Short Chambered 12's.

[Researcher]

The Remington era Parker specification sheets are reproduced on pages 164 to 169 of The Parker Story, and they call for about a 1/8 inch short chamber in all gauges.

[Bruce Day]

Dave, they are correct, as I checked that personally with a 1939 12ga.

I've pulled out the Hodgdon manual and I see lots of 1 1/8 12ga AA's at around 8000, and I am looking for the factory specs. We got a whole pallet of 1 oz AA ultralights and I'm thinking that they were around 8 or 8500 could be wrong. Most of the regular shooters at the club with doubles, stacks or side bys, are shooting very light practice loads. And we have a vintage shoot also.

I'm shooting a lot of 16's with 7/8 and the new Downrange wads.

Ralphy is a lot like me the first time I ever shot damascus way back when. Bundled up, motorcycle helmet and face guard, gloves, hold the gun at arms length waiting for the barrels to unravel like a spring, shrapnel pepper everywhere, I look away and pull the trigger and the gun goes pop. An d pop and pop and nothing happens and some old timer says told you so. So then I took off everything and shot a round of trap and had fun. I had bought a G grade damascus beater from Muderlak years ago, the best thing to be said about the gun was that it was original and not altered, but it had a decided clunker factor. And it was rock steady and solid with out of the box loads and I started thinking about all the wrong things said about damascus and old Parkers and how they were really much more capable than many people gave them credit for. Not delicate for sure.

[Autumn Daze]

Pete nailed it. I was estimating on the low side. Bruce, You are correct about the AA Lites. The big 3 shell manufacturing companys do not publicise there load data. You have to call them.My 1 oz. 12 gauge target loads are about 6800 psi and they break targets just fine. I have half a flat of factory STS's sitting here for about 8 years now and can't bring myself to shoot them.Maybe I'll run them through my Model 12

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

\ I have half a flat of factory STS's sitting here for about 8 years now and can't bring myself to shoot them.Maybe I'll run them through my Model 12

Or you could bring them with you on New Years Day and I will risk life limb and gun and shoot them for you My 9lb 3 frame 12 makes them feel like sissy shells.

[Bruce Day]

Mr Dudley, I should apologize. You asked the simple question of where could you get 2 1/2 " cartridges and I responded with all sorts of pressure and measurements and all sorts of stuff that you had not asked. The simple and direct answer needed only one word, RST, and that was what I should have said and let it go at that. Your question struck an interest of mine and I ran off with it.
Bruce Day

[B. Dudley]

By all means Bruce, that is ok. Your information is well received. It is a topic that I do not know that much about.
Yeah, my initial question was where to get 2.5" shells, but also if there is any legitimate concern with putting 2.75" shells through it.
I usually just use the Walmart Federals or Remington Gun Club loads for clay shooting.

Another question that comes to mind is if 2.75" hulls could be reloaded into 2.5" Could they be trimmed and crimped down to 2.5"?
Clearly if I buy a flat of RST shells, I would just reload them once I start doing so, but it is a thought that comes to mind.

I did measure some of my once fired 2.75" shells that I was saving for my first reloading experience and I did find variation ranging from 2-3/4" down to 2-5/8" actual measurements.

[Bruce Day]

I have several Parkers that have 2 1/2" nominal length chambers and have shot 1 oz Rem Gun Club shells through them. All of mine in that category are damascus or Bernard guns. I have had trouble with the steel base of the Feds expanding and sticking in the chamber after reloading several times. This is despite re sizing in the collet of a MEC 650. I have not experienced that with Rems. My favorite hulls to reload are the Rem STS hulls.

Some people have trimmed spent hulls to shorter lengths. They have devised a razor blade trimmer jig.

Some brand shells are longer than others, all of them stating 2 3/4 on the box.

Wal Mart stocks a lot of 1 1/8 oz 3 1/4 dram 12 ga shells. I think the recoil is uncomfortable with them and the chamber pressures must be at or close to the SAAMI ( Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institite) limit. They are not the shell loads that I would buy for my guns and my shoulder, although some may like them. I have looked at manufacturers websites and picked out cartridges that seem appropriate for my guns, then I call my local locally owned sporting goods store and order a case or several. My local store ( Olathe KS Gun Shop, where Mike Jensen sells all those Parkers) has been very helpful to take phone orders. Perhaps you have somebody like that there and you can buy case lots. On the other hand I have a very good friend with lots of high grade and valuable PArkers and I know he buys Wal Mart shells because of th e price.


I trust this is helpful and I hope I don't come off as some sort of know it all.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

I have several Parkers that have 2 1/2" nominal length chambers and have shot 1 oz Rem Gun Club shells through them. All of mine in that category are damascus or Bernard guns. I have had trouble with the steel base of the Feds expanding and sticking in the chamber after reloading several times. This is despite re sizing in the collet of a MEC 650. I have not experienced that with Rems. My favorite hulls to reload are the Rem STS hulls.

Bruce your problem with reloaded shells sticking is because the MEC 650 does not have a resizing collet. Your reloads were/are not resized using a 650, you have to have a stand alone MEC Super Sizer, or older MEC case conditioner or resize them on separate 600JR or the like first.

Brian here is the link to a video I put up on Youtube regarding the reloading for 2 7/8" 10ga. You can see a homemade shell trimmer in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owXs4Eg__BE

I also want to say running off a bit on any subject can bring up other interesting and sometimes important points of view or information. Nobody is forced to keep reading. I see no harm no foul. Carry on.

[Leighton Stallones]

Rio and Kemen 2 3/4 x 1 oz are both about 7200psi and the B&P 2000 competition are even lower at 6600 psi. Both are about 2 5/8 inches . I shoot them in all of my "short" chambered guns.

[Bruce Day]

Those fingers that grasp and squeeze around the base of the shell don't resize? No, they are not a sizing ring like on the MEC 600jr, but aren't they supposed to resize the shell base? No problems with anything other than Feds.