Parker 13 gauge?

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Jack, You will need to get good measurements of the chambers.

I agree, Dave, and I don't have the instruments to do so. Hopefully, someone around here will, but I live in a rural area and bore gauges are few and far between! Thanks!

[Jack Hamner]

[QUOTE=Robin Lewis;132674]Here is a video in which Larry shows how to measure a 11 gauge chamber so he can make custom brass shells to shoot. It would be a good guide to find out what gauge you have. He measures the chamber at about 3:40 into the video. I hope this help.

Very interesting video, Robin. Yes, this helps tremendously! I'm just wondering if a cast of the chamber is necessary rather than a direct measurement, although I suppose that would be rather difficult and prone to error. With the cast, you can take a direct measurement and be assured your results are accurate and repeatable.

[Smoothebore]

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

[Dean Romig]

By it's age, the gun was made for use with brass shells and if you intend to use a 12 ga. shell to determine if it is a 12 ga. gun you should try a 12 ga. brass shell.

[Bindlestiff]

I'm not a shell person but I seem to remember that there were two 12 gauge brass shells. I don't remember the designations used? Maybe someone could "remind" me and inform others?

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

Thanks, Dave. I have tried both a 12 and a 16 ga. shell in the gun. A 12 gauge will not fit into the chamber (shell is too large), and a 16 gauge (to the best of my recollection--it's been a while!) falls right through the barrel.
Do you think it would be possible to find a dowel or piece of plastic pipe that fit snugly into the chamber (without getting stuck!) and then measure that instead of making a casting---I'm a little nervous about attempting the casting process!

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dave Purnell

Jack, I think your first step would be to try to load a new unfired 12ga shell in the chamber. If it fits easily, then problem solved. If it's very tight, then further accurate measuring is required.

Thanks, Dave. I have tried both a 12 and a 16 ga. shell in the gun. A 12 gauge will not fit into the chamber (shell is too large), and a 16 gauge (to the best of my recollection--it's been a while!) falls right through the barrel.
Do you think it would be possible to find a dowel or piece of plastic pipe that fit snugly into the chamber (without getting stuck!) and then measure that instead of making a casting---I'm a little nervous about attempting the casting process!

P.S.By very tight, you mean that a 12 ga. will actually fit into the chamber, except very tightly? One will not even start into the chamber on this gun. Maybe it is a 14 ga. after all! BTW, a penny is almost the same size as the chamber at the end of the barrel..only the penny is a few hundredths too big. If placed in the chamber, about half of the penny will rest inside and the other half will protrude. The Redbook lists the diameter of a penny as 19 mm.

[Dean Romig]

A brand new 2013 penny measures exactly .751" in four different locations across its diameter.

[Bindlestiff]

Cast with candle wax. It will be soft so working with it may be difficult to get an accurate measurement?

[Jack Hamner]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

By it's age, the gun was made for use with brass shells and if you intend to use a 12 ga. shell to determine if it is a 12 ga. gun you should try a 12 ga. brass shell.

Thanks Dean--excellent point! I just dug out an old Winchester brass 12 gauge and tried it. It's close, but it will NOT go into the chamber at all.