non-toxic shot and parkers
 

I just bought my first Parker and am new to this group. I was wondering if steel or other non-toxic's will hurt the barrel. I have a Parker 20ga Trojan grade. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It is generally accepted that Parkers and steel don't mix or shouldn't. Barrel metallurgy from the 1800-1900's just isn't up to the effects of steel shot. The various non-toxics question is better answered by those in our group that are much more expert than I.

That said, there are the repo Parkers--one version is called the "Steel Shot Special". If you must use one of these.

There are several options, though all are pretty expensive these days. The best is the Kent Tungsten Matrix shells, they still make them in 20 gauge and you won't be able to tell the difference between them and lead. Also RST makes a cartridge that's loaded with NiceShot, any of their 20 gauge loads are excellent. That's probably your two best bets, there are other options but they're mostly out of production and would have to be found on the secondary market.


Destry

Do you reload? That opens up other options such as Bismuth.

http://www.precisionreloading.com/mm...Category_Code=

Travis,

Thank you for joining the PGCA!

As Mr. "Short Ten" Books suggests, reloading is wise when one desires to go fowling with a vintage gun and especially those in gauges other than 12.

Many of us shoot the 2 7/8" in length "short ten" with Nice Shot or ITX with great success!

Mark

Although i do not reload i am starting to think it is going to be the way to go. In Minnesota there is lots of federal land to hunt for Grouse and Pheasent and they require nontoxic shot. I will have to start looking into reloaders.

Thanks for all of the help.

Travis,
I reload everything and have been quite happy with Nice Shot. Have also shot factory and hand loaded Bismuth with good results and Kent TM. Bang for the buck goes to Nice Shot. Easy to load and MUCH cheaper if you do it yourself. It is not brittle like bismuth.
-plc-

Travis:
If your Parker is nice, I'd handload lead for it. Then shoot wherever and wait until the Enviro-Gestapo stops by to cut open one of your cartridges. If they find lead, claim "oops, musta grabbed the wrong shells!"
Scratches in your barrels aren't worth risking non-tox shot. Although some seems to work.

Best, Kensal

Does anyone have any experience with getting caught with lead for waterfowl? Each year I go to the annual hunting show and there is the Department of Game just as proud as peacocks standing over a box of guns that have been cut in half, showing how hard they are on criminals. Never mind that there are $10,000 worth of over/unders, rifles, etc. cut in half, and it could be daddy's family heirloom gun that the outlaw kid used at night to spotlight a deer. I asked the Director why in this day and time of tight budgets would you not sell those in a lot to the highest bidding FFL holder and use the money to pay a game warden's salary, and he looked at me dumbfounded. So, do they confiscate guns when you violate Federal non-toxic shot only rules? I would not lose a Parker over $3 each shells.

yes, but do they have a right to take my own shells and cut them open. i would think you would need a search warent. :corn: