1. No one on the internet can tell you if YOUR barrels are safe. And it is very unlikely that anyone can tell you what abuse/modification your barrels and action have endured since the gun was new 100 years ago. NO vintage double should be used without an evaluation by a double gun specialist.
Please see
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...p?f=5&t=366087
2. From the Parker Brothers 1893 Catalog
“Our guns are bored on the latest improved system for shooting Nitros, or Smokeless Powder, and all our guns are tested with some one of the most approved makes, and a tag accompanies each gun, giving the results of such a (pattern) test.”
Parker Bros. did not differentiate between fluid steel and pattern welded barrels. I choose to believe them.
3. 12g Parker SN 71792 c. 1891 was patterned with 1 1/4 oz. No. 7 and 42 grains DuPont. A 1900 Parker hang tag states that 12g 2 5/8” chambered guns were patterned at 40 yds. in a 30” circle using 2 3/4” shells with 1 1/8 oz. No. 7 chilled shot and 40 grains (3 1/4 Dram) of DuPont Bulk Smokeless powder. (Courtesy of Bruce Day)
4. The 1933 edition of ”Smokeless Shotgun Powders” by Wallace Coxe and E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. reported the LUP pressure for 1 1/4 oz. 3 Dram Eq. of DuPont Bulk Smokeless at 9,600 psi. Modern piezoelectric transducer pressure would be about 10% higher.
5. Dave's study clearly showed that the chemical composition of the 4 Parker named barrels (Titanic, Trojan, Vulcan, Parker steels) was not the same.
6. Without tensile strength testing, we can not know, but may assume the tensile strength of the Parker fluid steel barrels are at least that of a specimen of Hunter Arms Armor (lowest grade) steel which was 101,000 psi. Modern AISI 4140 Chrome-Molybdenum (shotgun barrel) Steel tensile strength is 95,000 - 100,000 psi.
IF, as I believe, "Parker Steel" is Cold Rolled Decarbonized Steel, it likely has a tensile strength similar to Winchester Standard Ordnance (Bessemer) “Rolled” Steel of 66,000- 69,000 psi.
7. Loads within the
pressure levels recommended by Parker Bros. MAY however generate
recoil that may harm now 100 year old stock wood. Some choose to glasbed the head of their stocks if planning on using 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/4 dram loads.
Get your Parker evaluated Rick, then enjoy your treasure
