20 ga

[Bill Murphy]

Alfred, I would recommend you order a PGCA letter to find out how your gun was ordered. 3" chambered 20s were built in 0, 1, and 2 frame size. Tell us more about your gun.

[Researcher]

When thinking about these long barrel, long chambered 20-gauge guns, from the days before progressive burning smokeless powder, remember they didn't use a load any heavier than our 20-gauge Skeet loads of today, 2 1/2 drams equiv. pushing 7/8 ounce of shot. Back in the first 22 years of the 20th Century, our North American ammunition companies offered 20-gauge shells in 2 1/2, 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3-inch lengths. The maximum load offered in the 2 1/2 inch shell was 2 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 18 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Ballistite or Infallible pushing 7/8 ounce of shot. The maximum load offered in the 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3-inch shells was 2 1/2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 20 grains of Ballistite or Infallible pushing that same 7/8 ounce of shot. Their main advantage was more/better wadding.











In 1922, Western Cartridge Co. brought progressive burning smokeless powder to North American 20-gauge shotgunners with their Super-X 1 ounce load put up in their 2 3/4 inch FIELD shell. Other makers followed suit and put their 20-gauge, 1 ounce, progressive burning powder loads up in a 2 3/4 inch shell. Peters Cartridge Co. is the one company I've found that offered their 1 ounce High Velocity 20-gauge load in extra length cases --

[Bill Murphy]

My 3" #2 frame 20, which I no longer own, was ordered in 1910 to shoot 1 ounce loads with 3 drams of powder. I think I have an order copy for one other 3" 20 gauge ordered from PB to shoot this load. I have no idea about the availability of factory shells loaded with this specific loads.

[Alfred Greeson]

Thank you Bill,
My 20 ga. is an O frame and it has 26 inch barrels with a 14 3/8 " length of pull so it fits well but I just did not picture the O frame with 26 inch barrels being built for ducks but what else would explain the 3 " chambers. Seems that quite often the 20 ga's may have been built for a lady or youngster and usually had a much shorter length of pull. Of course you read of the salesman who shot a 410 on doves and ducks so who knows. this one seems to be something different. Thanks for all the input. As I mentioned earlier, I just renewed my membership but have followed the forum for some time and learned a lot about Parkers from you guys. Too much info. to not see the pictures and the chicken coup C grade put me over the edge. Since then I have found a VHE 12 Ga. that a friend called me about in a pawn shop. It was a great price but he failed to mention that the forend was missing but with the help of you guys again, I have found a forend.
Thanks for all the help, it keeps my poor man's Parker collection going. Al.

[Researcher]

I went through the first 2000 Ansley H. Fox 20-gauge records looking for 20-gauges ordered for the 2 7/8 or 3-inch shells. Found 47. Two 26" barrels, 19 28" barrels, 19 30" barrels and seven 32" barrels. A few were ordered heavier weight, up to 7 pounds 1 ounce, but most were in the very normal 6 pounds to 6 pounds 6 ounce range. The lightest was a 28" CE-Grade at 5 pounds 11 ounces.

Of the 62 Super-Fox 20-gauges in the records only three were ordered chambered for 3-inch shells. It appears that by the time progressive burning powder came along, shooters were satisfied with what the manufacturers gave them in a 2 3/4 inch case.

[charlie cleveland]

those sure are some interesting lentghs of 20 ga shells i really enjoy seeing these posted... i also like to hear of these 3 inch chambered guns...charlie