Parker 12 Ga DHE Evaluation - Page 2

BRDHNTR · 10-13-2018, 07:58 AM

Dean, we know there were only about 8 DHE's produced with 31 inch barrels. Since so few were made in this unusual length, why would someone want 31 inch barrels? Would it have been a weight issue for a shooter, handling style??

Dean Romig · 10-13-2018, 08:35 AM

Not an issue of weight - that could have been accomplished in the barrel striking.

The person who ordered 31” barrels just had an odd preference for that odd length. 30’s were too short and 32’s were too long...

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Pa SxS · 10-13-2018, 09:24 AM

I don't like to question Brian's opinion cause he's seen more Parker barrels than I have but most of the 12ga. barrels that were very overbored occured in the pre 60,000 range as seen in Austin Hogan's graph. Most of the post 12ga. Parker barrels I've measured were in the .731 to .735 range. I think it's quite possible his barrels were honed.

B. Dudley · 10-13-2018, 11:35 AM

True that more guns were oversized, and extremely oversized (I have observed as high as .760” on early 12g hammerless guns), in the earlier days, but things kind of went up and down as time went on. Like I said, you would be hard pressed to find a bore diameter within .005 of .729” before 1920.

The bores on this gun are .011” over nominal .729”. Which I do not think is at all out of the norm for a gun of that era.

Craig Larter · 10-13-2018, 11:50 AM

I have a 3 frame 12ga (173xxx) with .740 bores and 3" factory chambers. It was patterned with #1 shot. I have always wondered if large shot sizes required overboring to pattern correctly. Austin chart shows a few .740 guns of later manufacture. Guess we will never know.

BRDHNTR · 10-28-2018, 08:07 PM

I took the DHE out for the first time since receiving it back from Bachelders.. Its much tighter now and lever is centered well. Shot a round of skeet with it. Now before anyone jumps on me why did i shoot skeet with a 31 inch barreled sxs. We shoot skeet sunday mornings, that's why and i just want to run some loads thru it. I must say it was challenging swinging those barrels on skeet but i did manage to break a few clays. Lol. Anyway, the gun performed flawlessly even if I didn't. Very pleased with Bachelders.

BRDHNTR · 11-20-2018, 07:44 AM

This very nice DHE is now for sale. Please see posting in the For Sale section of this forum.