Industrial 8 Gauge Ammo

[Eldon Goddard]

My cousin has several cases of 8 gauge shells he wants to give me. He found them in power plant, apparently they use them to clean the kilns. Can these be used in a 8 gauge shotgun? Or a vintage gun for that manner? He says the appear to be loaded with buckshot(the cases are clear). Has anyone heard of this type of thing?

[Tom Archer]

I'm not into 8-bores, but it is my understanding that 8-gauge shells marked "industrial" are NOT intended to be fired in a sporting gun; and I also understand that the brass portion of the shell case has been modified so that they will not fit the chamber of a sporting 8-bore guns. But they do have some value; so if they were being offered to me gratis, I'd certainly take them. Don't know what I'd do with 'em; but I'd take 'em.

[edgarspencer]

These shells were used for 'blowing' the plug on open hearth furnaces in steel mills. The plug is what held the molten metal back until tapping time. They are almost always a steel shot charge, akin to 0000 if memory serves. They are loaded to a very high pressure, and I'd venture to say would open up any sporting gun.
Whether the cases can be re-used, I couldn't say. They were also loaded in 4 bore cases.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I load and shoot 8 bores and the cases cannot be used without modification. all us 8 bore shooters modify these cases as regular sporting case are no longer available. i would gladly use these in my 8 bore- not as is of course!!!

[Richard Flanders]

I have some 10ga industrial ammo that is loaded with 750gr lead slugs. Talk about a bear load!!

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Richard Flanders

I have some 10ga industrial ammo that is loaded with 750gr lead slugs. Talk about a bear load!!

I bet Charlie Cleveland could figure out a way to shoot those with success!!!

[Harold Pickens]

In a similar vein, I was just given a bag of 100 new, primed Active hulls that are stamped DOOR BREACH LOADS. Anybody know if I can reload these? I would use them in 7/8 oz loads. I assume these must be for the military/police use.

[Eldon Goddard]

Well I am probably going to go see them some time this week and check them out. If they are usable for reloading that is interesting, but how would you get them to that point can you unload a shotgun shell? I have pulled some bullets on rifle rounds is there a shotgun equivalent? He also has 12 gauge would they also not be usable?

[Kevin McCormack]

These shells were traditionally used to blow the cement klinker scale off the walls of cement kilns. The kiln gun is a large device, and resembles the cal. 50 Browning heavy machine gun in size, shape and weight. The Remington museum has an outstanding example of a Remington-built kiln gun in their reference arms collection (not in the museum).

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I agree with Kevin.
My understanding of the reason for the ridge being added to industrial shells was to make it IMPOSSIBLE for someone to accidentally shoot them in a sporting arm.
You know how people ignore clear warnings.
While yours may be loaded with buckshot, some of the industrial shells have outrageous hunks of cast lead- square not spherical- protruding from the case mouth. They are UGLY.
Kiln guns are more like cannons than guns.