New Member

[Dennis Abrams]

Hello,

New to this forum. I currently have a couple original Parker's as well as a couple Repro's. Not a collector but a very serious bird hunter. I'm partial to specific guns for specific types of bird shooting. That's my reasoning for owning too many SxS's.

I was recently offered a group of shotguns that included 5 Parker's. I was doing some research on this site and found the forum very interesting so here I am. If I decide to persue this collection I'm sure I'll be asking some specific questions.
One gun that caught my interest was a V grade pigeon gun from the mid 20's. I wonder if I could make a duck gun out of that?

Dennis

[OH Osthaus]

Welcome Dennis

I don't see why a pigeon gun could not kill a duck with the right non tox shells.

should not be any "make" involved, unless there is a need to fix something

what are the specs on the gun? Do you have the serial number?

[B. Dudley]

A lot of Pigeon guns typically had long barrels and tight chokes. So I would think one like that would be put to good use in the duck blinds.

Another popular feature of them was having no safety, and high may not be the best for hunting.

[Dennis Abrams]

Some info on the pigeon gun. VHE, 12 ga., 32" barrels, #2 frame,
barrel wt. 4-2, NO SAFETY. The last time I saw the gun used was 7 or 8 years ago at a box bird shoot and it functioned fine. Looks like a typical 90 years old target gun. No scratches or dents from field use.

I'm thinking it may make a good duck gun. Anyone ever open one of these for steel shot?

Dennis

[Dean Romig]

There are plenty of options that are better than steel and closer to the weight of lead. Contact RST Classic Shotshells for appropriate non-tox loads for your Parker rather than opening the original chokes.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Originally Posted by Dennis Abrams

NO SAFETY

I'm thinking it may make a good duck gun.

Anyone ever open one of these for steel shot?

Dennis

Hi Dennis,

Hey, maybe it's just me but I like a safety on my duck guns, especially if there is a dog in the blind!

Modern steel shot shells produce recoil that is much to much for the old wood in our old Parkers.

If you open the choke on a safety-less long barreled Parker you will instantly reduce its value by approximately 40%.

I shoot Nice Shot hand loads at 7000 - 8000 PSI which kill ducks and geese at ranges of what lead would do. Bismuth also works good, it is just not as effective as Nice Shot.