Chamber Length Info?
 

Hi all, I'm a new member. I just received my first Parker. It is a GH #2 frame 12 gauge with 30" Special Steel barrels and extractors. Does anyone have a way of finding out the Chamber length? I'm hoping for 2 3/4" but I'm thinking it could be 2 1/2" or 2 5/8" as well. Any help would be appreciated! I wanted to shoot target loads with it!

Merry Christmas


Rob

Welcome Rob! You have come to right place to learn all things Parker. You will have either get someone to measure those chambers or buy the proper tool and measure them yourself. I would encourage you to join the PGCA and order a research letter on your Parker. The letter will give you specifics on how your gun left the factory ( assuming your gun has available factory data). Again welcome!

Thanks for the warm welcome Reggie! Would there have been a "mostly common" chamber length on a 1924 GH #2? It will be a while before I can get a proper gauge ordered.

The great bulk of 2-frame 12-gauge steel barrel Parkers have 2 5/8-inch chambers, intended for use with 2 3/4-inch shells. From the time the Parker Spec. Steel barrels were offered for Quality GH guns in 1907, the heaviest loads our North American ammunition companies offered in the 2 5/8-inch 12-gauge shell were 1 1/8-ounce. For 1 1/4-ounce loads one needed to go to 2 3/4-inch or longer shells. The heaviest 12-gauge loads being offered were 3 1/2-drams of bulk smokeless powder or 28-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing that 1 1/4-ounce of shot. Pressures of those loads were a bit higher than SAAMI specs for 12-gauge 2 3/4-inch shells. Circa 1922, the progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity, 12-gauge 1 1/4-ounce loads were introduced. While they moved the shot load out faster, they were actually lower pressure than the old style specified loads.

Pictures of hang tags I've saved are more confusing than enlightening.

Attachment 102304

Attachment 102305

Attachment 102306

Attachment 102307

Some give the powder load in grains when the powder stated is bulk?!?

Wow Researcher that's excellent info. Very interesting how they list the chamber as 2 5/8 and say use 2 3/4" shells! If that's the case could I happily shoot 2 3/4 target loads in mine?

yes

If the barrels are sound and have suitable wall thickness is always the the underlying caveat.

Ok thanks everyone. Merry Christmas and here's to a Parker under every tree!