Parker Hale

[vizslamad]

Nothing wrong with them, both myself and Adamant shoot Parker Hales and have no problems with them and can you believe it. A deer shot with one of these is just as dead as the one shot by say a Blazer or any other make you wish to mention. I dont think they care, do you?

John.

PS Brithunter, nice job on the stock for one second I thought it was another of those top of the range jobbies!

 

[Brithunter]

Thank you. All I did was use Nitomors to remove the old chipped finish then de-whisker the stock and allow to dry totally then applied a couple fo coats of Red Oil (Alkanet root oil) to bring the grain contrast out then use the Stock oil that came from the stock finsh kit. I angled the rifle in the phot to the light caught the grain well. Being a normal production piece the opposite side is much plainer........................ Oh well can't have it all I suppose. Once it warms up i have the P-H 1200C to do as it has soem small compression marks in the wood that were there when I got it so............................... You will love that one as it has tiger striping all through the stock.

 

[enfieldspares]

My gundealer says he hasn't been asked for one since the 80's! If you're going to buy a gun and keep for a few years why not buy something decent instead of a cheaply built crock of badger crap!

Ha!

Parker Hale really did themselves no favours with the "*******ised Weatherby" look in the 1970s and yet they were good rifles.

I have probably - with the 1100 Lighweight - one of the better looking models the M81 Classic. But by the time it arrived effectively the day had ended for P-H.

 

[Amberdog]

My first rifle was a super safari parker hale in 243 I wish i had kept it bloody good rifle and a clasic look
amberdog

 

[Brithunter]

Ha!

Parker Hale really did themselves no favours with the "*******ised Weatherby" look in the 1970s and yet they were good rifles.

I have probably - with the 1100 Lighweight - one of the better looking models the M81 Classic. But by the time it arrived effectively the day had ended for P-H.

While I have to agree that Parker-Hale were remiss in not updating the style of their rifles. Not only should the angular fore end tip have been dropped but so should have the white spacers also been binned. The late 1200's have a very good stock design and style but sadly they retained the white spacers :-

Much better (whoops sorry for the out of focus photo ) than the angular "California style" such as this. Hmmm not so sure about the Scotch or skip line chequering :-

Now compare the two stock styles:-

Whilst both are comfortable, to me anyway , the lower more modern looking of the two is far more pleasing to the eye don't you think. Actually the Supers stock is more comfortable to my left hand than the 1100 Lwts especially for a standing shot. The fore stock is too thick and tapers too quickly. It really needs to be trimmer like the old BSA stocks but again that's just for my preference.

Now one could always just round the angular fore end off on the older supers should one wish that is if one is not worried about their being collectable!

If you're going to buy a gun and keep for a few years why not buy something decent instead of a cheaply built crock of badger crap!

Now I could not agree with you more which is why I will not give house room to either a Weatherby or a Remington 700, 710, 770. Now if I came across a nice model 30s at the right price that would be a different matter .

What I find strange is that stalkers will pay thousands to buy a rifle that shoots no better and often worse than a Parker-Hale however I do think P-H should have selected better wood for their rifles and charged a bit more, the finish on the rifles themselves was excellent and better than a lot of the "Modern crop" offered today, their trigger is excellent and hard to beat really. The action is pure Mauser 98 which it seems some bemoan especially bolt slop at full retraction. This is not a fault of Parker-Hale but the design of the Mauser 98 itself. Funnily enough it never seems to be mentioned as a negative of Rigbys of FN rifles only when talking about Parker-Hales .However one looks at it they had to get over the stigma which for some reason was attached to their rifles same as CZ/Brno has had to contend with where they're looked down upon by quite a large section of the stalking communitiy.

 

[cumbrian]

I have a PH Midland in 243 and think it shoots really well with homeloads 55 to 80 grain , but struggles with 100gr , twist rates I would imagine
atb Brian

 

[Sam]

Sorry Chaps. I just think they are ugly . If you like a wooden gun I would go for a 1903 Mannlicher, or whenever they were built. I myself am a plastic/stainless kinda guy, but hey meat and poision and all that.


atb

Sam

 

[Sam]

1. Im pretty certain they were made in spain. I dislike the Spainish - (they steal our fish and stab cows)
2. I just cant see the point of a wooden~blued gun. Why?


atb

Sam

(If you are Spainish, thats a shame)

 

[Brithunter]

Sorry Chaps. I just think they are ugly . If you like a wooden gun I would go for a 1903 Mannlicher, or whenever they were built. I myself am a plastic/stainless kinda guy, but hey meat and poision and all that.


atb

Sam

Sorry Sam but you lack of knowledge is showing the Mannlicher Model 1903 was chambered for the 6.5x54MS cartridge and was available in a number of styles including the sevtte full stock. It's an all time classic deer rifle and cartridge. Properly called the Schoenauer is has a superbly smooth rotary magazine. Now the Schoenauer was also available in models 1905 (8x56 Mannlicher) 1908 (9x56 Mannlicher), , 1910 (9.5x56 Mannlicher, also known as the .375 RNE 2 1/4"), 1924, 1930 and 1952. Hope I didn't miss any out and that I got the models and chamberings correct there was a slightly earlier model 1900 which I know almost nothing about.

The model numbers are when they were introduced my 1903 was made prior to 1924 but exactly when we don't know. After 1924 I am told the dropped the bi-directional magazine floor plate to cut costs.

And Sam Parker-Hales were made in Birmingham although P-H never made the actions they brought them in and yes they did buy some from Santa Barbra in Spain which were then finished in Birmingham England.

When you neglect you sooper dooper stainles and plastic toy and it rusts don't tell me as I will laugh at you for being so niave . Plastic is cold and soul-less it also adds to your carbon footprint being made from oil. Oh and when the plastic breaks down in years to come I will find that amusing too I won't have a plastic stock .

Nice wood will last for a century or more with moderate care and I have a couple that are over that age and funnily enough the bedding is still true. No plastics or putty just careful inletting by acraftsman into a properly seasoned bit of walnut .

 

[Muir]

Meat and Poison indeed. Over here we say that some peoples taste is all in their mouth. Plastic and stainless! Give me warm walnut and carbon steel any day.~Muir

 

[Sam]

Your right Brit. I have little knowledge of old guns, and a limited knowledge of new guns. I never proffesed otherwise. You seem to be quite the expert on such things - I bow to your knowledge, honestly I do. I see a rifle as a tool. I dont really care about how it looks number one concern for me is putting deer on the floor, I am not a gun person -I am a "hunter" I use it because its more humane than a bow. I am also lazy, if I could get away without cleaning my gun I would, simples, I would rather be stalking than cleaning guns.


Sam

 

[Brithunter]

Sam,

You seem to be quite the expert on such things

Nope I may know more than some but I know less than I would like to and others do!

I don't mind cleaning guns actually it does not take long and I have always had an interest in guns since a little boy and it's grown as I have. Yes I love hunting but I like shooting too. Not the competative type I am happy testing out new loads. different guns and just learning new techniques. As I like new challenges I fully intend to get proficient with sporting aperture sights and hunt with them.

Oh I also do a bit of archery and have a quite nice Re-curve, now that's modern with an alloy riser and carbon foam limbs but then again that's a totally different concept for me.

 

[Tyke]

I can understand the attraction of a stainless/ synthetic rifle [I'm still considering one], but as it ages it just looks increasingly scruffy, where as a nicely oiled walnut stock if properly cared for can look better as it develops a depth of finish. I suppose the s/ s version is like the overalls a keeper wears all week & the walnut & blued action are the shoot day tweeds. There does seem to be a belief held by some that the modern s/s combo is more accurate & will out shoot the traditional wood & blue, now if the wood has warped due to moisture etc then this will be true, but other wise, say with a fully floated barrel, then surely both will shoot the same, all other factors being equal?

Am I wrong & clinging to the aethestic appeal of the traditional rifle? Or, is there a degree of 'hype' & marketing surrounding the latest trends?

Regards, Tyke.

 

[Muir]

Your right Brit. I have little knowledge of old guns, and a limited knowledge of new guns. I never proffesed otherwise. You seem to be quite the expert on such things - I bow to your knowledge, honestly I do. I see a rifle as a tool. I dont really care about how it looks number one concern for me is putting deer on the floor, I am not a gun person -I am a "hunter" I use it because its more humane than a bow. I am also lazy, if I could get away without cleaning my gun I would, simples, I would rather be stalking than cleaning guns.


Sam

Good Grief! Are we supposed to be cleaning those things, too???~Muir

 

[flytie]

Am I wrong & clinging to the aethestic appeal of the traditional rifle? Or, is there a degree of 'hype' & marketing surrounding the latest trends?

Regards, Tyke.

No Tyke, I don't think you are! I look at nice wood and love the feel and the look of it. I wanted a Sako 75 deluxe but by the time my FAC came through I could only get 85's and for more money too. So I bought a plastic fantastic 75. But it does not stop me appreciating, and wanting, a nice bit of timber on a rifle. It took me ages to find a shotgun with nice wood, but I did.

One of these days i will have a traditional rifle, but I can understand those who do not want to spend the extra on a nicely figured piece of walnut. Especially if they are using it hard, or letting clients use it.

There are an increasing amount of people i know who are buying old Parker Hales, not all of which have nice wood. But their accuracy makes me wonder if the rifle industry has just been re-inventing the wheel for the last 30 years to get us to part with our hard earned cash? It's like the Sako's, are they getting better, or more profitable? I know what i think

ft

 

[Brithunter]

There are an increasing amount of people i know who are buying old Parker Hales, not all of which have nice wood. But their accuracy makes me wonder if the rifle industry has just been re-inventing the wheel for the last 30 years to get us to part with our hard earned cash? It's like the Sako's, are they getting better, or more profitable? I know what i think

Ahhhhh flytie,

We might share the same line of thought. I often feel there should be an open season "accountants" they have ruined many a nice product by their insistance of savings and cost cuttign to "improve" the bottom line .

"ALL HAIL THE GREAT GOD EXCESSIVE PROFIT!"

 

[Thar]

I can now appreciate both styles of rifle, my first ones was walnut and blued steel, I really wanted the practicality of the stainless synthetic rifle and over time that all my rifles became such animals, in fact one has a titanium action. “Functionality has a beauty all of its own.” For a while I could see no reason for a wood/blued rifle for stalking, and I know that Browning is only importing S/S stalking rifles.

However I am now starting to think about owning one traditional rifle just to take out on nice summer days, I have recently brought two English shotguns one a hammer gun which I quite fancy shooting over my pointer in a 18th century style.

I have quite enjoyed Brit’s post on his old rifles despite the PH/Midland I had was nothing but trouble.

ATB

Tahr

 

[Brithunter]

Thank you tahr. I believe it depends on the care and usage of previous owners can have a lot to do with how well a used rifle shoots. For example I have one rifle which has not given me the precison in grouping I was expecting. it's an on going project that one as is the 25-06 which I intend taking to Steves workshop for him to give a good looking over before we decide what can be done and what should be done to improve it's consistancy. I have a feeling that the bedding requires a little attention .

While it has given gouping that would be perfectly acceptable for a factory std rifle I am sure it can do better and there is the little point of the large shift in POI with a bi-pod fitted to be addressed. To me it's all part of the learning process and part of the fun although it does make you feel like tearing ones hair out at times .

Now years ago I did range test a Mannlicher SSG with the thoughts of buying it. Chambered in 7x64 it was very accurate but I just could not get round that cold feeling plastic handle they put on it. I ended up buying a Ruger No1B in 300 win mag instead . That rifle is gone but the scope that was on it remains here. it had a Leupold Vari X 111 2.5-8 on it and the price was £28 more then the scope cost.

Now for my next stalk I am tossing up whether to take the 59 vintage BSA Majestic Featherweight in .270 or the much later BSA CF2 in 7x57 .

 

[Muir]

I love old walnut...or maple or arctic birch for that matter. There is something in every dent and scratch that marks every hunt in the guns past. I can't help feel that that some DNA from all the previous owners is embedded in the wood, and that every hunter who used the rifle before me is now hunting with me. Sound creepy? Maybe. But tell me that if you were using Karamojo Bell's .275 on a hunt you wouldn't somehow sense the Man looking over your shoulder at every shot.

Stainless and fiberglass just doesn't do that for me.~Muir

 

[flytie]

There is a gun on guntrader at the moment that I covet;

"Description
Originally 6.5x54, this rifle has been re-chambered for the modern 6.5x55 round and re-proofed in Birmingham. The rifle has the original 1 in 8.5 twist rate which means that it can comfortably handle bullet weights up to 160 grain. The scope is mounted on swing off mounts and there are the usual iron sights, the rear sight being stand and fold. There is a double set trigger and shotgun style safety. It is fully engraved on the action, bolt handle and metal forend tip together with a roe buck on the trigger guard and a red stag on the magazine floor plate. This is a superb, classic woodland stalking rifle in excellent good condition with a clean bore and shoots well. Offers will be considered."

It is heartbreakingly lovely.

ft

link; http://www.guntrader.co.uk/GunsForSale/