Thanks Mr. Destry- I had a older Parker 20 some years ago, which is used for grouse and quails. It was an earlier gun with Parker Special barrels and didn't have the tool steel locking plate as shown in the Peter Johnson book.
I am mainly a pheasant and waterfowl shooter, and hunt with flushing dogs (my Lab Hoagy now) and I traded the Parker to a Mr. Criswell in Beautiful Garden CA about 15 years ago- in exchange for a Model 21 12 gauge with 3" chambers.
I used that M21 this morning on the river-no decoys, just a beautiful pink sky, leaves in full flame, Hoagy and myself and some coffee. Ended up with two nice Greenheads, the first one in 'elipse' coloration, the latter one with orange legs and full colors, even the speculum.
I also made a I guess you'd say a double on geese. three Canadas came upriver about 8:45 and dropped their flaps for me. I shot the feet of the closest one, and lead the outreaching neck of his 'wingman' a bit and hit the trigger again.
Wish it were legal to carry target loads to finish off a cripple- Hoagy went for the second goose first, the other was thrashing and I had to pop him in the neck to 'settle his hash'.
It has been years since I have shot a banded bird, the trend continues today. A personal matter, as I hunt alone, except for my Black 4-legged best friend of course, but I would just a leif shoot fewer birds out of a given limit with fewer shells, than 'limit out' on the 6 ducks per day we have in this Flyway- Years ago the Orvis folks had pins for 'doubles' on game birds, which I view as being somewhat akin to the 'brag patches' you see on skeet shooters vests.
I use both 2 and 3/4" Federal Steel in the Winchester. The older 2E 1074 I just acquired has 3" chambers and fairly substantial barrel wall thickness, but for now, I will only shoot the 2 and 3/4" Hevi-Shot made for vintage doubles in the big Smith.
I believe I saw a Long Range Smith in recent Gun List- would that be a field grade with double triggers and option on the ejectors?