4 gauge

[charlie cleveland]

any body out there loading any 4 ga shells..i have tom armbrusts book on 4 and 8 ga loads..just wandering if anybody else besides me wanna shoot the old cannons... charlie

[Milton Starr]

Go over to accuratereloading.com and ask them on the forum.those guys should.know. I got some load data on a 10 bore rifle 700 gr or might been 900 gr slug at 1500 fps as a moderate loads lol. Also custom gun maker colin Stolzer could help you since he makes them and loads to proof them himself

[charlie cleveland]

thanks milt... got interested in the big bores again got my eye on a 4 ga... charlie

[John Dallas]

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to tour the Holland and Holland factory. While there, i had a chance to see a 4 bore double which was being completed. Gun was reputed to have $100,000 worth of engraving. Becha the gun never has a shell put in it.

[Dean Romig]

Becha the gun never has a shell put in it.

Anybody make snap caps for the 4?

[Bill Murphy]

I bought eight gauge snap caps from Adams and Spencer while they were making them. I don't know if they ever made four gauge caps.

[Bill Murphy]

Charlie at least one of our members owns fours. I don't know whether he is loading for them or not.

[Mark Landskov]

Here are a few 4s, with a WRA Co. 24 gauge 'Repeater' load for comparison. From left to right:

1) 24 Gauge
2) Kynoch 'Patented Brass Shell'
3) Late Eley
4) WRA Co. 'Leader' NPE
5) UMC Co. (that someone thoughtfully removed the shot from?!)

[charlie cleveland]

thanks for the photos rounder...i have a eley 4 ga and a french 4 ga in my shotshell collection and looking at a loaded umc 4 ga....want aloaded winchester but out of my reach rite now.. charlie

[Bill Murphy]

I have a sealed box of Eley fours, and it is sitting on a shelf in the "room" waiting for a gun. Does anyone have an idea of the value of this box in case I decide to let it go? There are 25 of them in there. They are 4" shells, loaded with 3 ounces of lead BBs. They have never been opened. I know where the gun is, but I don't think the owner will sell it to me.

[Mark Landskov]

Bill, from what I have seen over the years, your box of Eleys would do well on Gun Broker. If it were mine, I would start the bidding no less than $400.00. If it did not sell, you can always go down, if you want. That brass 4 in my photo is a $100.00 cartridge. The paper Eley 4 is easily a $25.00 specimen. I don't know if anyone loads custom 4s or 8s, but shooting originals, if they even fire, can be very expensive, especially if the box is still sealed.

[charlie cleveland]

bill i bid 500 hundred on a box of eley 4 ga and i did not get them..if i remember rite the owner wanted 800 hundred for them...they are scarce i bet a box of winchester 4 ga would go inthe 1000 s several times.. i would get me a gun to shoot them shells at least one of them...been adream of mine to fire one of these old cannons... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Charlie, I recall the auction or offer to sell that you mentioned. I wouldn't have sold them for $500 either. They are worth a bunch more than that. I wonder who that guy was? Maybe he has changed his mind. I recently bought a lifetime supply of modern Gamebore and Eley eights that someone can buy from my estate sale. I don't know if I will ever shoot them, but I did know for sure that I needed them when I was counting out the bills.

[charlie cleveland]

bill i bid on a 4 ga but did not get it..was a w d golden gun with 36 inch barrel a hammer gun double went for a few dollars under 5 grand...i sure would like to have tried it out with the one eley 4 ga shell that i have...hope who ever got it shoots it some instead just looking at it.... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

An empty 4 gauge Eley box went for $168.00 plus shipping this week.

[charlie cleveland]

i seen that box just forgot about it...i paid all most that much for a nice 8 ga eley empty box..the 4 s are rare... charlie