Any one fired an 8 Gauge?

Housezealot · July 29, 2009, 12:20 PM

I was watching "Appaloosa" last night (pretty good flick by the way)
and Viggo Mortensons character is hauling around an 8 gauge the whole time, I have only even seen an 8 Gauge a handful of times (at OGCA shows).
has any one here fired one of these howitzers?
if so hows the recoil?
can you get ammo?
just curious.

oneounceload · July 29, 2009, 12:53 PM

Once - it was on a tripod and was/is used at a powerplant for blowing slag off the boiler walls. (We had previously used 870's but were always wearing them out along with the shoulders of the guys shooting). Since it was on a tripod, there wasn't any recoil to me...

- but those shells looked menacing

Lavid2002 · July 29, 2009, 12:56 PM

? you mean you shot at the slag to blow it off...what loads did you use...

Housezealot · July 29, 2009, 01:00 PM

wow I imagine wearing an 870 out is no small feat, I imagine you weren't using some antique 8 gauge (mabey one made just for that purpose?), now I'm gonna have to see who still makes em, just out of curiosity of course, I'm not that much of a glutton for punishment

Wleoff · July 29, 2009, 01:05 PM

I did when I was a kid, at least again a barn door. My grandfather had a double barrel goose gun with long barrels, may have been 36". Heavy as all get out. They weren't that uncommon then because people use to use 8 and 10 gauge for geese. I remember that he bought his shells at the local hardware store, Scott's in Jay, FL. I doubt that they special ordered them, so must have been a demand for 8 gauge. As kids, we use to fire it with the butt against a barn door. After a while this cracked the wrist of the stock. One of my older cousins was going to take it to get it repaired. I haven't seen it since. I thought about my grandfather's old 8 gauge when I saw the movie, but my cousin has passed away. No telling where that old gun is now.

I've also heard that they use to use 8 gauge, and even larger, shotguns in punt boats to poach geese on the Chesapeake. Don't know about out West.

oneounceload · July 29, 2009, 01:55 PM

The shell was a Winchester industrial 8 gauge shell. I was in Purchasing, so I got a chance to fire one - I didn't do it every day.......and yes, it was to blow the slag off the boiler walls in a coal-fired power plant. The gun, IIRC, was actually leased from Winchester for this purpose; then we bought the ammunition. It did a better job, was more efficient than handheld 12 gauges....

Here's Remington's site:
http://www.remington.com/products/am...ammunition.asp

Evan Thomas · July 29, 2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

I've also heard that they use to use 8 gauge, and even larger, shotguns in punt boats to poach geese on the Chesapeake.

Punt guns, yeah... mounted in the bow of the boat, I think.

If I recall correctly, it was legal to hunt waterfowl that way around the turn of the last century -- kill them en masse and sell them directly to fancy hotels and restaurants -- until someone noticed that said waterfowl were getting sorta scarce...

Winchester_73 · July 29, 2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

I've also heard that they use to use 8 gauge, and even larger, shotguns in punt boats to poach geese on the Chesapeake. Don't know about out West.

The king of the shot shells was the 4 gauge. This and most 8 gauges were made to shoot at FLOCKS of birds. These were usually mounted to a boat on a tripod or some other device which would let the gun rotate. Any 4 gauge gun is a collectible firearm today. 8 gauge shells are sometimes still used for industry. Hunting with a 4 gauge or 8 gauge shotgun was made illegal in the US around 1917 IIRC. I'm not sure how wide spread the 4 gauge or even the 8 gauge was in the US when it was legal, since at the time the gold standard was 10 gauge, and the 12 gauge was becoming more and more popular.

knight0334 · July 29, 2009, 02:14 PM

Anyone that has fired a 12ga shell with a 2oz load has fired an 8ga. Most of the 3-1/2" 12ga shells are 2oz or more.

LukeA · July 29, 2009, 04:25 PM

What gauge is this?

Wleoff · July 29, 2009, 08:14 PM

Hunting with a 4 gauge or 8 gauge shotgun was made illegal in the US around 1917 IIRC.

How about owning one? I've got a friend who brought back a 4 gauge elephant gun from Africa years ago. It does shoot slugs instead of shot. Hate to have to tell him that his is illegal.

How about muzzleloading shotguns 8 gauge or larger?

MLeake · July 29, 2009, 08:26 PM

... but from what I read in an article on the prop guns they actually used in a movie, the propmasters couldn't find an 8 gauge, so they adapted outer tubes to a 10 or 12, to make it look like an 8; the inner barrels and breech were the more normal gauge.

I think the article was in an issue of American Rifleman that came out around the time of the movie's release, but I am not positive.

roy reali · July 30, 2009, 12:06 AM

I think the larger gauged shotguns are only illegal for migratory birds. Here you could use an 8 gauge for turkeys or even dove.

B.L.E. · July 30, 2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

I think the larger gauged shotguns are only illegal for migratory birds. Here you could use an 8 gauge for turkeys or even dove.

Turkeys, yes unless your state has its own laws prohibiting it but doves are included in federally protected migratory game birds.

Here I am killing a Remington Blue Rock clay bird with a muzzleloading 8 gauge.

mnw42 · July 30, 2009, 08:47 AM

As a result of NFA 36 shotguns, firing fixed ammunition, larger than 10ga are considered a destructive device that have no "sporting purpose".

Of course, if it was made prior two 1894 it is an antique and is not legally a gun.

B.L.E. · July 30, 2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Viggo's character has an 8gauge...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

... but from what I read in an article on the prop guns they actually used in a movie, the propmasters couldn't find an 8 gauge, so they adapted outer tubes to a 10 or 12, to make it look like an 8; the inner barrels and breech were the more normal gauge.

The image I saw from that movie gave me the impression that they were exaggerating the bigness of an 8 gauge. Look at the muzzle of an actual 8 gauge and you may well think it was a 10 gauge. The size difference is not that much. Comparing an 8 and a 10 is sort of like comparing a 16 and a 12gauge. An 8 bore is .835 inches, about the size of a U.S. Nickel.

zippy13 · July 30, 2009, 03:41 PM

If really interested in modern 8-ga applications check out the Remington MasterBlaster industrial cannon. The shells come in Standard 3-oz loads and 2 and 3-oz Magnum loads.

You may be a master class clay target shooter, but what do you really know about shooting out clinker rings?

SeekHer · August 1, 2009, 08:22 PM

Possession of a 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is not illegal...the shooting of the 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is not illegal...the hunting of birds with a 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is illegal, with some state/provincial exceptions so for argument's sake lets just say it is...

I've shot both 4 and 8 bore BP rifles and shotguns and a 8 and 10 bore duplex (smokeless) rifles and shotguns...Loud, massive muzzle flash, but only a very slow, heavy push instead of a sharp recoil...Wouldn't want to shoot 10, 15 rounds in a row with them...A friend has a 10 bore British made Cape Gun - one barrel smoothbore the other fully rifled...

The primary shotguns of the Wells Fargo Stagecoach and Express Line, was usually a W.W. Greener, 10 bore, 30" or 32" shotgun and the short barrel models (and sometimes 12 bore) were carried by sheriffs or town marshals etc. as they were easier to handle inside a building....The drivers wanted something with reach, and the longer barrels allowed more powder to burn inside the barrel which of course creates higher velocities and usually longer range...

The close up, non firing shots were done with the true 8 bore gun, IIRC from a couple of articles, some of the closeup firing shots were done with the original but all the rest just tricked up 10 bore doubles...I'll find the article and post it!

drewnickel · June 27, 2010, 09:36 PM

well, I dont think it's very easy to find one, but heck, I know people who own freaking military cannons (not currently in service of course) and even up to 4" 20 pounder parrot rifles. so theres no doubt you're allowed to own one, I personally have seen 8-bores at gun shows but have never had the pleasure of firing one of those monsters. but there is a great way around it, but you need alot of steel, walnut or other wood of your choice, springs, trigger guard, some metal working machine, and a gun drill. it involves making your own chambered for the modern industrial shells, except you compare reloading parts for a 10ga and make upscaled copy's of them for your reloader, then you either fire some industrial shells, or just buy some already fired shells, and load the shells with 150gr of flake type smokeless powder (the same used by normal shotguns) take some wad board (thick and strong cardboard used for making wads and buffers) and cut out alot of nickel sized circles and use them as wadding, roll crimp it, pour in 2 ounces of shot, and push one more wad into it. then you've got target load ammo and a gun to shoot it out of, for slugs you might want to make a mold too and cast your own, but all of this requires skill in metal working and gunsmithing.

darkgael · June 28, 2010, 03:20 AM

October Country muzzleloading sells an 8 Bore "Sporting Rifle". It can be yours for $4995. Here's the link:
http://www.octobercountry.com/produc...productid=1009

Pete

Rifleman1776 · June 28, 2010, 07:59 AM

Though not common, one does see very large bore muzzle loading shotguns on the range at ml matches occasionally. I have never shot an 8,6,4, or 2 and don't want to.

July 29, 2009, 12:20 PM	#1
Housezealot Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 606	Any one fired an 8 Gauge? I was watching "Appaloosa" last night (pretty good flick by the way) and Viggo Mortensons character is hauling around an 8 gauge the whole time, I have only even seen an 8 Gauge a handful of times (at OGCA shows). has any one here fired one of these howitzers? if so hows the recoil? can you get ammo? just curious. __________________ We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Last edited by Housezealot; July 29, 2009 at 01:12 PM.

July 29, 2009, 12:56 PM	#3
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	? you mean you shot at the slag to blow it off...what loads did you use... __________________ Math>Grammar

July 29, 2009, 01:00 PM	#4
Housezealot Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 606	wow I imagine wearing an 870 out is no small feat, I imagine you weren't using some antique 8 gauge (mabey one made just for that purpose?), now I'm gonna have to see who still makes em, just out of curiosity of course, I'm not that much of a glutton for punishment __________________ We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

July 29, 2009, 08:14 PM	#11
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	Hunting with a 4 gauge or 8 gauge shotgun was made illegal in the US around 1917 IIRC. How about owning one? I've got a friend who brought back a 4 gauge elephant gun from Africa years ago. It does shoot slugs instead of shot. Hate to have to tell him that his is illegal. How about muzzleloading shotguns 8 gauge or larger? Last edited by Wleoff; July 29, 2009 at 08:20 PM.

July 29, 2009, 08:26 PM	#12
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	Viggo's character has an 8gauge... ... but from what I read in an article on the prop guns they actually used in a movie, the propmasters couldn't find an 8 gauge, so they adapted outer tubes to a 10 or 12, to make it look like an 8; the inner barrels and breech were the more normal gauge. I think the article was in an issue of American Rifleman that came out around the time of the movie's release, but I am not positive.

July 29, 2009, 12:53 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Once - it was on a tripod and was/is used at a powerplant for blowing slag off the boiler walls. (We had previously used 870's but were always wearing them out along with the shoulders of the guys shooting). Since it was on a tripod, there wasn't any recoil to me... - but those shells looked menacing

July 29, 2009, 01:05 PM	#5
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	I did when I was a kid, at least again a barn door. My grandfather had a double barrel goose gun with long barrels, may have been 36". Heavy as all get out. They weren't that uncommon then because people use to use 8 and 10 gauge for geese. I remember that he bought his shells at the local hardware store, Scott's in Jay, FL. I doubt that they special ordered them, so must have been a demand for 8 gauge. As kids, we use to fire it with the butt against a barn door. After a while this cracked the wrist of the stock. One of my older cousins was going to take it to get it repaired. I haven't seen it since. I thought about my grandfather's old 8 gauge when I saw the movie, but my cousin has passed away. No telling where that old gun is now. I've also heard that they use to use 8 gauge, and even larger, shotguns in punt boats to poach geese on the Chesapeake. Don't know about out West.

July 29, 2009, 01:55 PM	#6
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	The shell was a Winchester industrial 8 gauge shell. I was in Purchasing, so I got a chance to fire one - I didn't do it every day.......and yes, it was to blow the slag off the boiler walls in a coal-fired power plant. The gun, IIRC, was actually leased from Winchester for this purpose; then we bought the ammunition. It did a better job, was more efficient than handheld 12 gauges.... Here's Remington's site: http://www.remington.com/products/am...ammunition.asp

July 29, 2009, 02:14 PM	#9
knight0334 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Brookville, PA Posts: 442	Anyone that has fired a 12ga shell with a 2oz load has fired an 8ga. Most of the 3-1/2" 12ga shells are 2oz or more.

July 29, 2009, 04:25 PM	#10
LukeA Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 542	What gauge is this?

July 30, 2009, 12:06 AM	#13
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Illegal? I think the larger gauged shotguns are only illegal for migratory birds. Here you could use an 8 gauge for turkeys or even dove.

July 30, 2009, 08:47 AM	#15
mnw42 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2008 Location: Bucks Co., PA Posts: 210	As a result of NFA 36 shotguns, firing fixed ammunition, larger than 10ga are considered a destructive device that have no "sporting purpose". Of course, if it was made prior two 1894 it is an antique and is not legally a gun.

July 30, 2009, 03:41 PM	#17
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	If really interested in modern 8-ga applications check out the Remington MasterBlaster industrial cannon. The shells come in Standard 3-oz loads and 2 and 3-oz Magnum loads. You may be a master class clay target shooter, but what do you really know about shooting out clinker rings?

August 1, 2009, 08:22 PM	#18
SeekHer Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 295	Possession of a 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is not illegal...the shooting of the 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is not illegal...the hunting of birds with a 2, 4, 6, 8 bore gun is illegal, with some state/provincial exceptions so for argument's sake lets just say it is... I've shot both 4 and 8 bore BP rifles and shotguns and a 8 and 10 bore duplex (smokeless) rifles and shotguns...Loud, massive muzzle flash, but only a very slow, heavy push instead of a sharp recoil...Wouldn't want to shoot 10, 15 rounds in a row with them...A friend has a 10 bore British made Cape Gun - one barrel smoothbore the other fully rifled... The primary shotguns of the Wells Fargo Stagecoach and Express Line, was usually a W.W. Greener, 10 bore, 30" or 32" shotgun and the short barrel models (and sometimes 12 bore) were carried by sheriffs or town marshals etc. as they were easier to handle inside a building....The drivers wanted something with reach, and the longer barrels allowed more powder to burn inside the barrel which of course creates higher velocities and usually longer range... The close up, non firing shots were done with the true 8 bore gun, IIRC from a couple of articles, some of the closeup firing shots were done with the original but all the rest just tricked up 10 bore doubles...I'll find the article and post it! __________________ There is a certain type of mentality that thinks if you make certain inanimate objects illegal their criminal misuse will disappear! When the human race dies out, it will be because it was brainwashed to be so totally, completely, utterly safe that it no longer dared to keep on living

June 27, 2010, 09:36 PM	#19
drewnickel Junior Member Join Date: April 9, 2010 Posts: 14	the 8-bore well, I dont think it's very easy to find one, but heck, I know people who own freaking military cannons (not currently in service of course) and even up to 4" 20 pounder parrot rifles. so theres no doubt you're allowed to own one, I personally have seen 8-bores at gun shows but have never had the pleasure of firing one of those monsters. but there is a great way around it, but you need alot of steel, walnut or other wood of your choice, springs, trigger guard, some metal working machine, and a gun drill. it involves making your own chambered for the modern industrial shells, except you compare reloading parts for a 10ga and make upscaled copy's of them for your reloader, then you either fire some industrial shells, or just buy some already fired shells, and load the shells with 150gr of flake type smokeless powder (the same used by normal shotguns) take some wad board (thick and strong cardboard used for making wads and buffers) and cut out alot of nickel sized circles and use them as wadding, roll crimp it, pour in 2 ounces of shot, and push one more wad into it. then you've got target load ammo and a gun to shoot it out of, for slugs you might want to make a mold too and cast your own, but all of this requires skill in metal working and gunsmithing.

June 28, 2010, 03:20 AM	#20
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	8 bore October Country muzzleloading sells an 8 Bore "Sporting Rifle". It can be yours for $4995. Here's the link: http://www.octobercountry.com/produc...productid=1009 Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

June 28, 2010, 07:59 AM	#21
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Though not common, one does see very large bore muzzle loading shotguns on the range at ml matches occasionally. I have never shot an 8,6,4, or 2 and don't want to.