The reason you will have trouble with the eight and not with the ten with identical loads is that the pressure is higher in the ten for an identical load, but probably just marginally acceptable. In the eight, it is probably low enough to cause bloopers in cold weather or with poorly sealing wads. 42 or 43 grains of Blue Dot in the ten gauge behind two ounces of shot barely makes 10,000 PSI. Your little load of 30 grains of Blue Dot behind 1 1/2 ounces of shot in the big eight gauge hole probably doesn't make 6000 PSI. Now, I don't know that, but I do think you would get better results either using a tested load or going to a faster powder like maybe Herco if you prefer the Alliant line of powders. I would rather use Bell's recommendations than create my own loads, though, since he pressure tests. However, 35 grains of Herco under 1 1/2 ounces of shot in an eight gauge isn't going to blow up any gun and the boom will sound better than the anemic loads you have been loading.
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