Would like info on the Parker Hale Volunteer rifl

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firstson

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Looking for information from those who have and have shot the Parker Hale Volunteer percussion rifle. What do you like or dislike about the rifle? How well does it shoot, and is it fussy to find a load or the proper bullets? How accurate is the rifle and at what ranges?
Thanks folks
 
I've owned a Parker Hale Volunteer for a number of years. No objections to it at all. Lyman makes a mold that is specific to the gun. Just look on their website. You will have to play with it to find what it likes but they are accurate but being black powder, will become inaccurate as the bore fouls. This means swabbing the bore between shots and using a lube to keep the fouling soft. I have shot mine at 200 yards and was very pleased with the accuracy. Now you just have to find one. They do appear on the equipment exchange so I advise putting a WTB add there. Cheers. SJ
 
I see a few online out of the U.K. Has anyone here brought a rifle in from there? What is involved in bringing it into Canada?
 
I've shot my three-band Volunteer out to the limits of its sight, and my unaided eyesight, since the mid1980s with the Lyman 535gr multi-groove bullet. My load is 85gr of 3Fg and two card wads made from the shiny cardboard that is used to stiffen new shirts.

100m calibration shooting results in five-shot groups around the inch, opening up to about 18-20 inches at 800 yards. I swab between shots and then after loading the bullet.

I suggest using a drop tube to get the charge properly located in the reduced volume/patent breech, and learning to give the load about 30 - 40 pounds of compression, as detailed by the Polisar Bros in Muzzle Blasts from a while back. Experimenting with loads is half the fun, anyhow, so don't be in a mad rush to get it done.

There are no secrets to the lube - I find that 75/25 bees wax and neat's foot oil is about right for my part of the world.

David Minshall, former secretary of the MLAGB, and his wife have both been world champions at the international shooting of this style of rifle, and he has published a very useful guide to shooting the P53 - google it. It's not the 'small-bore' Volunteer, but it will provide a ton of useful information about shooting these iconic rifles.

tac
 
When looking for a PH volunteer try to find one of the early made in England ones as opposed to the later versions made by Euroarms consisting of a PH barrel and Italian parts, the made in England ones are better quality.You also have to get a platinum lined nipple as well.I have one of the very first ones made with Rigby rifling new never fired with all the accessories, it s one of my retirement guns, something to enjoy at the range when I retire.These guns are also good for hunting as well
 
Shoot it before it's too late, friend. Platinum-lined nipples come from Peter Dyson here in UK and are around $120 each. P-H sold all their tooling and a large number of barrels to the Euroarms consortium back in the mid to late 90's, and wile they are perfectly acceptable, they ARE most definitely not up to the standard of the Parker-Hale originals. You can check which one is which by looking at the proof marks - P-H guns will show Birmingham Proof House stamps, and also by the serial numbers, too.

This is a good start - http://www.researchpress.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1408925864

...and this...

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com...1580-THE-PARKER-HALE-ENFIELD-By-Craig-L-Barry

Any serial number over 9999 is Italian.

tac
 
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Just been over to my local gun-store, and found the very earliest two-band P-H Volunteer that I have ever seen - a two-band, .451cal so-called Navy/Volunteer rifle - all original and just too gorgeous for words -well, almost.

With its serial number 20X, I have never seen an older example.

It is in excellent condition and has obviously been loved all its life - the muzzle is untouched, an unusual feature in a rifle that has a steel ramrod.

Sure, there are a couple of dings on the wood, but this rifle must be at least 45 years old.

Sadly, like all P-H originals, it is no bargain, but if I could have it, I would.

Pics by email only, I'm afraid, I've never gotten the knack of posting pics here.

tac, back in yUK
 
Well I have phoned the U.K. twice and emailed a number of times on a P.H. volunteer. They were to get back to me in a day or two with a total. Have heard nothing back in a week. So that is a bust. Have a line on a volunteer from a member so hoping that it pans out. Not an easy find.
 
How many of the members who own a Parker Hale Volunteer or the Whitworth actually shoot them much? Or are they just wall hangers? Do you just use them target shooting or hunt with them also?
 
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