Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums Parker Hammer Guns

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
10 Gauge Chamber Lengths:
Unread 08-02-2022, 11:51 AM   #1
Member
Bruce P Bruner
PGCA Member
 
Bruce P Bruner's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 517
Thanks: 1,121
Thanked 1,940 Times in 360 Posts

Default 10 Gauge Chamber Lengths:

The sales listing on my recently acquired 1880 10 Gauge Lifter stated the chamber length of 2.5". I felt that 2.5" was possible but not probable. Lacking a chamber gauge, I cut a piece of thick glossy card stock the width of the chamber and tested for length. Although somewhat crude, repeated testing confirmed a chamber length of 2-5/8". A 10 Gauge chamber length of 2-5/8" would be more standardized than a 2-1/2", I would assume.
The factory letter should remove all doubt, providing the information is still legible.
Feeling confident the chambers are 2-5/8" I ordered some reproduction all brass cases from Track of the Wolf. The cases incidentally are head stamped Parker Bro's Meriden, Conn. 10 gauge "A" (thin wall).
What were the most popular chamber lengths for the Parker 10 Gauge in or around 1880? Pardon my ignorance, I never paid much attention to the 10 Gauge until recently, when I decided I needed one.
One more question, what is meant be the phrase "short ten", cut barrels or just short ones, 30" or less? Okay, short chamber.
Bruce P Bruner is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-02-2022, 12:41 PM   #2
Member
Jay Oliver
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Jay Oliver's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,032
Thanks: 1,301
Thanked 3,147 Times in 622 Posts

Default

Hi Bruce, That is a nice and unique 10 gauge lifter you just got. I use and like those Track of the Wolf shells as well in 2 5/8". Most(not all) of the 10 gauge lifters before Top Lever production I have and have seen are 2 5/8" chambers. In addition, all of mine have what is referred to as stepped chambers and you can feel the step/ridge inside the barrels. I like shooting black powder loads with fiber wads in these.
I have experienced what I would call excess recoil with plastic wads in these guns in 1 1/8 loads(RST).

Having said that...I do have a nice 2 5/8" 1 oz. Red Dot target load that I fold crimp with the Remington Sp-10 wads that works great. That is as far as I would go with plastic wads and stepped chambers. They look neat to0...kind of like 2" 12 gauge shells. Just my opinion. I need to try some Red Dot loads with fiber wads.
Jay Oliver is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Jay Oliver For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 12:54 PM   #3
Member
Woodcock survey
PGCA Member
 
Daniel Carter's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 964
Thanks: 1,292
Thanked 1,386 Times in 594 Posts

Default

The term i believe is to separate it from the 3 and 3 1-2 tens.
Daniel Carter is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Daniel Carter For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 01:10 PM   #4
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

I have always been of the belief that the 2 5/8" chambered 10 gauge was the "short ten" while all others were not.

I have a 10 gauge 3-frame Grade-3 Lifter with the stepped 2 5/8" chambers that I shoot nothing but 2 3/4" cheddite plastic 1 1/4 oz. loads in.

It is my favorite turkey gun - if I don't have too far to walk.






.
__________________
"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
The Following User Says Thank You to Dean Romig For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 04:22 PM   #5
Member
ArtS
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 749
Thanks: 54
Thanked 1,009 Times in 394 Posts

Default

I have an 1874 and an 1880, both 2-5/8. Both of these are 9 gauge barrels which was the norm until later in the century. Even unmolested, the barrels are quite a bit larger than a regular 10 bore barrel and Parker even made reference as to the best load being with 9 gauge wads. This is also what is recommend by Magtech with their shells. I have a number of the cases you mention, and load them with 9 gauge wads under the powder and 8 gauge overshot. They fit perfectly and work well. I have also used a couple of brands of plastic uniwads, and they function fine, but are a little loose in the brass hulls. If your gun has a typical barrel,I would have no qualms about the stepped chamber, unless it gives problems in cold weather. The wadsare actually a little undersized for the bore size.
Arthur Shaffer is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Arthur Shaffer For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 04:32 PM   #6
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,596
Thanks: 1,616
Thanked 7,771 Times in 2,352 Posts

Default

The 1877 E. Remington & Sons catalog offers 2 5/8-inch No. 10 brass shells in A & B.

The 1880 UMC catalog offers No. 10 brass shells 2 5/8-inch and extra-long to 3-inch.

1880 empty brass shotshells.png

A & B shells are mentioned in the 1880, 1882, 1884 & 1885 UMC catalogs. No mention that I've seen of A & B shells in the 1887 and later catalogs.
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 05:16 PM   #7
Member
Bruce P Bruner
PGCA Member
 
Bruce P Bruner's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 517
Thanks: 1,121
Thanked 1,940 Times in 360 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arthur Shaffer View Post
I have an 1874 and an 1880, both 2-5/8. Both of these are 9 gauge barrels which was the norm until later in the century. Even unmolested, the barrels are quite a bit larger than a regular 10 bore barrel and Parker even made reference as to the best load being with 9 gauge wads. This is also what is recommend by Magtech with their shells. I have a number of the cases you mention, and load them with 9 gauge wads under the powder and 8 gauge overshot. They fit perfectly and work well. I have also used a couple of brands of plastic uniwads, and they function fine, but are a little loose in the brass hulls. If your gun has a typical barrel, I would have no qualms about the stepped chamber, unless it gives problems in cold weather. The wads are actually a little undersized for the bore size.
I'm thinking my barrels could be 9 Gauge, though I have yet to see any information regarding 9 gauge Parker barrels. They seem very large and thick, wall thickness of .078+ at the muzzles, weighing a stout 10lbs. 2.5oz. Unstruck barrels stamped 5lbs. 14ounces. The butt-stock is also very large and stout. Photo comparison: 1-1/2 frame 12 gauge and 3 frame 10 gauge.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 6B077052-4364-41CD-8499-5AFE4FACBCC2.jpg (516.0 KB, 1 views)
File Type: jpg 2D103296-363E-4156-A0D5-4D67925FB59F.jpg (514.2 KB, 0 views)

Last edited by Bruce P Bruner; 08-02-2022 at 08:55 PM.. Reason: Comparison photos
Bruce P Bruner is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bruce P Bruner For Your Post:
Unread 08-02-2022, 10:01 PM   #8
Member
Researcher
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Dave Noreen's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,596
Thanks: 1,616
Thanked 7,771 Times in 2,352 Posts

Default

Bill Jolliff gave me a couple of notebooks full of vintage shotshell info. Among the info is a copy of an 1886/7 Chamberlin Cartridge Co. catalog. For every style of their ammo there were specific 10- and 12-gauge loadings for Parker Bros. guns with over-size wads.

1886-7 page 7 Parker Load Highlighted.jpg
Dave Noreen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Dave Noreen For Your Post:
Unread 08-03-2022, 07:46 PM   #9
Member
charlie cleveland
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,986
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7,787 Times in 3,967 Posts

Default

I like the prices on these old shells....looks like 1 1/4 ounce for the 10 ga was normal..i have a few old shells with these loadings....thanks researcher....charlie
charlie cleveland is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-03-2022, 07:52 PM   #10
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Just to return to the first post: I have found it not uncommon to see guns advertised having chamber lengths different than what my own measurements reveal. I think here is much to be desired in some of the "for sale" information that gets posted.
__________________
“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 online now   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Garry L Gordon For Your Post:
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 12:53 PM.

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.