My First parker

[Fred Slyfield]

Folks my new Parker is a 16 gauge(serial # 1653XX) made in 1913, it is marked with vulcan steel barrels,

I guess my first question is the steel in this gun ok to shoot modern factory 2-3/4 lead loads or would I be better off sticking with lighter RST loads?

I have only fired the gun with a couple primed hulls to make sure the firing pins were working properly, the gun has a slight crack in the wrist so I'm going to have that fixed before I shoot it.

The gun has great bores, no dents or pitting inside, the outside of the gun is well used, it spent most of its life on a farm in Nebraska, my dads friend who I got it from is in his late 80's, his father had bought it new in Nebraska.

Thanks for the help on this

Fred

[Steve Havener]

Fred the action and barrels even with their short 2 9/16th inch cambers are strong enough to handle the standard field loads but the wood is 100 years old. I would opt for RST 7/8th ounce 2 1/2 loads for the reduced recoil.

[John Powers]

I agree and I broke my stock at the wrist shooting heavy field loads. Not Good.

[Fred Slyfield]

Thanks guys I use 12 gauge RST shells in several of my other guns I'll get some on the way for the new piece

[Brush Buster]

Fred ,I have been shooting RST Best Grade ,"" 2 1/2 "1200 Lite " 1 Oz. With 6 shot in my PHE 16 and they are unbelievable Pheasant Loads with very little recoil ! Good Shooting to you ! Russ

[C.O.B.]

If you give the 7/8th oz load a try you'll never go back to anything else. I load all my shells but have gone to the 2 1/2 7/8th for both upland birds and targets. the birds and the targets don't seem to notice the difference but the gun does. Softer shooting and if you need the second barrel you can stay on target easier.

[Fred Slyfield]

I wish I had this gun ready to shoot this season as I'll make one more trip to North Dakota before the season ends, I just don't want to risk shooting the gun until I get the stock fixed.

It's not a bad crack , I guess I could go Redneck on it and wrap the wrist with wide electrical tape and take it out "just once" with the light loads.

Thanks again for all the help

Fred

[Bill Murphy]

A better redneck repair that would last years is a wrap of copper wire, twisted and soldered at the end. Easily dismantled when you want to do something different. I fixed a 12 gauge VH that way and felt comfortable shooting any loads in it.

[Fred Slyfield]

Thanks Bill, I still haven't convinced myself to do this but I'll see.??

[ForrestArmstrong]

Who will you have fix your stock? I would be sure to chose someone with proper experience for a fine piece like that, maybe Brian Dudley, stockdoctor, etc.