Parker Hale - Sporter or Safari?

[tusker]

I have the Parker Hale Safari in 270 shoots 1 inch groups if I do my bit. It was probably biult around 1967. I did fit a timny trigger which made a fantastic difference. All my other rifles are CZ,s but I love this Parker Hale and they are incredable value for money.
Tusker

 

[Brithunter]

Will PM Adam Ant..? Meanwhile one dealer just sent this...thoughts? The gun is marked both Precision sports inc Cortland NY and Parker-Hale ltd. :?:birmingham england...

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That's a Midland 2100 built in England and exported to the US through their agent there. It's not one of the dodgy Gibbs ones.

Oh yes Parker-Hale claimed that with fresh Norma ammunition that their rifles would group within 1 1/2" at 100 yards. In May 1081 Guns review did a test of a 1200 Super in 270 Winchester and they put 11 shots into a group at 100 yards that was within this claim of 1 1/2". Not so shabby as they didn't wait for teh barrel to cool either.

 

[Brithunter]

Blimey - how much is the std mag and will the Scout one work ok? You saying that second rifle is a 1200c? The first one it turns out is a 2600, so that's out.

Sorry I cannot comment of the price of a standard magazine as I simply do not know of any for sale. My rifle came with two, one of which had been slightly abused and needed a bit of TLC and tweaking, at the moment I do not know where either of them is or if I still own a spare magazine.

I have heard of a couple of decent 2600's but I personally would not take the chance on one except for collection only to fill a slot in the line up of the P-H history.

The 1200C is a 1200 Super Clip although I have not yet come a cross one they also made a 1000C with drop magazine. Low and behold Joe at Gunshop has one listed for sale. Came up in a google search.

 

[Toxster]

Found some more pics of rifle 2

 

[8x57]

This is another one I'm looking at:
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I may well be wrong but this doesn't look like a standard 1200C to me. It looks like someone has converted a 1200 to take large detachable mags possibly from the PH scout model or more possibly from another maker. In any case if they have needed such a large magazine capacity it is likely that they have used it for tactical type rifle competitions and will have fired a large number of rounds in rapid succession. The other rifle in the first photographs is quite clearly a Midland. In either case my value on each rifle would be £150 at max maybe less when you get to inspect them closely.

If you have set your mind on a Parker Hale you need to be looking for a genuine sleeper after all these rifles were last made quite a few years ago now.

 

[Toxster]

That makes sense, I must admit the large mag isn't screaming "light use..."

 

[Brithunter]

The "C" models with detachable magazines used different bottom metal. The front part which the action screw goes through is a separate piece and made of steel:-



That is the one on mine. The photos in the post are not clear enough to really determine if this is the case or not. Gibbs I believe did make a 10 magazine conversion for the P-H rifles but quality was rather hit'n'miss I understand. I also heard of some pro stalkers using rifles with larger magazines in park culling. Other have them as they think they look "Tacticool" .

As for values well that varies a lot especially depending upon location. Go to a certain largish gunshop in Norfolk and that rifle would be priced at over £400 from what I have seen there in the past. When i went in there with a friend about something I spotted a BSA Monarch in the rack labelled as a BSA Five Star and priced at £395 as it was a rare model. The owner was not interested in knowing what it really was. Neither of us spent any money there and neither have ever been back nor are likely to ever go back. He also had a BSA Model E miss labelled and hugely over priced.

If the same rifle had a Germanic name it would be double or treble the price why the British devalue our own stuff all the time is a wonder to me.

 

[Toxster]

Ok, the seller is unwilling to budge on £200, which considering I am now thinking I need a heavy barrel (target work) is making this a no-go.

May have a look at BSA CF2s as they seem a bit less troublesome to identify, though a tad pricier. This may be my last attempt at an historic rifle...starting to look at Tikka T3 Varmints....though would rather have a T3 barrelled action with a GRS stock.

If anyone wants the details of that seller PM me; he's in Bristol.

 

[Great Bear]

Maybe its just us Albertans...but my Parker Hales never missed anything that I didn't miss first.
Thats why guys here will pay new rifle prices for them.
Mind you... they did have issues at the end of their run...after they started making them in the states.
Can't find replacement magazines to save your soul though...


I have two 1200SC's in 30-06 and I'm MOA out to 400 meters with handloads...with both.
I shoot 150 gr Sierra GK's usually but 180 gr still groups almost as well.
For factory rounds I found Winchester ballistic tips in 150 were what the rifle preferred.

I've owned both, and still own a safari in 30-06. To be honest I've been lucky with P-H's, all the ones I've owned have shot very well. I had one in 308 Norma Mag that would put 3 rounds into a half inch all day...... if I didn't blow the shot that is. They're still popular and sought after over here and have a very good reputation.

AB

 

[waynewjw]

Just acquired two PH Safari's still packed in grease - .270 and .30-06. Looks like a birch stock and ID marks put it as a 1070 mfg. date. Trying to determine who made the action on this rifle. Not a deluxe model, no rosewood. Any helps would be appreciated.

 

[Muir]

Just acquired two PH Safari's still packed in grease - .270 and .30-06. Looks like a birch stock and ID marks put it as a 1070 mfg. date. Trying to determine who made the action on this rifle. Not a deluxe model, no rosewood. Any helps would be appreciated.

That's an early rifle. Action made of bronze or steel? ~Muir

 

[waynewjw]

My bad, I guess bronze if 1070. Duh!! I meant 1970! Thx for the correction.

 

[Muir]

My bad, I guess bronze if 1070. Duh!! I meant 1970! Thx for the correction.

Just funnin with ya, Amigo. ~Muir

 

[8x57]

Just acquired two PH Safari's still packed in grease - .270 and .30-06. Looks like a birch stock and ID marks put it as a 1070 mfg. date. Trying to determine who made the action on this rifle. Not a deluxe model, no rosewood. Any helps would be appreciated.

That's a early one, must have been made by Methuselah.

I take it that you meant 1970. Can you post some pictures please Wayne.

At that time almost certainly Parker Hale were using Santa Barbara (Spanish) actions so if it is it will have the solid receiver wall without the thumb cut out. Are you sure on the stock wood? As far as I know Parker Hale only used Italian made walnut stocks on their rifles.

 

[waynewjw]

Here's some pic's to help my discovery of who, what re: Parker Hale











Hope these pic's help track down who made the receiver on this critter??

 

[bewsher500]

Here's some pic's to help my discovery of who, what re: Parker Hale











Hope these pic's help track down who made the receiver on this critter??

"sporterised" miltary reciever complete with stripper clip groove and thumb notch on right hand side
have one myself but most had the stripper clip groove and associated lump on the top of the receiver machined out or welded up to accept telescopic sights.
A lot of sources of ex military receivers though


interesting to see the rear three position "flag" safety.
It doesnt look like the original switch though
parker hale went with a trigger thumb safety at some point, that might narrow down the age

sure Kevin will be along to nail in one though

 

[8x57]

I may very well be totally wrong but my first thoughts are that rifle wasn't made in 1970. Either you are mistaken and it predates 1970 or that it is one of those made by the Gibbs rifle company in the U.S. Lets just say that I would dig a little bit more into the history of your rifle Wayne.

As Brewsher says this is an exmilitary K98 action fitted with a flag safety. So it is either an absolute sleeper or made by Gibbs.

 

[interceptor]

Perhaps one of these ( TX1200 )...

And this is how they shoot all the time with the right handloads ( when i do my bit properly )


Stretching her legs at 1017yds ( you can just see the targets in the distance ).......
And yes i did use mine for stalking

 

[waynewjw]

The crossed swords have a U on left side and B on right side and 3 on the bottom. The U tells me 1970, right?

 

[8x57]

The crossed swords have a U on left side and B on right side and 3 on the bottom. The U tells me 1970, right?

I would have thought that by 1970 Parker hale would have gone over to the slide mounted safety and commercial Mauser actions rather than exmilitary but you could well be correct.