What loads should I use

[Andros Theophanous]

Hey guy this is officially my first post, and I just want to say I love my Parker. But I'm not the most avid shooter, but I'm wondering what loads I should shoot in my 1903 Parker VH 12 gauge with Vulcan barrels(2 3/4 chambers). It is a completely restored model (bought it that way) I do shoot clays as often as I can but now I'm consittering using lighter loads. I went hunting with my Parker for the first time last December using fiocchi optima specific hight velocity 12 shells. They shot perfectly and got the prize rooster that hunt, but I really want to know if these shells are approved for Parker's.And I just wanted to now what loads you Parker enthusiasts shoot, especially what peasant loads I should us. Basically what are the does and don'ts in the Parker world.

[Bruce Day]

Your gun was intended by Parker to be used with anywhere from 1 1/4oz, 3 1/4 dram loads on down.

Now are you shooting peasants or pheasants, because the game will make a difference in the load.

[Paul P.]

Bruce, that is a very good question. I would suppose that the size of the peasant would matter also.

[Andros Theophanous]

Thanks for getting back to me so fast, the answer is pheasant and along those lines. Basically I plan to do alot more wing shooting this season, pheasant, and chuckar and other birds. Any suggestions?

[Bruce Day]

Can't go wrong with either a 1 1/8 or a 1 oz shot load pushed by 3 drams equivalent of powder. That will provide about 1200 fps. Most manufacturers will have those loads in either 6 or 7 1/2 size shot. Just shoot them in the head.

A 1 1/8oz 3 dram load has been the standard trap load for over 100 years, and for good reason. The high velocity loads made by some manufacturers are designed to compensate for lack of lead allowance, but because high speed loads lose speed quickly, at typical game ranges of 35-40 yards for pheasant, the difference between a high speed load and a 1200fps load is small, around six inches, at the expense of added cost and added recoil.

For target shooting, many shooters use lower recoil loads of 1 oz or less and 2 3/4 dre powder.

[Researcher]

At the time your Parker Bros. VH-Grade was made, the heaviest 12-gauge loads the North American ammunition companies offered were 3 1/2 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot or 28-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Ballistite or Infallible pushing the same 1 1/4 ounces of shot.

The North American ammunition companies held their smokeless powder loads offered in the 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge shells lower than those offered in the 2 3/4 inch and longer shells. Same thing holds for the 2 9/16 inch 16-gauge shells and the 2 ½ inch 20-gauge shells. The very heaviest 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge shells I find offered were 3 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 26 grains of dense smokeless powders such as Ballistite or Infallible with 1 1/4 ounces of shot. These heaviest 2 3/4 inch loads were very high pressure according to a DuPont Smokeless Shotgun Powders (1933) book I have. It shows the 3 1/2 drams of DuPont bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot as being 11,700 pounds; 3 1/2 drams of Schultze bulk smokeless powders pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot being 11,800 pounds and the 28-grains of Ballistite pushing the 1 1/4 ounces of shot being 12,600 pounds!!! There were plenty of lighter loads being offered, but American shotgunners being what they are, I'm sure many were opting for the heaviest loads available.

So, your gun very likely digested some very stout loads back when its metal and wood were a lot younger. No one can, or should, tell you over the internet what ammunition may or may not be "safe" in a given gun. That takes a qualified smith with the gun in hand. People can tell you what they use in their 1903 vintage Parker.

[Bruce Day]

Here is the Parker load table from the early 1900's Parker "The Small Bore Shot Gun" pamphlet. The heavy 12ga loads are quite stout by any standard.

I have never known any gunsmith who will tell a person what is "safe" to shoot in an old gun except for the weakest and most substandard of loads. Maybe others know gunsmiths who offer a safe load certification service; I don't know any yet I see that recommendation frequently.

Most 12's were pattern tested with 1 1/8oz 3 dram loads of smokeless from the mid 1890's on. If your gun is decrepit, reamed out, or otherwise faulty, don't shoot it with any load.

[Holeshot]

Some people do not feel comfortable shooting 100 plus year old guns. The smiths in my area would not recommend shooting old guns, but would rather sell you new. There are people who can measure the barrels, and this might be a safe way to go. Restored guns can be a very loose term, so use some caution. Dave

[John Liles]

I'm sure nobody's mentioned it because they didn't want to encourage PEASANT shooters to visit the forum, but welcome Andros, you right in here amongst'em when it comes to great advise regarding your Parker shotgun, and in spite of what Mr. Day says (no offense Mr. Day!) it certainly wont shorten your guns lifespan shooting the lighter loads when you can get away with it!

[ed good]

keep your loads light and your screws tight...and remember the wood on your 100 year old gun is most fragile. shoot one ounce loads or less and enjoy. and you cannot go wrong with rst brand shells.