Older 12 gauge DHE

[Harold Pickens]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

Dave and All, I have done alot of testing with different loads using spreader inserts from Poly-Wad in both 12 and 16 gauge. The speed of the load is criticial to good patterns. I have shot thousands of my 16 gauge loads and they pattern great and against most beliefs they will reach out there. Just ask Dean and Larry....

Dave, what is your 16 ga. load?

[Dean Romig]

Right Dave, they reach out there and bust clays pretty nicely past 40 yds.

(Do I get my twenty bucks when I see you at Ernie's or will you be mailing it to me?)

[Autumn Daze]

Don't hold your breath Mr. Romig

[Dean Romig]

doh!

[Brush Buster]

I have used the Polywad Spreaders for Grouse and Woodcock in a VERY TIGHTLY CHOKED TROJAN and had Great Success with clean kills and after not being able to hit anything with regular over the counter ammo in this gun ! Never used this ammo in any other gauge and these days I generally use RST's for my shotgun ammo used in my Parker Guns ! Hope this helps your decision in your purchase of shells ! Best ; Russ

[B. Dudley]

Regarding the original question of this thread, there was no mechanical changes in Parker guns after 1917 or so. The 1910 change was the reduction of parts in the top lever mechanism and also the patented stepped wear plate. And then around 1917 the top lever spring went from a flat type to a coil spring/plunger type.

The "18-4" thing you mentioned was a prototype gun that James Hayes was working on and those design changes were never implemented ito production. For more information on this, I would suggest you read my article in the Summer 2013 issue of DGJ.

The only other change around 1917 was the style of the safety button, and the shortening of the top lever. The style of the safety button spring and safety jacket also changed some at this time. But I would not consider these to be actual "mechanical" changes.

[Grantham Forester]

In my copy of the Peter Johnson book, I thought he mentioned that Mr. Hayes reduced the number of action parts from 18 to 4, but I am not 100% sure. What is the DGJ and where can I find a 2013 copy to read your article. From your replies I take it that you are a gunsmith that knows Parkers and other fine double shotguns as well. Many thanks for the straightforward answer sans the comments about other more personal matters of a more fiscal nature. I am planning to buy the DHE at his set price, and keep the Trojan. So, those two Parkers, plus the VHE 12 made in aprox 1929 my father-in-law gave me, have me started on a "Possible Parker Path To Perdition" I am getting the collecting "bug", and the insight and advice to a novice here is priceless.

[B. Dudley]

There is a lot in Johnson's book that is not accurate. The 18 to 4 parts reduction was taken from a letter that Hayes Wrote to Parker Management concerning a prototype he made for a revised cocking mechanism in the Parker gun. However, the change was never implemented into production. That is where Johnson got it wrong.

Johnson's book was the first about Parkers and is a good read, however it cannot be counted on as fact in a long of areas.

If you would like to read my article on James Hayes and his prototype guns, you can contact. DGJ directly for a copy. I also need to write up a condensed version of the same article for our own Parker Pages, but I have not found the time.

[William Davis]

Two very similar guns is a good idea. Time and money spent on events or hunting trips best to have a back up gun. Lets you use the 2nd as a loaner or bad weather gun too. Came back from the Southern with a GH that's almost identical to my VH. Fox Sterlingworth Pin gun that had been my back up will rotate out of the line up. After the stocks were bent all 3 guns are so close after a few shots you forget which one you are shooting.

On tight chokes and spreaders. Average clays course is going to have long and short targets. I keep about 1/3 spreader loads 2/3 regular loads in a divided pouch. Coming up to a station if the target looks shorter than a skeet target pull out a spreader. If longer use the regular 7/8 oz shell.

Loading spreaders is real simple, Use a different color shell so you don't mix them up. Red AA's for regular shells Green STS for the spreaders. 7/8 oz shot 7/8 oz cup in the AA's. 1 oz cup 7/8 oz shot and poly wad insert for the STS shells. Everything else is the same.

Trojan and DH about perfect.

Bill