Why is a 12 ga Parker a "boat anchor" these days?

[todd allen]

I come to this site to learn, or share something. I think that is the mission of the PGCA.
I own a number of working guns that happen to be Parkers, and I love the exchange of knowledge, and sharing of beautiful guns.
There are plenty of sites out there that people can go to for a good fight. I happen to own one, and it's NOT the Shooting Sportsman site, if you know what I mean. (I'm not rich, but am a Luckydog)
On these pages, when snarkiness comes out, I disconnect. Not because I'm afraid of a fight, it's because I'm in someone else's house, and choose to abide by the rules.

[J.B. Books]

I will wade in. First I like boat anchors, I call them shooters. All my doubles are used for hunting. Mostly salt water duck hunting which is not a good place for a high condition or high grade gun IMO. Where can I find a modern double of the same quality as a mechanically correct Trojan or Sterlingworth for the same price? Some pretty nice people here shoot boat anchors, I don't really care what my friends shoot and if they are my friends they don't care what I shoot either. My guns are not my investments, they are my toys, and over the years it's been win some, lose some. Maybe markets have changed and put more in the lose some column, so what, I had years and years of enjoyment with those for the difference. I have a 12ga Trojan I like to shoot sporting clays with, even more so than my GHE Skeet. Truth be told my friends don't look at my gun, good or bad they only seem look at my score at the end of day. Some days they are quiet other days they laugh. Try to have some fun with your boat anchors.

[MrBojangles]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

I will wade in. First I like boat anchors, I call them shooters. All my doubles are used for hunting. Mostly salt water duck hunting which is not a good place for a high condition or high grade gun IMO. Where can I find a modern double of the same quality as a mechanically correct Trojan or Sterlingworth for the same price? Some pretty nice people here shoot boat anchors, I don't really care what my friends shoot and if they are my friends they don't care what I shoot either. My guns are not my investments, they are my toys, and over the years it's been win some, lose some. Maybe markets have changed and put more in the lose some column, so what, I had years and years of enjoyment with those for the difference. I have a 12ga Trojan I like to shoot sporting clays with, even more so than my GHE Skeet. Truth be told my friends don't look at my gun, good or bad they only seem look at my score at the end of day. Some days they are quiet other days they laugh. Try to have some fun with your boat anchors.

Right you are! I own a few Fox Sterlingworths and a few A Grades. Sterlingworths can still be had for around $500. Where else can you find such a BARGAIN, fine workmanship so cheaply? I even scored a really nice 16 gauge Sterlingworth for $800 a few years ago. And 12 gauge Parker Trojans aren't much more!

[Shane Jennings]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

I will wade in. First I like boat anchors, I call them shooters. All my doubles are used for hunting. Mostly salt water duck hunting which is not a good place for a high condition or high grade gun IMO. Where can I find a modern double of the same quality as a mechanically correct Trojan or Sterlingworth for the same price? Some pretty nice people here shoot boat anchors, I don't really care what my friends shoot and if they are my friends they don't care what I shoot either. My guns are not my investments, they are my toys, and over the years it's been win some, lose some. Maybe markets have changed and put more in the lose some column, so what, I had years and years of enjoyment with those for the difference. I have a 12ga Trojan I like to shoot sporting clays with, even more so than my GHE Skeet. Truth be told my friends don't look at my gun, good or bad they only seem look at my score at the end of day. Some days they are quiet other days they laugh. Try to have some fun with your boat anchors.

Do you shoot steel shot in the old guns? I've considered buying one for duck hunting, but I was concerned about the barrels holding up to modern waterfowl loads.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Shane Jennings

Do you shoot steel shot in the old guns? I've considered buying one for duck hunting, but I was concerned about the barrels holding up to modern waterfowl loads.

I would never use steel in a Parker or any classic double gun, you are asking for trouble. I don't like the commercial loadings of bismuth for their price and their loadings. I reload my own bismuth to what are period correct shot weights, velocity and pressure. I think that is the only way to go with old doubles when it comes to ducks and geese.

[Shane Jennings]

Originally Posted by Pete Lester

I would never use steel in a Parker or any classic double gun, you are asking for trouble. I don't like the commercial loadings of bismuth for their price and their loadings. I reload my own bismuth to what are period correct shot weights, velocity and pressure. I think that is the only way to go with old doubles when it comes to ducks and geese.

That's what I was thinking. I don't reload for 12ga anymore (for clays or upland birds), as factory ammo is as cheap or cheaper than reloading these days. But I would reload for waterfowl, if I had an old gun that required it. I reload for all my rifles. I enjoy it. Kinda like tying flies. An old field grade double would be fun to hunt with.

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by Shane Jennings

I've considered buying one for duck hunting

Shane:

There is something special about hunting waterfowl with a Parker 10 gauge. Get one and read up on loading the “short ten” in our reloading subforum. Once you do, those steel loads in your arsenal will sit and collect dust.

-Victor