Depends on whether you have 2 3/4" or short chambers :rotf:

Pete, I absolutely agree and do shoot light recoil loads much of the time. But lets take for example the 1 1/4 1275 fps load you have above. The recoil formula doesn't care what pressure was generated by the slower burning 800x powder and I suspect without calculating that the recoil is about the same with that load as it is with for example a 1 1/4 commercial Fed Game Shoc load that runs about the same speed. With your load,the pressure for barrel hoop stress is likely less than the Fed commercial load. So again, cutting back the weight and speed of everything that comes out of the barrel is the only way to reduce recoil, and sometimes I feel that I want the max, and if I have a gun in good shape, why shouldn't I use it to its capabilities once in a while?

Damn that's nice. But don't take it over 60mph. I'm sure you never do.

I don't believe I said you shouldn't. My point is the best advice to anyone new to a Parker shotgun is to be kind to it in all ways including use of lower pressure, lower recoil loads when possible recognizing most guns are sporting some old wood (wow now there's an opening) :)

No you didn't say that. Maybe we can get together a FAQ response that will take into account facts that we know about capabilities yet at the same time provide subjective recommendations.

Those of us with old wood do not believe there are any diminished capabilities.:)

Ah yes, better living through chemistry :rotf:

You can go fast until something breaks--and that is what the other guys are saying.

I would have thought that what breaks your stock is the Force of the explosion which a function of mass time acceleration.
The velocity of the projectile is important but the time it takes to reach that velocity (acceleration) is More important. A slow burn that gets the shot to its max veloctiy near the muzzel will put much less force at the stock head than a fast burn that gets it there 6 inches in front of the shell. I am not sure but I think pressure may be more proportional to Force than inertia which is mass times velocity which I think you have been talking about.

Just to clear up what I said: I think that pressure may be the important factor for both barrel and stock head (if i am right that it is proportional to Force. the ultimate muzzel velocity of the load is more important to the pheasant than the parker.

With that 'vette I think you should worry more about not going so fast the chics can't hop right in :cool: