Parker VH 28GA Question

[esetter - Gerry Addison]

I have a Parker 28 gauge VH on a 0 frame. Does anyone know when they started using 2 3/4 inch chambers on the 28GA guns at Parker factory?

[Jeff Elder]

I’m not anywhere close to the experts on here, but I don’t think Parker when it was in Connecticut ever made a 2 3/4 unless someone special ordered it. The New York Parkers have them.

[Dean Romig]

I think Dave "Researcher" Noreen will be able to pinpoint it for us.





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[Researcher]

From the get go our North American ammunition companies offered the 28-gauge in two lengths. The "standard" shell was 2 1/2-inch with a load of 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or 14 grains of dense smokeless powders such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing 5/8-ounce of shot. Or, a slightly hotter load of 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or 16 grains of dense smokeless powders such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing the same 5/8-ounce of shot.

28-gauge Bulk Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16.jpeg

28-gauge Dense Smokeless Powder Loads 1915-16 Infallible or Ballistite.jpg

NITRO CLUB 28-ga 1 3-4 dram, 5-8 ounce.jpg

TARGET 28-ga 2 7-8 inch.jpg

Those were the loads offered until 1931.

In his 1910 book Chas. Askins wrote of hand loading 2 1/8-dram 3/4-ounce loads in 2 7/8-inch cases for his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge.

In 1931, Western Cartridge Co. finally got around to applying progressive burning smokeless powder to the 28-gauge, bringing out their high velocity Super-X 28-gauge load with a 3/4-ounce payload, put up in the 2 7/8-inch shell.

Super-X 28-gauge, 2 7-8-inch, #6 Chilled Shot.jpg

NID 28-ga Field & Stream April 1932.jpg

The Remington era Parker specification sheets, reproduced in The Parker Story, show the 28-gauge to have a 2 13/16-inch chamber intended for the 2 7/8-inch shell.
Remington Specification Sheet GHE 28-ga highlighted.jpg

In the later 1930s the companies were putting out 28-gauge Skeet loads in both 2 1/2-inch 5/8-ounce --

Xpert 28-gauge, SKEET LOAD, 2 1-2 inch.jpg

and the Western Super-X, Remington Nitro Express, Winchester Super-Speed and Peters High Velocity 28-gauge 2 7/8-inch 3/4-ounce loads with #9 shot were marked Skeet.

Just before WW-II the companies began putting out 28-gauge Skeet loads in a 2 3/4-inch shell --

Xpert 28-gauge, SKEET LOAD, 2 3-4 inch, 3, Aug 2019.jpg

Shortly after WW-II the manufacturers settled on the 2 3/4-inch 28-gauge shell.

[Dean Romig]

Ask and ye shall receive. Thanks Dave.




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[Researcher]

I looked through the pictures I've saved of late Remington Parkers with the grade, gauge and shell length stamped on the side of the lug. I found I have every gauge but 28-gauge.

[edgarspencer]

In the current Morphy auction, there is a (purported to be the sole 30" CHE in 28ga.) Meriden made gun, with PGCA letter indicating a 1929 mfg. date, with 2 3/4" chambers.

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/...LOT586562.aspx

[Dean Romig]

Which all goes to show that Parker Brothers would build a gun to just about any desire within reason and good taste.





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[esetter - Gerry Addison]

Gentlemen, thank you so much for sharing your expertise. Greatly appreciated.

[Dean Romig]

Edgar, with those 30" barrels in 28 gauge I would more likely expect to see 2 7/8" chambers...






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