Breech closing issue
 

I have a VH Parker 28 ga circa 1920s. I'm having trouble closing the breech with certain ammunition. The chambers measure 2-3/4". I can't use any kind of Remington ammunition and Winchester AA. Some of the Winchester field loads work fine. I've tried RST 2-1/2" shells and some work and others don't. The problem seems to be the rim thickness of the shell. I'd really like to hunt with this gun but it's frustrating when some shells allow the breech to close and some don't. I'd appreciate any advice or ideas to remedy this problem. I might add that a reputable gunsmith said I would need to ream the chambers but I don't understand why the extractor couldn't be machined to accommodate all ammunition. Thanks.

Sometimes the issue can be the shell extractor catching on the edge of the brass or steel collar on cheap low base shells.

If if you are finding that is not the issue and the problem is encountered just before lockup (ie: breech not closing fully) then it is the rim recess.

It could just be packed with crud and need to be cleaned or even very lightly recut with a rim cutter to allow the shells to fully seat.

There was a difference in rim profiles 100 years ago as compared to today.

Deleted. Brian answered as I was writing a similar reply.

Yes. Likely hard to find 28g rim cutters.

Here is the tools that Parker used.

Attachment 127850

Bill Murphy has a 28 gauge rim cutting tool he has been known to loan to PGCA Members…




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With the barrels off you could experiment with the different brands of shells in each barrel and determine is it the extractor or rim. Just take a wooden dowell to push out each shell while experimenting. You may even remove the extractor and see how the shell fits without the extractor. This will clearly show what is making the shell head taller than the breech of the barrels.

The rim cutter I have used on three early 28s did not belong to me. Early 28s need to have the rim recesses enlarged. One of our members may have such a cutter. Maybe Brian Dudley will help you.

My daughter found me a very early (1901) VH 28ga which was one of a pair, ordered from HD Folsom by the owner's great-grandfather for his two daughters. I bought the gun, and the other remains in their family. The man gave me several boxes of original Brass 28ga shells and said that's all they shot, because the Florida humidity made the paper shells swell. I could not close the gun on anything but Fiocchi shells, as the chambers and rims were made for the brass shells.
I recut the rim recess with the tool shown above and all was right thereafter.

I had a 12ga. Parker that did the same thing. I believe the rim needs to be deepened slightly. Examine shells that work and shells that don't. I found that some companies shells had a slight radius when you look at the side wall where it meets the rim. Those wouldn't work or were very difficult to close the gun on. The other shells that had a more 90 degree angle would fit in the chamber just fine. The solution was to deepen the rim cut.

Very simple fix provided you or your smith has the right tool. I had 2 very early VH 28 gauges a few years apart in SNs and experienced the same problem(s). I took both guns to Del Gregos after a grouse hunt and Lawrence relieved the rim cuts on both guns in about 6 minutes. The procedure reminded me of using a piston ring ridge reamer after rebuilding an engine - 3 or 4 swipes and they were done.