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| < 16ga. General Discussion ~ My first request for help... |
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:24 pm
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Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Southern, NJ
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Hi gang -
I am really thankful for this site and of your collective wisdom.
I saved my pennies and decided I could have many guns or a nice gun.
I am a couple days away from a Parker 16 gauge with many miles on it.
But, I have never handled a gun that fit me so perfectly or swings so well!
It has a #1 frame and I am in love with it.
I am from SD and always just used one of grandfather's guns or whatever
was behind the door of the garage!
Anyway, here is where I could use some help - especially from you reloading folks.
I now live in NJ. I would like to go deer hunting next month.
NJ (being flat) basically has no rifle hunting - just shotgun, muzzle, or bow.
I am really more of a bird man and I think I am going out for one day for deer.
But, I want to go out with that Parker - if I can...
I told two men that I wanted to find (or maybe load) 16 gauge buckshot.
You would have thought I said that I was going to shoot Roman candles out of it.
My question is... can a Parker (Vulcan grade) handle/shoot buckshot???
I recognize this is a beautiful fowling piece, but to me I also see it as a
multipurpose shotgun capable of more than just grouse.
Is shooting buckshot or a slug out of it some form of blasphemy?
PLEASE advise,
Shannon |
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Just trying my best to hunt in NJ. |
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:50 am
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Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 1007
Location: Lancaster county, Pa
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| Stay away from the buckshot all together unless you shoot deer at 30 or 40 yards. Depending on choke you could shoot some old slugs through it. I would buy a slug gun or muzzleloader to hunt deer if I was you. |
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:34 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Apr 2005
Posts: 339
Location: Schuyler County, NY.
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I own Parkers and you do not wanna shoot buckshot through them------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------its a felony  Buy yourself a Deerslayer smooth /rifled and you'll be happy. Your Parker will be happy too  |
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:26 pm
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Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Southern, NJ
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I appreciate the two replies...
No one would even think twice or question a 12 gauge slug or buckshot - why is that?
Do we baby/coddle our sixteens?
Could buckshot be somehow dangerous/barrel damaging???
Here is something to consider and it is with a 20 gauge Parker:
http://www.parkergun.org/forums/view_topic.php?id=4405&forum_id=1&highlight=buck
Thoughts, ideas, opinions?
Thanks - Shannon |
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Just trying my best to hunt in NJ. |
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Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:41 pm
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Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 295
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
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Shannon,
It really depends on the age, condition, and barrel thickness of your VH grade Parker. Is it 2 3/4" chambers? Are the barrels fluid steel vs. damascus? Is there any pitting or honing inside your barrels? What chokes are your barrels? (I wouldn't shoot slugs or buckshot out of an older mod or ull choke barrel, due to risk of bulging.).
If the gun is 2 3/4" chambered with modern fluid steel barrels that are sufficiently thick and of the right choke, then you probably could shoot slugs or buckshot out of your gun. However, I would definitely have it checked out by a good competent gunsmith who knows sxs shotguns before making that decision.
Having said that, why risk it? Why not just take a pump or automatic with a slug barrel for deer? That doesn't seem to be babying the 16, but rather just not taking an unnecessary risk.
Brad
Most of the slug or buckshot shotshells for |
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:45 pm
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Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 295
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
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| mistake sorry |
Last edited by KyBrad16ga on Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:45 pm
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Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 295
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
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Shannon,
It really depends on the age, condition, and barrel thickness of your VH grade Parker. Is it 2 3/4" chambers? Are the barrels fluid steel vs. damascus? Is there any pitting or honing inside your barrels? What chokes are your barrels? (I wouldn't shoot slugs or buckshot out of an older mod or full choke barrel, due to risk of bulging.). Are you able to reload your own 16ga buckshot or slugs to keep the pressures down? Most of the slug or buckshot shotshells for 16ga are modern shells with very high SAAMI pressures up to 12,000 psi, which could be dangerous in older guns.
If the gun is 2 3/4" chambered with modern fluid steel (or well maintained damascus) barrels that are sufficiently thick and of the right choke, then you probably could shoot slugs or buckshot out of your gun. However, I would definitely have it checked out by a good competent gunsmith who knows sxs shotguns before making that decision.
Having said that, why risk it? Why not just take a pump or automatic with a slug barrel for deer? That doesn't seem to be babying the 16, but rather just not taking an unnecessary risk.
Brad |
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:10 pm
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Member
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 295
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
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