Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums

Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums (https://parkerguns.org/forums/index.php)

- Parker Reproductions (https://parkerguns.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)

- - Load Limit for 3" Repro (https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30298)

I learned a LOT from Bristers book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rud Blumentritt (Post 304894)

So I've continued to research this topic and wanted to revisit the question. I found a 3" Winchester Longbeard XR lead turkey load that carries 1.25oz of shot at 1000 fps. Just curious from a recoil perspective how this would compare to a 2.75" pheasant load of 1oz at 1200fps. Am I right in assuming that nobody would be concerned about shooting the 1oz load, but (and I am certainly no expert) would the recoil be that different for a 1.25 oz load traveling 1000fps vs the 1oz load at higher velocity? Of course, my main concern in a repro is stock damage and I understand that recoil is the concern here.

I would not shoot any Winchester long beard shells in any Parker, check out the thread on this site where it most likely blew up a model 21.

The powder charge and wad weight are part of the calculation for free recoil since they exit the muzzle. However, they are inconsequential compared to the shot charge and gun weight and muzzle velocity.

The shells you questioned have nearly 20% more recoil than a standard 7/8 load at 1200. Twenty foot pounds of recoil is substantial. It will thump with authority. Take everyone's advice and leave the 3" shells in the store.

So if one needs to stick with 7/8 load in the 20 repro to best eliminate potential stock damage - what does one then shoot out the 20 gauge repro fitted with 16 gauge barrels?? Are they as bad a concept as the 3” chamber?

The potential of breaking the wrist of a Repro’s stock is... I won’t say overblown because it has happened and for various reasons, but I wouldn’t be overly cautious and cheat yourself from enjoying your Repro to it’s full potential.
Heck, if there is a lot of figure in the wrist or the grain is poorly set up for strength, do what Parker Brothers did... have a hickory - or some other material - reinforcing rod inserted theough the length of the stock and shoot it to your heart’s delight.

Brian, can you do that sort of work?

Regarding the 16 gauge Repro barrels - I think they’re a great idea and certainly fill a perceived need - that of a multi gauge, multi barrel gun. I normally shoot 7/8 oz. loads in both my 20’s and my 16’s but I would have no qualms about shooting 1 oz. loads in the 16 gauge barrels.

Let’s look at the Parker Reproduction “Steel Shot Special.”
Aren’t 12 gauge steel shot shells loaded to about max SAAMI specs, or close to it? Hou about wrist breakage on those guns? Do we hear anything about that, any more than we do about 20 and 28 gauge Repro stocks breaking?.... not that I’ve heard or read.

.

Charlie kills turkeys with a tight choked Parker .410. Shoots them in the head and neck after calling them close in .

A Steel Shot Special has about twice the wood in the wrist as a 20 gauge Repro. That might explain why we don't hear much about SSS wrist breakage.

A straight grip Steel Shot Special is no different than other 12-ga. 1 1/2-frame straight gripped Repros, they have a 4 1/4" circumference at the wrist. A 20-ga. 0-frame straight grip Repro has a 4 1/8" circumference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Baehman (Post 305070)

So, effectively, they’re the same size as far as strength goes...

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Romig (Post 305036)

The potential of breaking the wrist of a Repro’s stock is... I won’t say overblown because it has happened and for various reasons, but I wouldn’t be overly cautious and cheat yourself from enjoying your Repro to it’s full potential.

Let’s look at the Parker Reproduction “Steel Shot Special.”
Aren’t 12 gauge steel shot shells loaded to about max SAAMI specs, or close to it? How about wrist breakage on those guns? Do we hear anything about that, any more than we do about 20 and 28 gauge Repro stocks breaking?.... not that I’ve heard or read.

.

Most Steel Shot Specials that I've encountered have been stocked with California English Walnut. In fact, I can't recall if I've ever seen one stocked with anything other than English Walnut. In my observations, a much greater percentage of 20 and 28-ga. Repros are stocked with Claro Walnut. I believe English Walnut with a characteristic of being straighter grained than Claro and is inherently stronger than Claro which may account for less incidence of breakage. Plus the fact there were about five times as many twenty and twenty-eights produced as were the twelves.