Making of a Doubles Trap Gun

[Mike Franzen]

Is that the one you bought at the Southern a few years back? We all know a trap shooter’s gotta do what a trap shooter’s gotta do.

[John Davis]

That’s the one.

[John Davis]

At least I didn’t add wood to the stock.

[Bill Murphy]

I remember seeing you handling that gun at the Southern. If I didn't have a CHE trap, I would have been all over it.

[Harry Gietler]

Originally Posted by John Davis

At least I didn’t add wood to the stock.

John, the changes you made to your Parker are mild. If you guys want to see some badly butchered up doubles, go to the S.A.S.S. {cowboy action shooting}
I have gone to the S.A.S.S. shoot at the Ben Avery Range in Arizona for the last 10 years. The first few years I saw high grade Parker's with Cut off barrel's,
reamed out chambers, shorten stocks, tacks hammered into the wood, ejectors removed and, well when they get done firing off their shots, they ''throw'' the gun on a wooden table. Luckily for Parker Lovers, they gave up butchering Parker guns, {they don't hold up}. Their guns of choice are B-SS & Ithaca SKB
doubles. Those guns are tough as nails, especially the B-SS.

Harry

[John Davis]

Harry, in my experience the Parkers hold up pretty well.

[Phil Yearout]

I don’t have a horse in this race, but I’ll say this: whatever John Davis says regarding trap guns, I ain’t gonna argue with him !

[Mike of the Mountain]

John, I'm with you on the double-triggers. I have single-trigger guns but I also prefer double-triggers. Less chances of misfires and naturally, no single-trigger issues. Your choice of chokes is a good one too. .20 and .30 work. I prefer anything from LM through F. LM/IM is a good combo. As for a recoil pad, you picked a good one. Doesn't matter if it's not original or period specific. For us "shooters", it's all about shootability.

[Stan Hillis]

I'll second LM/IM as a very good choke combination. I love that for late season doves, and sporting clays. If I'm shooting a single trigger gun I will usually leave it set to fire the IM barrel first to kill an incomer dove "a ways" out there, then have the LM barrel for a bit closer second shot. LM/IM worked very well in Argentina for me on sixteen different shoots.

[Cold Spring]

John, a very nice sounding and looking Parker and I'm sure you'll shoot it well. Thanks for sharing your mods which sound just great to me. Your combo of 20 and 30 points of choke are my preferred duo.

Like others I prefer double triggers on hunting and competition guns but I have to say I've owned good LC Smiths with Hunter Ones, Foxes with the Kautzky trigger, Ithaca NID's with the Miller type, Parkers with the later single trigger, and Model 21's. And while I shoot extensively I never had a problem with any of them except for a heavier pull on some which cramp my style because I tend to be a trigger toucher. I make it a point to pull through with any single trigger vintage American double gun. Maybe I've been lucky on getting good uns but I do check for function and signs that someone's been inside a single trigger gun before buying it (trigger plate screw slot, etc). Best of course is to make a deal to buy a single trigger gun while at an event and contingent on testing with heavier ammo for doubling, balking etc. Of course many on-line sellers won't agree to that which is a red flag for me.