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Joined: Nov 2019
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Sidelock
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Sidelock

Joined: Nov 2019
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Hi,
I’m in a situation where the British-American debate is not hypothetical. Beyond all the other shotguns I’ve used over the years, I’ve been searching for twenty years for the right side by side. Over the years I’ve owned a modest Spanish double, a really nice Lefever DS grade that didn’t fit, an inherited Damascus Parker GH, and I currently own a Sterlingworth pin gun and LC Smith featherweight.

Of all these guns, I shoot the Sterlingworth best. It’s a 12 ga, 30” full and full I use for waterfowl. Without making this story longer than necessary, I looking at buying another gun from a double gun guy up here, six hours drive away. He mostly specializes in classic British doubles 2-1/2” chambers to keep them affordable, but he has a couple Parker’s for sale. Both are VH grade 12 gauge, one completely original 2-3/4” 30” full and full- $3,000, the other with a poorly reblued barrels, 3” chambers, must have been done a long time ago and refinished original stock $1,500.

I hunt a lot, mostly waterfowl average two days a week, but I also love pheasant hunting east of the mountains. My budget is $3,000, I’m torn between buying one of those really nice British guns, beautiful wood, fancy engraving, light straight stock, but both Parker’s look nice too. Please help.😀

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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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find what fits you best. They are all good guns. Shooting is more about proper fit than what country made the gun.

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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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buy a six pound, 16 ga fox for birds...why burden yourself with a heavy, clunky ole parker...an skip the limey gons...lots of them dumped here with dangerously thin barrel walls...plus, they are often stocked for shooting incoming potted birds, not like our fair chase, flushed, american style bird hunting guns...

and by all means, alter the wood on the 16 to match your 12 gauge fox, which fits you so well...

Last edited by ed good; 03/08/21 03:46 AM.

keep it simple and keep it safe...
1 member likes this: Glacierjohn
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Sidelock
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For a really well engineered SXS, one that is built for your enjoyment and not your gunsmith's profit look at the Beretta 626.

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Sidelock
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I don't know what kind of loads you use for ducks, but if they're near the 1 1/4 oz. range I wouldn't be considering a lightweight, straight stocked gun. I find a straight grip pretty, but less adaptable to duck loads than a pistol, or semi-pistol, grip. I have a restocked 32" barreled A grade Phil. Fox with 3" chambers that I really should move down the road. It's straight gripped and I just cannot shoot it as well as my pistol gripped Fox duck guns. It's basically a single shot for me because it's just so much harder to manage the recoil before getting on that second shot. Light weight exacerbates that issue. I know Bo Whoop was straight gripped and Mr. Nash managed it just fine with heavy loads, but I ain't him. Most people ain't.


May God bless America and those who defend her.
1 member likes this: Glacierjohn
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Sidelock
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berettas are wonderful gons...if you like that sorta thang...


keep it simple and keep it safe...
1 member likes this: Glacierjohn
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Sidelock
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Sidelock

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To be more clear I’m looking at having two good side by sides. A dedicated waterfowl gun that can handle 1-1/4 oz loads, that fits well, is reliable and weighs mid seven pounds and a nice light upland gun either a 16 ga or light 12.

Right now I have that restored LC 12 ga featherweight, that is a pretty gun, weighs 6#-9oz, 28” barrels, seems to fit well but for some reason I just am not in love with it.

I bought the Sterly from a respected member of this forum who has been a saint to work with. It’s a late pin gun in fair originally condition, no color left but no pitting on the outside. There is some pitting inside the barrels just forward of the chambers, but my gunsmith say nothing to worry about, the stock may have been revarnished at some point, but it has all the dings and handling marks you would expect out of an old gun. The only problem with it is it occasionally pops open on shooting. I’ve got it with another gunsmith right now to hopefully fix that permanently. Both gunsmiths say the gun is in great condition inside, the internal parts are clean, and don’t appear overly worn.

So my issues with the Fox are reliability and looks of the beat up stock. I’m ok with the look of the barrels and action.

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Sidelock
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Sidelock

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Btw, the Parker I’m looking at is a 16 ga, 28 barrels 6#-6oz. I’m going to check on the stock dimensions.

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Sidelock
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Beware of the Parker with 3” chambers unless it was made that way at the factory. If lengthened, the wall thickness in front of the chamber may have been compromised. If it’s a #2 frame it may be OK but not necessarily. Also, heavy recoil loads could do damage to that old wood. Caveat emptor!


When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
1 member likes this: Glacierjohn
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Sidelock
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Sidelock

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Originally Posted by Joe Wood
Beware of the Parker with 3” chambers unless it was made that way at the factory. If lengthened, the wall thickness in front of the chamber may have been compromised. If it’s a #2 frame it may be OK but not necessarily. Also, heavy recoil loads could do damage to that old wood. Caveat emptor!

Yep, I talked to Delgreco and he warned me about that. On the other hand, it is a #2 frame with relatively heavy (4#-4oz) barrels, and appears to have been done a long time ago. My gunsmith, a Parker guy, thinks it’s probably proved itself after being shot this long. Btw, I would never shoot 3” anything out of it, 2-3/4” 1-1/4 Oz loads of bismuth or lead.

Oh, I forgot to mention it’s a VHE, both ejectors work, but the right one is weaker than the left. Hopefully it just needs a thorough cleaning and it’s not some broken part.

Last edited by Glacierjohn; 03/08/21 12:14 PM.
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