What a Nice Shotgun!

[rusty gunns]

Always on the prowl for the best shooters (not collectors) for Cowboy Action, I go to most of the local auctions. Over the years, I've had great success with rifles. Both Winchesters and Marlins (See my signature below)

But Shotguns have always been special to me. I have an old Belgian 12 gauge hammer gun. Its a mid 1880's doll. Its Damascus but rated for smokeless but I shoot 75 and 75 out of it. The barrels are 19" and its a bear when it goes off.

But I was at an auction last fall and put a bid on a Damascus Parker Brothers Double hammer less made in 1878. Though all the numbers match, the barrels were cut down to 20" so it has no collector's value. The gun is in incredible condition. Plumb brown all over and the wood is tight and untouched with no dings or dents. The action is a little stiff to open, but the gun wasn't shot too much

After all it is a 10 gauge!

I got some federal hulls and load them down to 90 and 90. And believe me, this sweetheart will rock your world when she goes off.

I will get some pictures out as soon as I can.

[MrMurphy]

Short barreled 10 gauge Parker?



Might not have collector value, but I bet it has some interesting stories to tell.

[rusty gunns]

Yup. Someone at some time brought the barrels down to 22 inches.

In my first post I said 20" I was incorrect. Its 22"

[gamekeeper]

Way back in the sixties I resleeved a beautiful damascus Parker and the owner in Texas wanted it cut down to 20".
Congratulations on finding a great shotgun, I love Parkers but they are seldom found over here.

[Nath]

Glad for you.

Forgive my ignorance but what is 75 and 90? Black powder charges?

N.

[Borregos]

Glad for you.

Forgive my ignorance but what is 75 and 90? Black powder charges?

N.

Yeah, I was wondering that too

[rusty gunns]

Glad for you.

Forgive my ignorance but what is 75 and 90? Black powder charges?

N.

Sorry bout that. Loading a black powder shotgun, muzzle loader or shell can always be tricky.

The rule of thumb for starter loads is always measure the powder, then use the same volume of shot. So if you used a 75 grain dipper for your powder, use the same dipper to measure your shot. Then play with the load ... a little more this, or less that to get the pattern you want. A bit more shot ( say for goose or birds out a ways) will give you choke, a tighter pattern. A little less shot (for rabbit or squirrel )will spread out the pattern.

I have a flint lock 12 gauge that, with 90 grains of f-2 under 105 grains (by volume) of #6 with just three over-shot cards between them gives me a pretty good goose load out to 35 yards. The barrel is 24"

So, yes. What I mean is 75 grains of f-2 under the same volume of shot for my 12 gauge, and 90 grains of f-2 powder under the same volume of shot for my 10 gauge. I've been using #6 and #5 shot for both.

The standard load for a 10 gauge black powder shotgun is 120 grains of f-2 and an equal amount of shot. This gun is stout enough, so I gave that a try. And I'm here to say that a load like that really rocked me back on my heals. No enjoyment there at all. Plus (According to on lookers) it threw a flame 20 feet long out of the muzzle.

A terrible waist of powder and the cartilage in my shoulder.

[Nath]

I used 90 grn powder and a little more than 1 1/4oz of shot in my 10g. Shot woodcock to ducks with my M/L fowling piece 10g.

In a choked breech loader I put a little more powder than shot though.



Thanks

N.