3 inch chambered 12 gauge

[Randy Roberts]

2 7/8" chambers were not limited to the big guns by PB either, even the little 20's were chambered for the longer shell. This one came with a very informative letter.

[Craig Larter]

I own a 12ga Parker from 1917, damascus, that is factory chambered 2 7/8", is overbored with full chokes and was patterned for #1 shot on a #3 frame. The gun was sent to North Dakota so I assume it was a specialized waterfowl gun. This gun was not designed to shoot 1 3/8oz loads, it was made during the era when more wading was thought to improve patterns as Researcher stated above. Even though it is on a #3 frame it only weights 8-4. I wrote an article about this gun in a recent edition of PP.

[Dean Romig]

Generally, an original chamber will have been cut at a very modest taper over it's entire length, rim recess to the beginning of the forcing cone, by as much as .003"

If a chamber was lengthened it is very unlikely that this profile will have been continued through the additional cut length of as much as 1/2"...... but it would be extremely difficult to detect a taper in just a half inch, even if it had a taper.





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[Bill Murphy]

Parkers are not factory marked with chamber length until the Remington era. Measure the chambers, then buy the gun for its heavy weight, over 8 pounds. Then get a PGCA letter that confirms that it was originally made with 2 7/8" chambers. The Remington era 3" guns, marked as such, are normally made on # 1 1/2 frames, not my choice for a 3" gun to shoot. However, they are quite scarce and collectable.

[charlie cleveland]

i sure do like to read about these long chambered gun especially those shooting modern guns i have two guns chambered for the modern 3 inch a lc smith 12 ga and a heavy ithaca chambered 2 7/8 inch..i ve duck hunted with the lc smith shooting steel shot in 3 inch with modified barrels in both barrels and no problems...i have a parker 12 ga 3 frame size that i m thinking about have it chambered to 3 inch the barrels on it weigh 5 lbs 9ounce..my dream gun would be a modern parker 3 inch 12 ga and a modern parker in 3 1/2 inch chambers.....charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Charlie, are you sure the Parker #3 frame doesn't already have long chambers? Any #3 frame is worth a PGCA letter.

[charlie cleveland]

bill i do need to get a letter on the 3 frame would tickle me good if it had 3 inch chambers.charlie

[charlie cleveland]

i just measured the chambers of the ph 3 frame 42 ga they are 2 7/8 inch...i shot it with a no 6 and no 5 shot in 3 inch at a coke can at 50 steps no 6 put 5 shot in can and no 5 put 6 shot in the can it will not make a good turkey gun but will be fine on the wood ducks next fall...charlie

[Mark Conrad]

The early guns with 2 7/8 inch chambers were not intended for the latter 3 inch magnum shells. Remington offered a 12 gauge designed for the true 12 ga. Mag. shell. I have seen 4 -6 of these guns over the years with one being a CHE that I almost bought. I had a late AHE and a late VHE that were both fitted with a second set of 3 inch barrels. The 3 inch barrels made in the Remington era were very heavy and there was no swamp in the barrels in front of the chambers. They were also marked on the lug "For 3" shells". These Remington 12 ga. 3 inch guns are rare, probably less than 15 made.

[charlie cleveland]

my barrels weigh 5 lb 10 ounces on a three frame with twist steel barrel i know they say not to shoot heavy loads like 3 inch in these type of barrels...but i have been shooting heavy loads in several guns for 50 years or better with no problems...i wish i could find one of those remington 3 inch guns...i shoot a lc smith long range gun with 3 inch chambers a lot..i have looed at the 3 inch chambers and compare them to my 2 3/4 inch guns and can see no differance in the barrels or frames except one is marked 3 inch...i wonder if this is what parker and remingto done to there gun just lentghened the chambers 1 /4 of a inch..charlie