring my chambers using the trimmed index card approach but that didn’t work well for me. It sounds like you’re satisfied with your result and I wouldn’t over think it.

But have your barrels inspected and the wall thickness measured by a knowledgeable gunsmith who is familiar with these old doubles. We don’t know if your chambers were lengthened after leaving the factory and if the wall thickness was compromised.

Garth and Dean. Thanks for your posts. I am not necessarily certain that I have measured the chamber depth correctly. That is why I have asked for comments and suggestions. I do not have instruments to measure or detect any taper. I have simply measured into the point where I encounter a shoulder 2-3/4” from the breech that implies the bore diameter for the first 2-3/4” is larger than the bore diameter beyond the shoulder.
I have another 28ga Parker (vintage 1905) that has no detectable shoulder inside the bore and that would make it more difficult to determine actual chamber depth.

Yup, John Davis is correct in mentioning that John Dallas's statement was incorrect. In Parker terminology or practice, a chamber measuring 2 3/4" is meant for a 2 7/8" shell or shorter. Of course, the 2 7/8" shell is no longer loaded, but in the twenties to the late forties, it was loaded and Parker guns were made to shoot it. Your gun could have factory 2 3/4" chambers.

Have you reviewed the Sherman Bell Double Gun Journal articles which determined that there was approximately a 3-5 percent increase in chamber pressure from shooting shells 1/4 “ longer than than chamber length?

Is your gun so infirm that this extra pressure is likely to bulge the chamber ? Do you intend to shoot SAAMI max pressure shells so that the extra pressure could harm the gun ?

You asked if moving to a shell with more shot would help you hit more quail . That would help you kill more quail but not hit more. A 28 ga is marginal in killing load anyway , and the long shot string does not help. Shoot some sporting clays and the pattern deficiencies become apparent.

My friends who come out here and hunt high plains quail in the wind , many of them bring a 28 ga but it goes back into the truck by noon. Plantation quail or released birds I think it would be well suited for that. These birds ran out and flushed at 25 to 30 yards so that the shots were 40 yards.

Thank you Bruce.

Now there's a loaded question.... no pun intended.

We can't 'know' the answer to that question without examination of wall thickness by an expert in the field - a qualified double-gun smith. And then it would be his opinion subject to conjecture.

IMO, unless it can be proven that the chambers were cut to 2 3/4" by the manufacturer it should not be shot with anything other than 2 1/2" shells loaded to manufacturer's specs at the time of production.

We need to be sensible in these matters.





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Thanks Dean. Agreed!

at present we will have to be carefull the 28 gauge shell is being loaded in a 3 inch shell...charlie

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