Bob,
I hunt exclusively with Damsacus barrelled Parkers and LC Smiths. Mostly I shoot handloaded Nice Shot for ducks and geese at 9000 PSI. On occasion I shoot factory loaded steel shot through my Damascus barrels without problem.
The only issue you may have shooting your VH with 2 5/8" chambers is a tiny bit more recoil. That stated you probably won't notice it. The short chamber would be the inverse of long forcing cones. Some people think they lessen recoil a bit, others laugh at them!
If you use Bismuth or Classic Doubles ammunition neither will bother your gun or shoulder. The ducks may however not survive.
Anyone can shoot sporting clays wih an O/U. We shoot SxS's for reasons unexplained.
Everyone shoots at ducks with their autoloaders. I'd rather hunt ducks with guns that dropped ducks before the start of World War I.
PS: Eightbore knows more about waterfowling with SxS's than most of us could ever dream of.
Please visit the Parker Gun Collectors Association website for more information of putting that Parker back into service:
http://parkerguns.org Respctfully,
Mark
