Duck loads for Parkers

Wild Skies · 09-19-2010, 01:47 PM

Wisconsin's duck opener is this coming Saturday, we'll be gunning over decoys out of a blind on a cattail infested shallow lake that attracts dabbling ducks--mostly mallards, teal and woodducks. I'd like to be shooting my 1912, 12-ga., 30" Trojan. What is your favorite non-toxic load that you would recommend for this all original 2 3/4" chambered, F/F choked Trojan?

charlie cleveland · 09-19-2010, 03:14 PM

if that was my gun ide probably be shooting 2 3/4 inch ...no 4 steel shot.. 1 ounce or 1 1/8 ounce load....if the chokes are not to tite...if chokes are tight i would be using some of rst s duck loads... just my 2 cents worth... hope you kill the limit charlie

Labowner · 09-19-2010, 04:07 PM

1 oz. of Nice Shot #6 with AA hull and about 15 grs. 700X or 1 1/8 oz. Nice Shot with 800X.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://www.ecotungsten.com/online-store.html

Wild Skies · 09-19-2010, 10:06 PM

Thank you for those links Robert.

Do you know for certain if ecotungsten yields the same psi and fps when substituted for lead in lead shot recipes? Also, will my P-W shot bushings drop the same wt. load with ecotungsten as they do with lead?

Labowner · 09-19-2010, 11:26 PM

Greg, I check my loads with a digital scale as I start a new load, I have found NS to be 5% + - lighter than lead. The NS web site states load same as lead, myself and several others haven't had any issues. Not sure what P-W bushing is but your shot bushing is measuring volume and NS is just a little lighter so you shouldn't have any problems. The negative is the price but I've never came home wishing I hadn't shot so many times. Try them in your favorite loads you'll like them.

Harry Collins · 09-20-2010, 12:27 PM

Greg,

I would NOT shoot STEEL through your Full and FULL Parker. When steel shot first became manditory we foolishly opened up "Sputnik", our VH 12 gauge with 32" barrels, to improved cylinder and 3" chambers. We got away with shooting steel without "rifling" the barrels, but would not recomend it. I am always behind the times when it comes to ammunition inovations these days and don't know it shot shell manufacturers have made steel safe to shoot in our beloved old shotguns.

I am using NiceShot.

Harry

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 09-20-2010, 12:45 PM

Gentlemen,

Pick your shots wisely and you will not spend that much on modern non-toxic shot. Example, during early goose season a small band of Canadas dropped into my pond for a little R&R. Too bad I had a trusty old (1899) Elsie in the hall closet (I keep ALL my Parkers in the gun safe) for just such a welcoming opportunity. Two rounds of #2 Nice Shot dropped 2 geese at over 55 yards! The load was 1&1/8 oz NS at 7000 PSI, 1200 FPS, 7625 powder, and a CB 4100 wad. The chokes are .040".

So, at long range a little Nice Shot did its job nicely. The cost for those 2 rounds? About $5. The value of dropping geese with an 111 year old chain barreled damascus gun from my front porch, and to have my old retriever do what he does best? Priceless!!!

Respectfully,
Mark

PS: Yes, I need to keep a Parker handy for the late season...

Wild Skies · 09-20-2010, 02:45 PM

Thank you gents for adding to the discussion.

In doing a little research on the web it is reported that when reloading Nice Shot you can use lead data recipes--no special wads, etc are required, but Nice Shot will yield a 1500 psi increase in pressure per load compared to lead...something we may need to consider when low pressure is a goal.

Harry Collins · 09-20-2010, 03:06 PM

Greg,

My 10 & 12 gauge loads for lead shot are only about 5500 psi so an additional 1500 psi is not a factor. Oh, I must say that the picture of your Trojan shows a very nice Parker.

Harry

Labowner · 09-20-2010, 06:51 PM

Greg, if I may ask where you found the info on the pressure increase? I thinking that if it's loaded by weight instead of volume because it's lighter the added pellets increase friction, I would doubt that a equal amount of #6 NS to #6 lead can increase pressure.