3" magnum load

James Misner · 09-23-2009, 11:56 AM

Is it safe to shoot a 3" magnum load in a Parker Dbl Brrl.?

Don Kaas · 09-23-2009, 12:14 PM

Simple general answer, NO! Not unless it is one of the very rare late 1930's marked Parkers on the side of the barrel lug "12 gauge for 3" shells " or a modern Parker Repro marked 3". Heavy #3 frame 12 gauge fluid steel Parkers can be used with 3" Magnum ammunition if properly chambered but I would leave this to the "experts". Use of very heavy loads in these old guns is not best practice.

Buddy Marson · 09-27-2009, 06:13 PM

Ivory Beads had a 3" mag VHE 12ga. for sale at the Vintagers. The gun is not yet listed on their web site and when I left the Vintagers today it was still available.

Bill Murphy · 09-27-2009, 07:02 PM

Yup, a VHE for more than ten grand. I would rather shoot a ten. Super Foxes are the hot lick lately at half the price of the 3" Parker at the Vintagers. Even a Model 21 Duck us usually not near the Parker price.

Buddy Marson · 09-27-2009, 07:09 PM

I believe a 3" Parker is pretty rare which would account for the higher "asking price".

James Misner · 09-23-2009, 12:20 PM

THANKS FOR THE REPLY, THE 3" load fits,but wasn't sure.I have a 1924 gunmade with trojan steel. THANKS again. JIM

Dean Romig · 09-23-2009, 01:42 PM

You could very easily damage your Trojan beyond repair . . . or worse.

Don Kaas · 09-23-2009, 01:43 PM

The Trojan would have originally had 2 5/8" chambers and really is not suitable nor safe for either shooting a 3" Magnum load as is nor having the chambers lengthened. If you want an old SxS to shoot 3" loads from the M21 Winchester 3" Duck, some L.C. Smith Long Range/Wildfowls or the rarer Fox HE and Ithaca NID 12g 3" Magnum would be MUCH better choices. Good Luck

Andrew Thompson · 09-23-2009, 09:54 PM

Good luck is right. Been looking for an HE or long range for 4 years and they are proud of those 21's. On another note, 3 inch shells can be brutal to the shoulder. I have had good luck with 2 3/4 3 dram loads. I still have a gunsmith check my guns every year to make sure everything is closing and staying closed when it should.

Old and Reliable · 09-25-2009, 11:02 AM

[QUOTE=Andrew Thompson;4453]Good luck is right. Been looking for an HE or long range for 4 years and they are proud of those 21's. On another note, 3 inch shells can be brutal to the shoulder. I have had good luck with 2 3/4 3 dram loads. I still have a gunsmith check my guns every year to make sure everything is closing and staying closed when it should.[

Andrew, good post: I had an HE, sold it to a brother waterfower (built like Dick Butkus) who had been after one for years- Great gun indeed (over and above the Nash Buckingham/Burt Becker mystique)- but very heavy, and at .750 Nom. BD a 11 gauge (somewhat).

At my age (near 70) I went to a Smith 12 with 3" chambers, 32" Nitro Steel with factory ventilated rib, DT, AE- 8 lbs. even and I shoot the Cabela offered Classic Doubles non-toxic no. 4 loads in it- BUT, only the 2.75", NOT the 3" Magnums.

I agree, M21's are "pricey"- perhaps that's due to the shorter span of production- 1931-1959 then Custom Shop special order- Parker= 1869-1940? LC Smith- 1880's (?) then Hunter- 1945- Marlin- 1954? AH Fox 1905-1929 then Savage until 1940?

I have seen a few M21 12 gauge 3" DUCK guns advertised with Briley tubes on the various auction sites, I don't know enough about that to advise you. Good luck with your search for a 12 double waterfowler, whatever the make, and good shooting this Fall on "dem webfeets"!!