[Southpaw]

As I understand it and no expert on it, but based on work of a lot of others, the shot column on a 1 ounce load in 16 gauge is optimal for producing less shot stringing issues. Meaning with that gun almost all that 1 ounce load is going to get to that target or bird at about the same time and might throw a pattern that looks like a large and extra large pizza pan. I think that is what makes a perfect upland gun.

Regurgitating what I have read and you and others probably well know, if shot columns in shells are not squared they have a tendency to string and get flyers and stringing can be over a span of 4 to 5 feet or up to 8 to 10 feet depending how far down range. If that is the case in say a one ounce load that is stringing since it was in a 20 gauge instead of a 16 gauge then it is the same as only shooting a half to three quarter ounce load at the target down range. This really makes a difference in pass shooting or crossing targets, but think it really noticeable in the success rate even on going away shots.

With that gun out to about 30 yards and if you point anywhere near close proximity you may be hard pressed to ever miss a shot. BTW there is a reason diminutive Annie Oakley shot a pair of 16 gauges and setting a record hitting close to 4,800 targets out of 5,000 at about a 96% score rate over a 9 hour period. Performance and recoil management.

Enjoy that new to you gun. BTW was saying this the other day to Tom Flanigan. I think a 1 frame Parker 16 gauge using a 1 ounce load is the perfect congress of an upland gun, especially if a gun is choked like yours.