Vulcan Steel & Modern Loads - Safe?

[Max Cadenasso]

I joined this forum about a year ago when I inherited a 1904 Vulcan Steel 12 gauge. Had it checked out by a good gunsmith who said there were no fractures or issues with the barrel and that it was set up to shoot 2 3/4" shells. I've actually taken it shooting numerous times since last summer and have probably shot 300 rounds through it without issue. However, a friend of a friend who's supposed to be very knowledgeable on guns suggested I only use ammo with a light load. Do I need to do this? I don't want to endanger myself but if it's not necessary I would prefer to keep things simple and inexpensive by using standard loads.

[OH Osthaus]

the barrels are likely fine

but the wood is 100+ years old- i would go lighter on the recoil

i have a 1904 VH rebarreled by Remington with 2 3/4 chambers- shot a lot of modern loads for hunting and clays - one day looking at a picture of the gun with a couple woodcock- i noticed a split in the wrist

i have never dropped or fallen on the gun - and i am sure that was not there before

[George Lander]

Max, RST make light loads that will treat your 100+ year old Parker much gentler.They will, most probably, be present at The Southern at the end of this month if you plan to go or you can google them & order by mail.

Best Regards, George

[Alfred Greeson]

RST loads are great and they even have spreaders which can be very effective if your barrels are tightly choked. Can make a full choke pattern more like a modified choke. Great guys at RST, give them a call.

[PML]

Originally Posted by Max Cadenasso

I joined this forum about a year ago when I inherited a 1904 Vulcan Steel 12 gauge. Had it checked out by a good gunsmith who said there were no fractures or issues with the barrel and that it was set up to shoot 2 3/4" shells. I've actually taken it shooting numerous times since last summer and have probably shot 300 rounds through it without issue. However, a friend of a friend who's supposed to be very knowledgeable on guns suggested I only use ammo with a light load. Do I need to do this? I don't want to endanger myself but if it's not necessary I would prefer to keep things simple and inexpensive by using standard loads.

Max,
I have not encountered a vintage 12ga Parker in GOOD SHOOTING CONDITION that did not digest 1 to 1.5 ounce hunting loads with no issues and ask for more. Yes, the wood may be 100 years old so lighter is better, but to each his own. I have a Parker that was punched out to 3" 40 years ago to shoot 3" magnums of 1 7/8" of 2's at geese and did so for 20+ years as 2 boys tried to wear it out or hurt it and failed. These guns were built very well and will perform well at any age if they are in good shooting condition. If you shoot 1.25 oz hunting loads in a good condition vintage Parker 12ga gun then I suspect it will kill anything you can hit with it and bury you before you wear it out. The 3-5 generations before you tried to beat it, break it, and wear it out and failed....... Opinions will vary on this so take my opinion for what it is and decide for yourself.

Patrick

[OH Osthaus]

there's barrels and there's wood

there's pressure and there's recoil

IMHO

pressure affects the barrels and recoil affect the wood (and the shooter in the extreme)

i use a bismuth load from the Hodgdon site -modest pressure at 7200 PSI -
but pushes an ounce and a quarter at 1350- I have not done the math - but not a soft load

i'm not worried about the damascus barrels with it but I stick with the guns with better heavier wood - like 3 frames

RSTs go light in both aspects -

as I say - just my opinion - but I think we confuse the two when we get chatting about "light" loads