shotgun shell ?

[Bill Crowden]

For the Parker experts
I have a DH made in1905 with Titanic steel barrels with new Briley thin wall screw-in chokes can i shoot Fiocchi 12ga 2 3/4, 1-3/8oz, #5 shot, 1250fps nickel plated lead shot without harming my barrels? Headed to Kansas to pheasant hunt.

[Bruce Day]

I'm no expert, but if it were me, I'd want to check the pressure of these cartridges against the Parker load tables that have been published here and in TPS p515 to ensure that they fall within the service load ranges.

Maybe I'm just ultra cautious.

[J.B. Books]

I would be less concerned about harming the barrels and more concerned about cracking the stock. Those are rather stout loads, the contact points between receiver and stock are small and the wood is 105 years old. You'll probably get away with it but why take a chance. Be sure the screws holding the stock to the receiver are tight. Loose screws will lead to cracked stock.

A good rule of thumb, pressure stresses barrel, recoil stresses stock.

Show me a pheasant that is in range for those loads and I'll show you the same one is in range for 1 1/4 ounce at 1175 to 1220 fps.

[TARNATION !!!]

I've always looked at it this way. I would never put myself 40 yards down range and have someone fire the lightest load, lowest pressure shot shell known directly at me. As far as I'm concerned, they all will do the job on a bird, so I take it easy on the old guns and have not had any change in how the birds drop compared to heavy loads fired from "modern" pumps and autos. If the bird is unfortunate enough to find itself within the pattern of any type of shotshell I've ever used, they have become dinner. That has been my experience over 5+ decades of the chase.
Cheers,
Jack

[Old and Reliable]

Fine shells BUT IMO- better suited for a modern era gas operated autoloader- A 1905 DH 12- the chokes were honed out and Briley thinwall screw in chokes installed, correct? But your fine Parker was built when paper shells were the norm, we were slowly moving from black powder into the smokeless powder shells- older style primers, waddding, crimps and possibly 2 &5/8" chambers.

I concurr with brother Lester about recoil and the wood at the critical stock head area- I'd stick with my favorite combo in my 12 GHE No. 2 frame Parker- 28" Imp. Cyl. and Mod.-- I use a 1 & 1/8th AA std. Trap load (not Handicap) 1150-1200 FPS range in the right barrel, and the same load in the left if shooting over a close working tight holding pointing dog- if over my Lab or with another friend with a flush dog, then I use some of my older Rem Express paper 1 & 1/4 oz. No. 6 shells in the left barrel.

What choke combinations do you plan to use in the DH with the Brileys? Kansas birds in Dec. snowstorm- I've heard that real cold weather may affect shotgun shells- but I have no direct knowlege of that.

Have a good trip- hope you get into some birds- maybe some fotos afterwards with the DH 12 as a "bonus"??

[TARNATION !!!]

Originally Posted by Francis Morin

...I've heard that real cold weather may affect shotgun shells- but I have no direct knowlege of that.

I have hunted upland birds at -30 celsius (22 below F) and not had issues with various brands of shot shells over the years.

Back in paper days, some did swell on the miserable driving rain days for migratory birds. "Miserable" is a bit harsh, as those were the days we looked forward to for a great shoot. (That was in my youth. A warm fire, and SMS shared with other old geezers seems more civilized now )
Cheers,
Jack

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

I have hunted upland birds at -30 celsius (22 below F) and not had issues with various brands of shot shells over the years.

Back in paper days, some did swell on the miserable driving rain days for migratory birds. "Miserable" is a bit harsh, as those were the days we looked forward to for a great shoot. (That was in my youth. A warm fire, and SMS shared with other old geezers seems more civilized now )
Cheers,
Jack

Yessiree- and if you are hosting, and SMS means what I take it to me (McCallan?) I'm there. In Robert Ruark's classic "The Old Man and The Boy" his maternal grandfather, Ned Hall- often expressed that love of the warm fire and a toddy over taking a limit of ducks in a raging storm--

I look forward to our late Bonus 30 day season on Canadas- if it is not way too cold, and our rivers haven't frozen shut- 'tighter than Dick's hatband' to use a Ruark expression-- I usually use the "black ops. Mossenburgher 835 pump and 3" Federal steelies OO buck. Never have had a "fail to fire" yet, and if I steer it right, usually hear the bang- followed by the crash-thump of a Canada coming down-- I usually fill the Thermos with hot chocolate rather than coffee, and "dress warm, boy- dress warm"

Ruark's great story about "It takes a duck to know a duck"-- the breakfast where his Grandpa cooks the fried eggs in the toasted bread- one of my boyhood favorites--

[Bruce Day]

Lots of people ( including me) have their personal opinions, but here is what Parker said about suggested and permissible loads for your gun as it was built.

Obviously it would make a difference if a gun is decrepit or in lesser condition now than when it was built.

[J.B. Books]

First let me say I reload, therefore I am in total control and I like that. I shoot low to moderate pressure loads. If you want to shoot old guns you should really look into reloading if you don't already. It opens up a whole new world.

The amount of recoil and thus stress placed on your stock will be a significant increase over a mild 1 1/4 ounce load pushed at 1220 fps.

The Fiocchi loads you cited will generate almost 24% percent more ft lbs energy in recoil in a 7 3/4 pound gun, 31.66lbs vs 25.65 pounds.

Let those wonderful Parker chokes do the work, you don't need to shoot baby magnums through a Parker.

PS. If you were to put the two loads on the pattern board you may find there is no signifcant difference in the patterns at 40 yards. The lighter load pushed at slower velocity has fewer deformed pellets due to barrel scrub and crushing in the shot column. The advantage to those baby mags is minimal. Especially if you go out and buy the nickle plated shot to reload with vs. magnum or chilled lead.

PPS. BTW I am not a Parker expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once and put a Parker shotgun under the bed.

[Old and Reliable]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

First let me say I reload, therefore I am in total control and I like that. I shoot low to moderate pressure loads. If you want to shoot old guns you should really look into reloading if you don't already. It opens up a whole new world.

The amount of recoil and thus stress placed on your stock will be a significant increase over a mild 1 1/4 ounce load pushed at 1220 fps.

The Fiocchi loads you cited will generate almost 24% percent ft lbs energy in recoil in a 7 3/4 pound gun, 31.66lbs vs 25.65 pounds.

Let those wonderful Parker chokes do the work, you don't need to shoot baby magnums through a Parker.

PS. If you were to put the two loads on the pattern board you may find there is no signifcant difference in the patterns at 40 yards. The lighter load pushed at slower velocity has fewer deformed pellets due to barrel scrub and crushing in the shot column. The advantage to those baby mags is minimal. Especially if you go out and buy the nickle plated shot to reload with vs. magnum or chilled lead.

PPS. BTW I am not a Parker expert but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once and put a Parker shotgun under the bed.

Hey, besides a GHE 10 ( 2& 7/8" std. not 3.5" mag) 32" Goose gun, after reading your closing, maybe I can also wish for a night at a Holiday Inn with a Parker under the bed and Sarah Jessica Parker on the pillow next to me- sure beats a wrapped Mint every time!! Ho Ho Ho!!