Shell Recommendation
 

Hello all,

I am brand new to the forum and have been trying to take in as much as I can. I have always wanted a Parker and just took the plunge on a 1926 VH 12ga built on a 1 1/2 frame. I am trying to figure out what loads I should use while hunting my Parker.

I am an upland hunter who mostly hunts Grouse / Woodcock in the UP along with Pheasant throughout the midwest. Ill hunt waterfowl maybe once a year.

Any and all information is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

My suggestion is that you stick with 1oz (or less) payloads moving at ~1200 fps (or less). Protect your stock.

-Victor

Try RST spreaders in at least one barrel if the gun is tightly choked. Big help in the aspens. In the dense cover of typical grouse/woodcock coverts you want the most open pattern you can have. I wouldn’t sweat worrying about the stock. Every dent or scar will remind you of a great time in the woods. Best of luck.

I forget to add— join the PGCA. You will glean a world of knowledge on this website.

Tyler,

Shooting steel shot for waterfowl, or anything else, out of your Parker is not recommended.

Thank you all for the responses so far. What about Bismuth? Is using it a bad idea?

bismuth is good, keep the FPS down to 1250 if you can.
scott

You need more Parkers.





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Im working on it! I should keep loads to 2 1/2 or 2 inch right?

If you cannot get your chambers measured, 2 1/2" would work. No need for the added expense of 2 inch shells. I'm not sure when Parker started boring 2 3/4" chambers, but your gun would be close to that timeframe. Generally, they had 2 5/8" around the time of your gun, but to be sure, you should get them measured. Galazan sells an inexpensive drop-in gauge, and since you are bound to add to your collection (:)), you'll eventually need one.

As already recommended, lighter loads with moderate speeds should be okay, assuming your gun is sound. Many older guns have had things done to them over time, as I'm sure you know, so getting a good, qualified appraisal is important.

Good shooting with your new Parker. Post some photos of your gun and some of the game you shoot and places you hunt.

My 1927 12ga VH 1 1/2 frame, has 2 3/4" chambers.... I had a Trojan that was one year older, and it had 2 1/2" chambers.... What I don't know, is if a former owner of the VH had chambers increased to 2 3/4", or if it came that way originally. Chamber length is not mention in my Parker Letter for it.

I shoot RST's out of it mostly, or the herters low recoil target loads. As for Bismuth, most of the factory Bismuth loads are 1350ish fps and too heavy IMHO for use in the VH. I do believe BOSS will make low pressure bismuth loads for you during normal times, right now I'd guess that's a hard one to get though.

After that, If you reload, reload your own low pressure bismuth for it.

Tyler, congrats on your new Parker. Ditto on RST. BTW, they have low pressure 12 gauge bismuth in stock, both 2-1/2 and 2-3/4 shells.

http://www.rstshells.com/store/m/2-12-Gauge.aspx?pi=2

For the first fifty or sixty years of your guns life, if it was being hunted, it probably saw plenty of these high velocity 1 1/4 ounce loads.

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I agree 100% with Victor. 1 oz max and under 1200 FPS. That's all I shoot hunting with my Parkers and Lefevers. As Victor said, it'll save your stock. That's because anything stiffer may cause damage to the head of the stock especially if it has a lot of oil soaked into it, is very dry (think dry rot) or has been repaired. The stocks are the biggest concern on our vintage guns.

You can reload your own spreaders too. RST spreaders are great shells but right now they are unavailable due to component shortages. Go to Ballistic Products and get your components and load them up!! I even have some #10 shot I use for mudbat spreaders. They are very effective and don't destroy the bird.

One other item, RST does have some 12g bismuth shells in stock. You can find them on their website.

My grandfather always told me that 1 oz. of shot fired from a 12, 16 or 20 bore was all you needed for grouse. My experience has taught me the wisdom of his words. I once bought a box of Remington high brass 1 1/4 loads for grouse since I read that recommendation in one of the periodicals. He laughed at me and told me to stick to the one ounce loads.

I well remember that I found a high brass #6 case in one of my grouse coverts. I was agast that someone else hunted in my area. My grandfather asked what type of shell it was. I told him and he laughed and said that the guy couldn't do much damage with those shells.