doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com RBL 28 or Parker Repro 28

Researcher's gun was likely made as a fowling research project or fashion statement - both are OK with me and the gun now makes sense to me.

DM and bb3 - I agree that they are neat. But, why are they neat? Far as I know, both the 16 and 20 work equally well on doves and quail. So, it is not exactly a utility issue, or is it? Fashion? But which is more fashionable for quail and which for doves? DM, you are right on that M-21!! I don't think I even want to know the mental (or lack there of) process that went into it!!

LB - So, back to the original question. If you can get a set of 16 gauge barrels on a given frame, why is it not a 16 gauge frame? If you can get 16's on it, then it is for sure bigger than it has to be to get 20's on it. Why not say it is a scale 16 gauge frame with a set of standard/heavy 20's? Or, the frame is sized to accomodate light 16's and standard/heavy 20's. I understand the marketing hype that the implied shoehorning of larger gauge barrels onto a smaller gauge frame gives.

Rocketman, I think we're now down to "Dancing with the Stars"--but with angels on the head of a pin. Example: standard 16ga frame size for the old Parkers was #1, but you could also get a 16ga built on an 0 frame, which was the standard frame size for a 20. Could you get a 20 on an 00 frame? Parker experts may know the answer to that one, but guess I haven't heard of a 20 on an 00 frame.

Whatever, the reason a Merkel 1620 is lighter than a standard Merkel 16 (47E/147E) is the fact that they use the standard 20ga frame. You'd have to talk to them about what they call it.

LB - I think the Parker system of numbering frame sizes without associating them with a particular gauge is really the best system. That way I don't have to wonder if the #1 frame 16 is on a scale 16 frame or really on a 12 frame. It is simply a 16 on a #1 frame and I can get a heavier 16 on #1 1/2 frame or a lighter one on an #0 frame. You can only go so small in frame size for any given gauge, but you can always go larger as per Researcher's 20 gauge on a #2 frame.

Thanks Markel. I already have a Repro 28 2 barrel set that I really like the looks of, but I don't shoot it worth a darn because, as Tom28 indicated in another discussion, I am a fair amount taller than 4'11" and the drop is way too flat for me. I have a 20 ga late RBL which has more drop and I shoot it a lot better. I think I would shoot the RBL 28 better than the Repro, although I don't think it is as good looking a gun.
Gordon

I hunt with a 28 gauge Parker repro with 26" barrels and really like it! I like RBL also. Bobby