A&F CHE 20ga

[Bruce Day]

Just trying to provide interesting and informative subject matter to our forum. Dave Noreen's contributions are always appreciated. Readers seem to like photos.

Anything to get away from what went on last week.....see my Thomas Hardy quote under Location.


On a varied note, Parker used the term "killing circle" when describing pattern effectiveness, see the Small Bore Shot Gun brochure. The killing circle is different than the pattern test board, which was a 30" diameter circle at 40 yards and you simply count pellet strike percentage to determine choke. The killing circle was tested at 25 yards and its diameter varied according to the number of shot pellet hits that would be in a bird in that area. So, killing circle varied by gauge, shot size, and choke and measured effective density. However, for the detail minded, that raises many questions and I know nothing more about it. I have not seen killing circle defined either in Parker literature or by other authors.

As an example, a killing circle for a cylinder bore 20ga 7 shot at 25 yards is 29", for the same with full choke, 20".

So, what size bird and how many pellet hits? How exactly was killing circle determined?

[Bill Murphy]

Bruce, I will answer your question about Parker recommended loads for large frame 20 gauges. My old #2 frame VH 20, #153,333 was ordered by Orren R. Dickey in Boston in the era of the smallbore booklets. The order requested that the gun be built to shoot 1 ounce of shot. The smallbore pamphlet of the time stated that such a load "Is not loaded by the ammunition companies and not recommended by Parker Brothers". Recommended or not, they would build you a gun to shoot it. By the way, I'm looking for my old 20 to add to my collection.