[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Hi John,

That is a wonderful family heirloom! You are a lucky man who certainly can use it to shoot ducks. Many of use our Damascus barreled Parkers to do so.

Your gun is a #1 Frame 12 gauge so if it were me I would NOT shoot factory loads in it other than low pressure RST. The barrels on a #1 frame Parker 12 gauge are not super-thick. Barrel thickness without pitting is the key to how much pressure a composite barreled (Damascus, twist, or laminated) can contain.

If you handload it is easy to produce a 6000 to 8000 psi load with Nice Shot non toxic shot. I load 1 3/8 oz Nice Shot for my 10 gauge Damascus Parkers of #2 and #3 frames and drop Canada Geese over decoys at a measured 60 - 70 yards. A light 12 gauge might not have the same performance but I've managed a little over 60 yards with 1 1/8 oz Nice Shot #2's.

Nice Shot is expensive so I pick my shots carefully and even though what shooting skills I have or rather had were in shooting NRA High Power Rifle and certainly not shotgun. Still by picking my shots I manage over 50% on waterfowl. Personally I really like hunting with my vintage SxS's!

Before you hit the marsh with that fine Parker please get your barrels measured for minimum barrel wall thickness. They may have been honed to remove pitting somewhere in their life. Also, get the dents removed. These tasks are easy to do with Hosford tools.

Dean and Dave, the Northeast Parker Brothers and members of the PGCA board of directors probably know someone in your area the the correct tools and skills. I'd do it for you but I live in Michigan. You can of course send the barrels to Jon Hosford who will do all of this for a small fee. If you need his contact info send me a PM.

Oh, if you do not handload yet, a member may show you how if you ask them. If you'd rather not RST does load low pressure lead and Nice Shot shells.

Mark