A Sunday morning with the D grade
 

Dale and I spent a couple hours this morning shooting the big Ds. Dale just acquired a great D grade from our late friend Dr Larry Spratling. I bought mine from Phil Carr a year ago. Both guns date 1912. Miss Parker did her job!

Looks like a fun morning Chris. What loads are you using?

It was Phil, we're priming the hunt for your next visit! I'm shooting my 3/4 ounce loads of #8. 5600 PSI, between 1035 - 1090 FPS. I've also loaded them with 1 and 7/8 ounce. I'm a fan of the 3/4 ounce though. Dale was shooting his 1 or 7/8 ounce low PSI, maybe 1135 FPS. Do you recognize Dale's gun? It's the one you got the letter on. I fit it with a spinter and ground a buttplate. Hes keeping the beavertail and the iron intact.

Thanks Chris. I just got back from a great time with Dean and Legh. I need to head up that way to make a delivery this week. May try to combine it with a squirrel hunt.
Larry would be very happy that Dale got his last Parker he purchase and took it hunting.
Really nice gun even better with you installing a butt plate and splinter forend.
I was curious on the load you guys were using. Some discussion on another post and the two of you shoot a fair share of dove through out the year. I’m with you on the 8’s.
Although as you know I have been trying to shoot up a bunch of old vintage paper shells for the last 3 years. Shooting everything at those Eurasians from #4 to 10 shot.
I have shot mainly 8 shot for most of my dove hunts since I was a kid.
I will give you a call later this week.

Me too, I load 8s for dove, 7 1/2 for quail. Although I do load 9 & 10 in the 2 1/2" 410. Sometimes #6 in all gauges for late season Gambel's quail.