Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums General Parker Discussions

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Unread 06-27-2022, 10:39 PM   #41
Member
Stan Hillis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,694
Thanks: 3,143
Thanked 3,898 Times in 1,112 Posts

Default

For me "best" is a descriptive term for the gun that I have owned that has done it's job the longest/most with the least amount of repairs or breakdowns. With those as my criteria I would have to say that the 20 ga. Beretta 687 SPII Sporting would get the nod. Out of some 50-something doubleguns, rifles, and pistols it is the one that has been used the most, but with no breakdowns at all. It has done high volume shooting in Cordoba Argentina twice, and done domestic duty on Southern doves and quail for 19 years. It has never even hiccuped. The closest it has ever come to needing "maintenance" was having to take a few seconds to scrub the plastic accumulations from the chambers, with a tornado brush while shooting doves in Cordoba, because ejection of empties would become sluggish. No single trigger issues, no spring problems, no striker issues, no ejector problems, no misfires due to gun issues.

I know it's not a S X S, and it's not vintage but, it's just a little petite "tank". Credit where credit is due.
Stan Hillis is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Stan Hillis For Your Post:
Unread 06-28-2022, 10:42 AM   #42
Member
LtCol Henderson Marriott
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
henderson Marriott's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
Thanks: 189
Thanked 183 Times in 77 Posts

Default

A runoff between a 3rd generation 1923 Parker AAHE special order, a 1917 Fox XE,
and a 1925 Super Fox HE with tight chambers and chokes. The Super Fox is not as heavy as some at 30 inch barrels, but it balances well at 9 pounds. Excellent on geese.
The XE is also 30 inch barrels, with handling like a 16 ga bird gun. Turkey hunting can go from no problem oak and hickory understory to backwater river swamps. Hard to trade in mid-hunt for a Model 12 Heavy Duck gun.
I have probably shot more ducks, dove and turkeys with various Model 12 Winchester shotguns, they are as reliable as the day is long. Still have a few...
henderson Marriott is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to henderson Marriott For Your Post:
Unread 06-28-2022, 01:51 PM   #43
Member
Stan Hillis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,694
Thanks: 3,143
Thanked 3,898 Times in 1,112 Posts

Default

My HE Fox would be my 2nd choice, Henderson. Not because it is less reliable ..... it's never failed me once. But, it's not fired nearly the number of rounds the SP II has, hence it gets the nod.

Now, if I had to answer what gun would be the last I'd get rid of, it would be the old 32", 3 inch chambered Super Fox. Without question.
Stan Hillis is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Stan Hillis For Your Post:
Unread 06-28-2022, 03:24 PM   #44
Member
Joe from MO
PGCA Member
 
Joseph Sheerin's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 760
Thanks: 699
Thanked 1,071 Times in 418 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan Hillis View Post
Now, if I had to answer what gun would be the last I'd get rid of, it would be the old 32", 3 inch chambered Super Fox. Without question.
That's probably the real question that should be asked.....

If it came to it, what firearm would be the last one you got rid of.

Good God, I hope it never comes to that though.....

It'd probably be my field grade citori, as with that gun I can still hunt everything I hunt today, plus it's fine for shooting clay games too. It can take a pounding.... No need to baby it.
__________________
The only reason I ever played golf in the first place was so I could afford to hunt and fish. - Sam Snead
Joseph Sheerin is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Joseph Sheerin For Your Post:
Unread 06-29-2022, 11:19 AM   #45
Member
todd allen
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
Thanks: 1,887
Thanked 3,248 Times in 1,125 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph Sheerin View Post
That's probably the real question that should be asked.....

If it came to it, what firearm would be the last one you got rid of.

Good God, I hope it never comes to that though.....

It'd probably be my field grade citori, as with that gun I can still hunt everything I hunt today, plus it's fine for shooting clay games too. It can take a pounding.... No need to baby it.
Still a tough question. The answer, for me, depends on a few things.
My health, of course, or even the state of apocalypse we are in at the time.
Do I keep one fine shotgun, or a carbine with a plastic stock that holds a lot ammo.
Might be a bolt action .22 rf rifle, or even a 22 caliber revolver.
I honestly can't say.
todd allen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to todd allen For Your Post:
Unread 06-29-2022, 01:08 PM   #46
Member
Reggie B
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Reggie Bishop's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,490
Thanks: 2,936
Thanked 3,436 Times in 1,366 Posts

Default

When I was just a kid my dad bought me a Stevens 20 gauge, single barrel shotgun. That little shotgun is still at my dad's (he will soon turn 87). It still functions fine, but it sure looks like it has been put thru the wringer. There is no telling the number of squirrels, rabbits, quail, skunks, and other critters that gun has disposed of. I think the last time he shot the gun he was ridding himself of a skunk that was digging in his lawn during the night. He lives on a golf course which adjoins a farm that I hunted quail on for a good number of years. The Stevens has never failed to fire or eject a hull that I know of. The lever that breaks it open is not functioning properly. You have to know the secret to get it to break open. The stock has no finish on it. The case colors and barrel finish have held up well. The cheapest gun I have ever owned is probably the best one I have ever owned.
__________________
"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Reggie Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Reggie Bishop For Your Post:
Unread 06-29-2022, 01:36 PM   #47
Member
Dean Romig
PGCA Invincible
Life Member
 
Dean Romig's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 31,557
Thanks: 35,430
Thanked 33,039 Times in 12,321 Posts

Default

Does that Stevens 20 have the side opening lever like my first Stevens 20 did?





.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."

George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
Dean Romig is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06-29-2022, 02:26 PM   #48
Member
Jim McKee
PGCA Lifetime
Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 389
Thanks: 1,339
Thanked 467 Times in 150 Posts

Default

Once upon a time I owned a H & H Royal Paradox 12 b- it slipped away
Now a couple of Fox XE's and several Parker's
I have arrived at the SXS party later in life but
still feeling young!
Jim McKee is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Jim McKee For Your Post:
Unread 06-29-2022, 02:33 PM   #49
Member
Reggie B
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Reggie Bishop's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,490
Thanks: 2,936
Thanked 3,436 Times in 1,366 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean Romig View Post
Does that Stevens 20 have the side opening lever like my first Stevens 20 did?





.
Top lever Dean.
__________________
"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Reggie Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 06-30-2022, 08:44 AM   #50
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,648
Thanks: 13,081
Thanked 9,468 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggie Bishop View Post
When I was just a kid my dad bought me a Stevens 20 gauge, single barrel shotgun. That little shotgun is still at my dad's (he will soon turn 87). It still functions fine, but it sure looks like it has been put thru the wringer. There is no telling the number of squirrels, rabbits, quail, skunks, and other critters that gun has disposed of. I think the last time he shot the gun he was ridding himself of a skunk that was digging in his lawn during the night. He lives on a golf course which adjoins a farm that I hunted quail on for a good number of years. The Stevens has never failed to fire or eject a hull that I know of. The lever that breaks it open is not functioning properly. You have to know the secret to get it to break open. The stock has no finish on it. The case colors and barrel finish have held up well. The cheapest gun I have ever owned is probably the best one I have ever owned.
As with any gun cherished for its personal history, I'll bet there's more good "secrets" held in that gun than just the trick to opening it. I'll bet it looks just fine standing next to some of those fine 20s you own, Reggie.
__________________
“Every day I wonder how many things I am dead wrong about.”
― Jim Harrison
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:59 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2023, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.