8 gauge brass.

Felenari · January 21, 2019, 06:44 PM

I'm trying to find some 8 gauge brass to turn into dummy rounds for a mockup I'm building for an 8 gauge pump action design. Long story.

Contacted Brownells and they said that 8 gauge was illegal for hunting and thus they didn't have any brass for it. Anyone know if it's illegal to have a pump action 8 gauge range gun? Also where to find some brass for this would be epic. I've found one or two live rounds but no shells or dummies.

bladesmith 1 · January 22, 2019, 06:18 PM

Rocky Mountain will make it for you - turned on a lathe - about 8$ a shell. Remington also makes a 8ga industrial hull for blasting. There's a belt around the brass so they can't be loaded in shotguns. Last year I sold 50 of them to a 8ga shooter that were resized to shoot in shotguns. You may be able to find some on the internet, or go to www.parkerguns.org and on the reloading forum you'll find some info. Good luck - Paul

Hawg · January 22, 2019, 11:02 PM

An 8 gauge pump would be a behemoth.

jaguarxk120 · January 23, 2019, 08:39 AM

An 8 gauge pump would be just right for those late August mosquito's in the deep woods of northern Michigan!
How many shots?

FITASC · January 23, 2019, 08:55 AM

Try Winchester; they make the brass 8 gauge ammo for the tripod-mounted guns we used to blow slag off the boiler walls at a power plant. We went to those after wearing out several Remington 1100s (and the shoulders of the plant workers)
They might send/sell you one.

bladesmith 1 · January 23, 2019, 10:07 AM

Used to be able to buy once fired 8ga plastic industrial hulls from BPI, or someone, but can't seem to find them anymore. You still have to resize the brass to make it fit in a shotgun. I had a die made up but let it go with the shells I sold. If you've found some live rounds without the belt around the brass you have a treasure. The ones with a belt were made that way so someone wouldn't try a shoot them in a shotgun - too much pressure. I held a 6 and 4ga shotgun. The 6 was a double, the 4 more the size of a punt gun. The guy had two shells for each. Didn't make a offer - kind a wish I had.

Felenari · January 23, 2019, 04:11 PM

@Bladesmith1 that sounds perfect. I just need two or three to tune the mechanism so I'll order some from them. I held a Russian 4g pump once when visiting a friend there. No ammo but the racking sound sounded like a car crusher.

@jaguarxk120 either 6 or 8 shots depending on how long the mockup winds up being. I'm not big on hunting game but I'm down to eradicate some giant skeeters a la overkill.

@FITASC that sounds like a brutal yet kinda fun job. What type of projectile was used? Salt or fine steel balls maybe? I'll ask Winchester also.

Sorry I'm keeping a bit tight lipped on the details of the build. I'm building it in 12g for commercial purposes as well and the 8g will be my own lore friendly copy.

FITASC · January 23, 2019, 04:36 PM

With the 12 gauges, we used buck or slugs. IIRC when we switched to the 8 gauge, it was buck (or close enough in size)

Felenari · January 23, 2019, 05:57 PM

Man... That must've been some serious crud. Oxy clean didn't work?

FITASC · January 23, 2019, 08:42 PM

Ever seen the inside of a coal fired boiler? It gets nasty

Felenari · January 23, 2019, 09:40 PM

Brutal. I can imagine. I haven't seen a boiler but I've forged with coal here and there. I can imagine industrial sized clinkers aren't easy to remove. I can also imagine the liquid lead runoff when it's fired back up though. How bad are ricochets in that environment? I can't imagine it's a supersonic load. What kind of safety gear was required for that? Bomb suit or just blast shields?

jaguarxk120 · January 24, 2019, 09:04 AM

Generally those 8 gauge guns were used on kilns to remove the clinker eye brows from over the burners.
Boilers had built in soot blowers operated daily to remove built up ash. The soot blowers were operated with steam or compressed air. On the older boilers water was used to knock off the built up ash from the tubes.

The guns were used when the kiln was removed from service for rebuild.

FITASC · January 24, 2019, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Brutal. I can imagine. I haven't seen a boiler but I've forged with coal here and there. I can imagine industrial sized clinkers aren't easy to remove. I can also imagine the liquid lead runoff when it's fired back up though. How bad are ricochets in that environment? I can't imagine it's a supersonic load. What kind of safety gear was required for that? Bomb suit or just blast shields?

Picture little port holes like on an armored car; the muzzle was put through that and they fired away. I go to fire one; it was an impressive BANG, even out of a 35+# gun on a tripod

Jim Watson · January 24, 2019, 12:05 PM

My agency used a kiln gun to shoot open the tap hole on a phosphorus furnace to drain the accumulated ferro-phos and slag. A lot quicker and safer than a long crowbar. My engineering project used an 1100 to shoot slag out of a coal gasifier.

The lead is not significant in most applications. If it matters in yours, there are zinc slugs.

Google "kiln gun" and you will see a lot of pictures. The newer the picture, the more protective gear worn by the operator. There is even a late marque of kiln gun with an integral silencer. Don't know about the BATF/NFA status of that one.

bladesmith 1 · January 24, 2019, 12:23 PM

Remington first made a " cement gun " back in the 30s. Then it was the " MasterBlaster " that weighs a 100#, is 5' long and 5" wide, on a tripod. With a 3 ounce slug it can be shot up to 300' accurately producing 4 1/2 tons of energy. There is no industrial gun in the entire world that is more powerful, more accurate, and safer. They still make about 25 a year. They are considered tools, not guns.

Felenari · January 24, 2019, 12:37 PM

That's pretty metal. I would love to watch that process. Both the poking of a hole on a full kiln and the rebuilding of one. I love big machines. I believe all guns are tools and all tools should be used responsibly.

My project build will be less useful than a kiln gun though I think. More for fun and the can it be done factor.

fourbore · January 24, 2019, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felenari

I'm trying to find some 8 gauge brass to turn into dummy rounds for a mockup I'm building for an 8 gauge pump action design. Long story.

Contacted Brownells and they said that 8 gauge was illegal for hunting and thus they didn't have any brass for it. Anyone know if it's illegal to have a pump action 8 gauge range gun? Also where to find some brass for this would be epic. I've found one or two live rounds but no shells or dummies.

AFAIK the 8 gauge is only illegal for waterfoul hunting. Or maybe some states for some purpose. Not across the board. While, not practical there are many legitimate opportunities to hunt and shoot an 8 gauge shotgun. That was a very poor response from Brownell.

Felenari · January 24, 2019, 08:29 PM

That's what I thought. I've seen 4 gauge guns being shot no trouble with the range master. I knew punt guns were illegal to hunt with but not illegal to own. Better safe than sorry on Brownells part I guess.

FITASC · January 24, 2019, 09:48 PM

Have never seen an 8 gauge legal to hunt with. Every state regs I have ever read for states I have hunted in state what bore sizes are legal and 8 gauge is not among them.

bladesmith 1 · January 25, 2019, 06:27 PM

It's a federal migratory law. It applies to ducks and geese and maybe woodcock and snipe. Not sure about the last two. It's not against the law in Michigan for other hunting, and I would think it's the same in many other states. I remember reading in the DGJ about someone recently hunting swans, or something like that with a 8ga. Back in the late 70s I made a 8ga O/U sidehammer muzzleloader. Ya I know it's illegal, but for two years I took it goose hunting in the UP in Michigan. The load was 400 grains of 1f and 4oz of shot. The first year I tried buckshot without success, but the second year it was #2 shot. It weighed 18 pounds and if not standing properly would push me over on my backside on the ground, and I'm 6' 4" at 180 pounds. Well, at least back then. We hunted farm fields in corncob blinds. Quite deadly out to 65 yards with .015 choke. It was sold by mistake. Mine.

Felenari · January 25, 2019, 08:27 PM

That sounds like a blast (pun intended) to shoot. 4oz holy moly. I just found out the shells for 8g can be up to 4in long with a load like that.

bladesmith 1 · January 28, 2019, 01:08 PM

I use to do gun shows selling my hand made forged knifes and put the gun out front to get people to stop and talk. Also had what I thought was a high enough price tag that no one would want to buy it. Well, a old fart, at least to me back then, looked it over and started peeling off Franklins. End of story. I said to the wife standing there, " I didn't really want to sell that gun."

Felenari · January 28, 2019, 01:19 PM

I know the feeling. I sold my first nice miniature knife set to someone when I was kind of but not really selling my stuff and wasn't prepared when a lady asked "how much for the whole set?" I blurted out 200? (she was stunning also didn't help) for the set of 20ish pieces with 3+ hours a piece. Still regret that every day. Forgot to take pics for my portfolio too.

On the flip side I ate well that day...

January 21, 2019, 06:44 PM	#1
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	8 gauge brass. I'm trying to find some 8 gauge brass to turn into dummy rounds for a mockup I'm building for an 8 gauge pump action design. Long story. Contacted Brownells and they said that 8 gauge was illegal for hunting and thus they didn't have any brass for it. Anyone know if it's illegal to have a pump action 8 gauge range gun? Also where to find some brass for this would be epic. I've found one or two live rounds but no shells or dummies. __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 23, 2019, 08:55 AM	#5
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	Try Winchester; they make the brass 8 gauge ammo for the tripod-mounted guns we used to blow slag off the boiler walls at a power plant. We went to those after wearing out several Remington 1100s (and the shoulders of the plant workers) They might send/sell you one. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 23, 2019, 10:07 AM	#6
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	Used to be able to buy once fired 8ga plastic industrial hulls from BPI, or someone, but can't seem to find them anymore. You still have to resize the brass to make it fit in a shotgun. I had a die made up but let it go with the shells I sold. If you've found some live rounds without the belt around the brass you have a treasure. The ones with a belt were made that way so someone wouldn't try a shoot them in a shotgun - too much pressure. I held a 6 and 4ga shotgun. The 6 was a double, the 4 more the size of a punt gun. The guy had two shells for each. Didn't make a offer - kind a wish I had. Last edited by bladesmith 1; January 23, 2019 at 10:12 AM.

January 23, 2019, 04:11 PM	#7
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	@Bladesmith1 that sounds perfect. I just need two or three to tune the mechanism so I'll order some from them. I held a Russian 4g pump once when visiting a friend there. No ammo but the racking sound sounded like a car crusher. @jaguarxk120 either 6 or 8 shots depending on how long the mockup winds up being. I'm not big on hunting game but I'm down to eradicate some giant skeeters a la overkill. @FITASC that sounds like a brutal yet kinda fun job. What type of projectile was used? Salt or fine steel balls maybe? I'll ask Winchester also. Sorry I'm keeping a bit tight lipped on the details of the build. I'm building it in 12g for commercial purposes as well and the 8g will be my own lore friendly copy. __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 23, 2019, 04:36 PM	#8
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	With the 12 gauges, we used buck or slugs. IIRC when we switched to the 8 gauge, it was buck (or close enough in size) __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 22, 2019, 06:18 PM	#2
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	Rocky Mountain will make it for you - turned on a lathe - about 8$ a shell. Remington also makes a 8ga industrial hull for blasting. There's a belt around the brass so they can't be loaded in shotguns. Last year I sold 50 of them to a 8ga shooter that were resized to shoot in shotguns. You may be able to find some on the internet, or go to www.parkerguns.org and on the reloading forum you'll find some info. Good luck - Paul

January 22, 2019, 11:02 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	An 8 gauge pump would be a behemoth.

January 23, 2019, 08:39 AM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	An 8 gauge pump would be just right for those late August mosquito's in the deep woods of northern Michigan! How many shots?

January 23, 2019, 05:57 PM	#9
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	Man... That must've been some serious crud. Oxy clean didn't work? __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 23, 2019, 08:42 PM	#10
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	Ever seen the inside of a coal fired boiler? It gets nasty __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 23, 2019, 09:40 PM	#11
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	Brutal. I can imagine. I haven't seen a boiler but I've forged with coal here and there. I can imagine industrial sized clinkers aren't easy to remove. I can also imagine the liquid lead runoff when it's fired back up though. How bad are ricochets in that environment? I can't imagine it's a supersonic load. What kind of safety gear was required for that? Bomb suit or just blast shields? __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 24, 2019, 09:04 AM	#12
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	Generally those 8 gauge guns were used on kilns to remove the clinker eye brows from over the burners. Boilers had built in soot blowers operated daily to remove built up ash. The soot blowers were operated with steam or compressed air. On the older boilers water was used to knock off the built up ash from the tubes. The guns were used when the kiln was removed from service for rebuild.

January 24, 2019, 12:05 PM	#14
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	My agency used a kiln gun to shoot open the tap hole on a phosphorus furnace to drain the accumulated ferro-phos and slag. A lot quicker and safer than a long crowbar. My engineering project used an 1100 to shoot slag out of a coal gasifier. The lead is not significant in most applications. If it matters in yours, there are zinc slugs. Google "kiln gun" and you will see a lot of pictures. The newer the picture, the more protective gear worn by the operator. There is even a late marque of kiln gun with an integral silencer. Don't know about the BATF/NFA status of that one.

January 24, 2019, 12:23 PM	#15
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	Remington first made a " cement gun " back in the 30s. Then it was the " MasterBlaster " that weighs a 100#, is 5' long and 5" wide, on a tripod. With a 3 ounce slug it can be shot up to 300' accurately producing 4 1/2 tons of energy. There is no industrial gun in the entire world that is more powerful, more accurate, and safer. They still make about 25 a year. They are considered tools, not guns.

January 24, 2019, 12:37 PM	#16
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	That's pretty metal. I would love to watch that process. Both the poking of a hole on a full kiln and the rebuilding of one. I love big machines. I believe all guns are tools and all tools should be used responsibly. My project build will be less useful than a kiln gun though I think. More for fun and the can it be done factor. __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 24, 2019, 08:29 PM	#18
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	That's what I thought. I've seen 4 gauge guns being shot no trouble with the range master. I knew punt guns were illegal to hunt with but not illegal to own. Better safe than sorry on Brownells part I guess. __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 24, 2019, 09:48 PM	#19
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,441	Have never seen an 8 gauge legal to hunt with. Every state regs I have ever read for states I have hunted in state what bore sizes are legal and 8 gauge is not among them. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 25, 2019, 06:27 PM	#20
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	It's a federal migratory law. It applies to ducks and geese and maybe woodcock and snipe. Not sure about the last two. It's not against the law in Michigan for other hunting, and I would think it's the same in many other states. I remember reading in the DGJ about someone recently hunting swans, or something like that with a 8ga. Back in the late 70s I made a 8ga O/U sidehammer muzzleloader. Ya I know it's illegal, but for two years I took it goose hunting in the UP in Michigan. The load was 400 grains of 1f and 4oz of shot. The first year I tried buckshot without success, but the second year it was #2 shot. It weighed 18 pounds and if not standing properly would push me over on my backside on the ground, and I'm 6' 4" at 180 pounds. Well, at least back then. We hunted farm fields in corncob blinds. Quite deadly out to 65 yards with .015 choke. It was sold by mistake. Mine.

January 25, 2019, 08:27 PM	#21
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	That sounds like a blast (pun intended) to shoot. 4oz holy moly. I just found out the shells for 8g can be up to 4in long with a load like that. __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?

January 28, 2019, 01:08 PM	#22
bladesmith 1 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2018 Posts: 240	I use to do gun shows selling my hand made forged knifes and put the gun out front to get people to stop and talk. Also had what I thought was a high enough price tag that no one would want to buy it. Well, a old fart, at least to me back then, looked it over and started peeling off Franklins. End of story. I said to the wife standing there, " I didn't really want to sell that gun."

January 28, 2019, 01:19 PM	#23
Felenari Member Join Date: September 9, 2018 Location: San Francisco Posts: 88	I know the feeling. I sold my first nice miniature knife set to someone when I was kind of but not really selling my stuff and wasn't prepared when a lady asked "how much for the whole set?" I blurted out 200? (she was stunning also didn't help) for the set of 20ish pieces with 3+ hours a piece. Still regret that every day. Forgot to take pics for my portfolio too. On the flip side I ate well that day... __________________ Success is never guaranteed and failure is never permanent. If no one comes from the future to stop you, how bad could it be?