Why the high price on .410 and 28 gauge Parker shotguns?

[Double Lab]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

While not a Parker but the first 100 straight I ever shot in NSSA registered skeet was with a 28 gauge . And FWIW my highest average by gauge was always the 28 gauge just a skoosh above my year end 12 and 20 gauge averages .

If I'm not mistaken the 28 gauge in NSSA competition consistently showed a higher average compared with the 12,20 or .410.

[Dean Romig]

A 28 gauge Parker DHE was WHF’s favorite Skeet gun… and his favorite grouse gun as well.





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[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

If I'm not mistaken the 28 gauge in NSSA competition consistently showed a higher average compared with the 12,20 or .410.

Bear in mind it was thirty or more years ago but my 410 average was right at 97 but the other three stayed a bit above 98 . By no means all that great but I was happy with . And of the three over 98% the 28 was usually .1-.2% above the 12 and 20 . I think when it was all said and done I had as many if not more hundred straights with the 28 than I did the 20 . As to the 12 gauge most of the 100’s I scored in that gauge were shot with a 20 only 12 100 straights I shot with a 12 were done with an 1100 or 11/87 .

[Andy]

If you look at NSSA averages for a AAA shooter the 12-20-28 are all .25% apart, the .410 is 2% lower (this is for classification not the scores). I take that to mean that over a long time with shooters of similar ability the .410 is 2% less effective but still shooting 96.5%. For the average bird hunter/recreational shooter I'm not sure that translates at all.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I'd love to have a VH Parker in both .410 and 28. BUT, no way I'm dumping that kind of scratch into a shotgun. If I have that kind of disposable cash it'll buy something that with one pull of the trigger can do a mag dump. To each his own.

[Researcher]

One of the reasons for slow sales of the .410-bore Parker during the early years was the available ammunition. From the introduction of the .410-bore shell in North America circa 1914 it was offered in two loadings, 3/10-ounce in a 2-inch shell and 3/8-ounce in a 2 1/2-inch shell. Things picked up for the .410-bore in 1933, at the depth of The Great Depression, with the introduction of the 3-inch shell doubling the max load to 3/4-ounce, along with the Winchester Model 42. A few years later the 2 1/2-inch shell got upped to the 1/2-ounce load we all know.

Similarly, the 28-guage loads were 5/8-ounce for many years. Finally, in 1931 the ammo companies got around to introducing a progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity load to the 28-gauge with 3/4-ounce of shot. Chas. Askins mentions in his 1910 book of loading 2 1/8 drams of bulk smokeless and 3/4-ounce of shot in the 2 7/8-inch 28-gauge shell for his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. but the ammo companies didn't offer anything heavier than 2 drams pushing 5/8-ounce.

[Double Lab]

Turns out what goes around comes around. The old 5/8oz load is a dandy if you handload.

[Victor Wasylyna]

After today's G&D auction, I think it is safe to say that prices for Parker 28s and 410s are still strong. The 410s blew past high estimates.

-Victor