VHE .410 chokes

[Dean Hepp]

I am looking into purchasing a refurbished VHE .410. My concern is that it is stamped skeet in/skeet out and the left barrel is .410 bore with .009” choke. The right barrel is .415” bore with no choke. My question is it unusual to have two different bore sizes and is zero choke typical for skeet in?

[todd allen]

I would like a little more choke, but pattern it at 25 yards, and see what the paper tells you.
Might be a great opening day dove gun.

[B. Dudley]

Make sure you can document that gun. Parker skeet guns are similar to ‘32 fords. There are more out there then were originally built.

[Dean Hepp]

B. Dudley,

I hear ya. I’m trying to do as much research as I can before I buy it. It’s not priced as an original skeet. I’m just very concerned about the disparity in bore diameters and the lack of any choke in the right barrel. Would the factory have done a cylinder bore for the skeet in choke?

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Hepp

Would the factory have done a cylinder bore for the skeet in choke?

As Brian suggests, there are a lot of "skeet guns" that were something else when they left the factory. First thing I'd probably want to do is confirm if it's really a factory skeet gun.
I've owned two .410s, and I can't pass myself off as an authority, but I've never heard of .415" in a Parker .410. Maybe honed (?) Many .410 guns were F&F.
But, and that's a big but ( not butt) if it's priced right, with a cylinder in the right, and some choke in the left, you can do a lot with it, on the skeet field, or in the dove field.

[Phil C]

I would bet that the right barrel was back bored to remove pitting at some point. The original choke could have been .005 or less. Its still a desirable gun and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it if the price is right and there are not other issues.
You state the gun has been restored. Depending on the quality of the restoration and who did it this will be another strike on the value.
I would check and see if records are available and if so I would get a letter ASAP.

[Dean Hepp]

Phil C,

The gun is fresh back from a Turnbull restoration. It looks absolutely gorgeous. The right barrel choke is my only concern. I really don’t care if the skeet in/skeet out is real or if it is indeed a skeet gun. The restocking is to modern dimensions and the figure is phenomenal. It is priced in the low $20’s. I’ve seen cheaper, and I’ve seen a lot more expensive. I’m just thinking that the bore should reduced the price, but I’m not sure if low $20’s is where it ought to be.

[todd allen]

I'm not in the right tax bracket to be looking at Parker .410s at the moment, but at the low 20s there's probably worst places to park money.
At the least, post some pictures so we can live vicariously.

[Dean Hepp]

Todd Allen,

I’m not in that tax bracket either, but I am cleaning out the safes with stuff I haven’t shot in a while. I’m also bringing my pet frog, best shooter marble and the kitchen sink. I hope I have enough trade material.

[10 bore]

i thought skeet guns had reverse chokes, tight on right barrel and more open on left ???