Hammer gun load advice

[Dean Romig]

Right Bruce. One that comes to mind is our turnip farmer friend’s Grade-2 hammer gun with the American Flag bunting barrels comes to mind - a rare one among Parkers, possibly unique. It is in amazingly high condition... I have a couple of pictures of it around here someplace...

Oh yeah! A grade 4 hammer gun with Bernard Steel barrels, Nice! Mine is on the 1-frame.



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[Mike of the Mountain]

Rick, welcome to Parker Universe!! I too shoot a lot with Damascus guns. I shoot factory shells and reloads. If I shoot factory shells I may use some RST and keep the empties to reload. I mainly shoot Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics 1 oz shells in 12g, 7/8 oz in 16g and 3/4 oz in 20g. Biggest issue with most of these vintage guns is not necessarily "metal" problems such as ruining your barrels, etc, but these old stocks have a tendency to crack/split/break. Since you are handy and enjoy working on the stocks, best thing you can do in use a glass bedding compound (such as Acraglass) and reinforce the head. Clean/degrease it then do some bedding, even do some work with a dremel and threaded rods (inside the head) to help hold the head together.