Terry Schraner

[Researcher]

Generally speaking Parker Bros. policy was to hold the chamber about 1/8 inch shorter then the intended shell. So, by Parker Bros. standards a 2 7/8 inch chamber was intended for 3-inch shells. On the other hand, Parker Bros. was well known for doing what the customer ordered, so very likely if the customer specified "3-inch chambers" that is what he/she got; but if the customer specified "chamber for 2 7/8 inch shell" the Brothers P. would provide a 2 3/4 inch chamber.

Back in those pre WW-I days 20-gauge paper shells were available in 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3-inch lengths. Normally, the factory loaded longer shells of those days carried more and better wadding for a better gas seal, not a heavier payload. The first instance of a heavier payload I've found is around the 1912/13 time frame when factory loaded 3-inch 20-gauge shells got a slightly heavier powder charge -- 2 1/2 drams equiv. and 7/8 ounces of shot. The "standard" 20-gauge load then was 2 1/4 drams equiv. and 7/8 ounce of shot. These were the shells for the famous Widgeon Duck Club Parker Bros. guns and the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. 3-inch 20-gauge pump.

This first year 2-frame GH-Grade heavy 12-gauge was back to Meriden some time after 1918 and got a set of 32-inch long Vulcan Steel, 3-inch chambered 20-gauge barrels. This gun weighs 8 pounds 4.5 ounces with the 20-gauge barrels in place.

There is a lot of information on "long range" smallbores in Western Field magazine in a long running series by Edwin Hedderly, the editor, in the 1911/12 time frame. Our own Kevin McCormack was well into transcribing Hedderly's series with an eye to publishing, but I guess he must have too many vintage cases to repair. Hedderly got 32-inch 16- and 20-gauge A1-Specials in excahnge for six months of Parker Bros. advertising in the magazine. He also had 32-inch DHE 20- and 28-gauges.

[Drew Hause]

The first 'long range' 20?

Dec. 21, 1895
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL2613012.pdf

Lieutenant A. W. Du Bray, of Dayton, Ky.. shooting at Shreveport, La., on November 28 as the guest of Mr. Samuel Enders, and using a 20-gauge Parker gun, made an excellent bag of 77 ducks, 45 of them being mallards, 25 teals and the rest pintails and wood ducks. He writes his friends, regarding the outing, that it was one of the finest day's sport he ever enjoyed.

[Bill Murphy]

Drew, Capt. DuBray was probably not using a "long range" Parker 20 if they shot that many ducks. By the way, all of the known smallbore Parker long barrel guns ordered by sportswriter Edwin Hedderly were chambered at 2 1/2". Three inch shells go way back, but not all shooters of long barrelled guns used them.

[Bill Murphy]

Around 1913 or 1914, The Small Bore Shot Gun pamphlet put out by Parker Brothers stated that the 2 3/4 dram, 7/8 ounce load was tested for velocity, but "It is not recommended by us, or loaded by the loading companies." However, the order for 20 gauge #149,975 states that the buyer wished to have the gun patterned with one ounce of #6 and three full drams of powder in three inch shells. I assume that my old 20 gauge #153,333 was patterned and ordered for the same shells. Hedderly's old 20 gauge A-1 Special 32" gun was ordered to be chambered 2 3/8". Hedderly's 16 gauge A-1 Special 32" gun was chambered at 2 7/16".