single barrel trap

[Nelson Fields]

Greetings,

New to the forum and nice to meet you folks!

My father left me an SC SBT #203### back in 1989. He had it long before then and was an avid Parker collector. There is an oval name tag inlet into the stock with the initials HETjr. This is a very nice shotgun with Acme steel.
I have a few questions: Is it safe to shoot? or should it be a safe King? Does anyone know of the past owner the gun was made for?

Thanks for all your help and it's great to be here,
Nelson

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, Nelson, you have a great gun. It is safe to shoot if it is in original condition. You can use any low power shells available today, including promotional shells like Federal Top Gun and Remington Gun Club loads which are available at low prices. Tell us what part of the country the gun came from and maybe someone will be able to identify the initials.

[Jeff Christie]

If you like trap- USE the gun. It was meant to be shot (a lot). Most SBTs will see many more thousand shells thru their barrels than their double barrel kin- trap doubles excepted. I use reloads, light and heavy promo loads, as well as 3 dram top of the line target shells in my SBT SC. The gun doesn't care what I paid for the shells. They all work and crush targets when I do my part. If you don't shoot it, put it in the safe and remember your father- or sell it. Your call.

[Bill Murphy]

When the Parker single was introduced, and some years forward, the standard trap load in this country was 1 1/4 ounces of shot. Where did your gun come from, Nelson. I will help you to identify the owner if you can pin down the location.

[Nelson Fields]

I have no idea where it came from unfortunately. We live in Tennessee but dad had friends at gun shows from all over the Southeast. Maybe I can dig it up somewhere.