8 Gauge

[T.A.Sharps]

Simple shotgun question...

Is it illegal to own an 8 Gauge, or just to hunt with one?

[Dave McC]

Hunting with one is verboten.

The 8 gauge was the darling of market hunters, who used stuff up to a 2" bore.

These cannons decimated wild flocks and the Govt banned them for hunting after agitation by conservationists. The 3 shot rule on waterfowl started then also.

You can own and shoot them at targets, though ammo is quite scarce. Try Ballistic Products and similar places for components.

Most commonly, 8 gauges are used in factories, where they are used with slugs to clean out slag from furnaces. These are more like artillery than shoulder arms.

[T.A.Sharps]

Hmmm,

What about as a home defense shotgun?

[New_Pollution1086]

sounds fun...

T

[zippy13]

What about as a home defense shotgun?

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8782/1205766796displayqt8.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1205766796displayqt8.jpg)http://img186.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)
You didn't mention where your home is located -- the M-90A may not be legal in your jurisdiction ;)

[Lavid2002]

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...
I think a semi-auto 8 gauge would be a little more forgiving than a single shot

[knight0334]

sorry to bump an old thread...

You may own and hunt with a 8ga, however you cannot use them for federal migratory birds. Some states may also prohibit them for state regulated game. You will need to check your state's game laws for what they may or may not allow.

[oneounceload]

I have never seen a state that allowed anything larger than 10 gauge, and for most upland birds, anything larger than a 12 gauge. 8 gauge, as mentioned above, is now an industrial gun, mounted on a tripod, used to blast slag off the boiler/furnace walls.......we used them at a power plant after we wore out three 870's........

[impalacustom]

You can hunt with an 8ga in Missouri at least you used to be able too. I knew of a guy who did and got one of his shells.

[zukiphile]

American Rifleman did a piece on an 8 gauge SBS about 20 years ago. They manufactured shells from industrial stock.

IIRC, they persuaded someone to shoot it. It stripped the leaves off a tree, and the shooter declined an opportunity for a second shot.

[SavageMOA]

How about a M-90A, it comes 8-ga...


Haha nice Halo reference there.

[B.L.E.]

I have shot at clay birds with someone elses muzzleloading 8 gauge. It's not too bad if you only put about 1 1/2 ounces of shot down the barrel since the gun weighed about 11 pounds IIRC.
A solid hit turns those birds into smoke even at the handicap yardage.

With a 1/8 pound of shot in the barrel, (2 ounces) I'm sure you will notice the recoil.

To visualize the size of the bore, pull a U.S nickel out of your pocket. That's about .835 inches in diameter, the same as the 8 gauge bore. A dime measures .710, slightly smaller than a 12 gauge which is .729 inches.

[thehemi]

My shoulder hurts just thinking about it.

[RCPractitioner]

8 guage

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u320/Drea2up/Actors/2008_appaloosa_001.jpg

[OLNfan]

In my province its illegal to hunt with and its listed as a restricted firearm. (we have non-restricted, restricted, phobitied) non-res= hunting rifles/shotguns ... Restrcited= pistols-semi auto miltiary type rifles and the odd guns like this 8 gage In canada we are not aloud to carry restrcited firearms in the bush, no sidearms no pistols no ar's no nothing.....and prohibted is anything fully autoamtic (unless your military,police, along those lines.

[B.L.E.]

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/ben_eberle/img_0499a.jpg